Page 194 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

30 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF
POLITICAL RESIDENCY.
XT rAs H10 SIlicf routc can onl*v advooated for dishonest purposes or from
the fact that the Khan of tho other route lias become too rapacious, the Central
Government could, if they ohosc, scttlothe maf.tor by making the Sliicf route
illegal and by insisting on the Governor of Bushire regulating tho levies for
loddor and water imposod by tho Khan of Chalikuta, who controls the Ahmcdi
route. This they will not do and when referrod to invariably reply that
traders are at liberty to use which route they please. Such instructions afford
no solution of the difficulty whatever and simply allow the question to romain
a constant sourco of dissension and intrigue. As it is, for the last few years
the cncrgotic advocation of the Ahmedi routo by the British forwarding agent
supported by tho Residency leaves them for'the timo in possession of the
Ahmedi route, but tho difficulty is only prevented from assuming serious
proportions by a periodical struggle with the local authorities.
Illegal levies.
Ralidari and other illegal transit dues are still levied all over the country
and will continue to be, as long as the Central Government is neither able nor
willing to suppress them.
Settlement of
claims. Thanks to the euergy which His Majesty’s Vice-Consul devotes to this
branch of bis work, and to the co-operation experienced from the Mowagar-ed-
Dowleh and his brother at the Karguzaret, the position of the mercantile com-
ruunity as regards the recovery of curront claims is much improved. On the
other hand, owing to the entire absence of effective Government at Tehran, it has
not been possible to make any advance in tho recovery of our old outstandings
nor does it seem likely that they will ever he made good.
Operations of
the Russian The sailings of the Odessa Line have been continued in a half-hearted way
Odessa Line of
Bteamers. during the year but their ships have brought very little cargo, and the Agent
of the Line, Monsieur Mishtolt, recently admitted that he was doing practically
no business at all. Ho is, in fact, about to leave for Europe owing to tho stag­
nation, and does not expect that tho Company will coutinue to maintain a
European representative. It is indeed a matter tor some surpiise that they
continue their sailings at all.
The Hamburg- The German Line on the other hand shows unabated energy, but according
Araerika Line
and German to our own commercial firms they are carrying on business on lines which
competition.
cannot possibly pay unless heavily subsidised. Special reports regarding details
of their operations have been drawn up in the Consulate-General during the
year and the subject is lully dealt with by His Majesty’s Vice-Consul in his
Trade Report and only calls for passing.reference here.
Messrs. Wonckhaus continue to make Lingah their stronghold and the
training ground for their European recruits, and there they have the field, such
as it is, to themselves. In this conmction again our own nationalists aver that
the Germans are tiading on reckless principles, which they could only employ
if they were guaranteed against loss by their Government.
Sponge Explo­ It is now a year and a half since Mr. Hatinoglou left the Gulf for
ration Syndicate
'Europe, proposing io return in two or three months to renew his diving opera­
tions. Locally nothing has been beard of him or bis Syndicate during the year
under report, but it appears that in May 1907 the latter were seeking financial
assistance in the London money market, and in tliie connection the Residents
views were asked as to whether it would be expedient that British capital
should be encouraged to finance the enterprise. He replied that while no trust­
worthy information was forthcoming locally as to the commercial possibilities
of the enterprise, he was of opinion, subject to that consideration, that it
would be expedient to encourage British capital provided that the Syndicate
would undertake to conform strictly to the policy which the British Govern­
ment have always pursued in these waters, of non-interference with the rign s
of Arab tribes to the pearl-fisheries.
Since then nothing further has been heard of the Syndicate’s proceedings.
In reply to the representations mentioned in last year’s report, the Sheikh
Tbo Abu Musa
Oxide conces­ of Shargah was informed that his action in resuming the concession appearcu
sion- to Government to be justified and that he was therefore at liberty to take t e
necessary stops to make good tlio resumption In the latter P:irt of ^ ionaire
Sheikh Sngar wrote to any that in spue of his warnings the °?nce®* . ’
Samaiyeh, had reinforced his miners and refused to stop Ins operations.
Hassan