Page 226 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

42 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL
RESIDENCY
45. Matters were allowed to slide on in this manner until in Juno 1907
the question was brought to the front again by the British Foreign Oflioo who
forwarded a statement of claims submitted by Messrs. Lynch Brothers. '
^his statement included a calculation of claims on account of expenses
incurred in painting and repairing the bridges in 1902, 1903, and 1904 of
which only a small portion has been recovered. Messrs. Lynch Brothers
renewed the claim for the extra £3,000, and 12 per cent interest on arrears.
Tho whole matter was discussed by IIis Majesty’s Minister with ITis
Britannic Majesty’s Vice-Consul during the visit of the lattor to Tehran in July
1907, and it was decided to press the claims after they havo been brought into
conformity with the rulings of His Majesty’s Secretaries for Foreign °AfTairs.
The claims so rovised up to 3rd March 1907 amounted to Krans 29,470 09
on account of construction and Krans 18,47G*3G on account of bridge rej airs,
and these were presented to the Khans at Shalamzar by the Vice-Consul in the
end of September.
The Khans eventually accepted the former claim and promised to pay it
without delay. The latter claim they entiiclv repudiated, no doubt partly
owing to the unfortunate fact that the 1904 bill had never previously been
presented to them. It amounted to nearly Krans 15,000 or about four times
more than cither of the previous bills, and apparently on these grounds His
Britannic Majesty’s Consul-General at Ispahan, Mr. Preece, had without
enquiry declined to present it and the matter had been allowed to rest at this.
On examination now, however, there seemed to he no ground for believing that
full value had not been given for the sum olaimed, and hence it was presented.
The Khans put forward various arguments which were not considered
valid and finally declared their repudiation of it with some asperity.
Minor claims wore presented at the same time on a claim tor a oase of
opium robbed on the road in autumn 1906 and another for robbery on the
road perpetrated in August of the current year.
The former of these they promised to satisfy* but the latter they repudiated
on the grounds that the robbery had been done by Kuhgalu whom they
were not allowed to pursue.
55. So much for tho Khans’ statements, now for tbeir performance.
Tho construction account claims have remained unpaid with the exception
of Krans 12,46514 out of the February oil instalment, which they requested
6liould be paid over to Messrs. Lynch Brothers.
The bridge repair claims have remained unsatisBed, but a subsequent
claim under this head for repairs effected in September 1907 amounting to
Krans 4,477 was paid in full in March.
First instalments of the claim for the case of opium as paid in March
up to the end of which Krans 1,420 had been paid out of a total of
Krans 2,601*50.
In regard to the other robbery case, the Khans without reference to the
Vice-Consul satisfied (?) the Muleteers concerned with compensation very muon
less than that claimed by them, but the cost of tho goods claimed by Lynch
on their own account has not been paid up. The Khans have professed
ignorance of the robbery of the claim, and resorted to all the usual arts ot
procrastination.
56. The instalment of the Road Construction Account and tho interest on
the capital fall due on 3rd March of each year.
Notice of the new instalment falling due was sent to the Khanslin
February 1908, and an exact statement of their entire indebtedness in re
fo the oonotruotion and bridge repair accounts on 3rd March 1908.was sent to
fSESSSESa"

the type of the present Khans.