Page 196 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

12 ADMINISTRATION RErORT OF TIIE PERSIAN C.ULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY

indicating tho basis of temporary onjoyment on which the island
was tenanted by bhrikh Salim. Tho latter himself, in a lot ter
addressed to his nephew, altogether disclaimed ever having
thought of asserting any title to occupy tho island on any other
terms than those of sufferance on the part of the Ruling Sheikh.
(2) As to Messrs. Wonckhaus’ claim to possess a share in the conco>sion
and mines, it was pointed out that his purchase of a share from
llassan Samaiyoh was, in the first place, invalid on the face of it,
the tiansaetion having been mcic’y colourable and having taken
place on a date in October 1907 long after the resumption of the
concession by the Sheikh of S iargah; and, secondly, that the
transfer of a share to a foreigner was in any ease contrary to the
spirit of the understanding on which the concession iiad been
granted.
(3) documentary evidence was produced tending to prove the assertion
that the transaction was carefully concealed from tho other
concessionaires.

The above material was still under the consideration of Government at the
close of the year. Meanwhile, pending settlement of the ease, the Rosident was
directed to arrange with the. Sheikh to permit Messrs. Wonckhaus to remove
any portion they might wish of the oxide excavated prior to the inception of
the present dispute. The necessary steps in tnis direction having been
taken, the Hamburg-Amerika S.S. Louise was expected duringthe first, week of
A pril for tho purpose of removing as much as possible of the oxide lying on the
beach ready for shipment (believed to be about 2,000 tons), ami the First
Assistant was depuied to proceed in the Lawrence to the island and stand by
during the presence of the German ship, in order that no inconvenient incident
or dispute might attend her operations.
he local politics The observations made in last year’s Report regarding the inception and
T Bushire.
progress of the Bnshire branch of the National Parliament, were hardly
enthusiastic, but at that, time the movement had not been long enough on foot
to justify any confident forecast of tho future that might he in store for it.
The year that, has since passed unfortunately affords si ill less material for
enthusiasm. The petty politics of Bushiro have indeed been mainly too
farcical to warrant detailed comment; suffice it to say that the intrigues
to which the elections have given rise; the constant bickerings which have
distinguished the meetings of the body ; and the scurrilous pamphleteering
which has been so freely indulged in in connection therewith, have proved
seriously detrimental to the general peace and prosperity of the port.
At Lingah and Bunder Abbas the position has been much the same and
though we are so far fortunate, in that party dissensions in the Gulf ports
have never developed the serious and sanguinary proportions which have been
witnessed in other cities of Persia, Kerman and Kerinanshah for instance, yet
the elfcet of the national movement up to the present has been thoroughly
harmful and unsettling to the whole Persian community, and among the
better class of merchants the greatest dissatisfaction is' openly expressed at
the result, or want of result, of tho first instalment of constitutional reform,
of which such sanguine expectations were entertained. Indeed ono of ™
principal Persian merchants of Bushire at a roceut gathering of local
greybeards feelingly remarked :—
“ It is true that I heartily welcomed the advent of liberal government,
but now I realise that it has so far been a failure and disappointment. In tno
first place it has brought into discredit myself and others of my class who
formerly enjoyed the esteem and respect of the whole community, so that
under the present rdgirne any low class rascal is at liberty to vilify or lampo
us with impunity. Secondly, although the parliamentary govern men
now been in progress for nearly two years its only practical result has
aggravated state of general chaos and insecurity and the ruiua,
commerce.”