Page 27 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

REBIDENCY FOR THE YEAR W05-W0G. 17

Sheep.—The embargo on sheep which was removed in 1904 was revived in
Doocmbor 1905 in connection with a proposed shipment by Mr. Leo Malcolm of
a large number of sheep to be bought on commission for a South African firm*
On the other hand the prohibition against the export of carpets containing
aniline dyes was suspended from April 1905 ostensibly to enable the Minister
of Customs to make inquiry into tho problem, but more probably in order
to appease the carpet weavers who had accumulated large stocks of carpets
mido with aniline-dyed wool, by letting them unload and get their accumula­
tions out of the country.
Mr. A. Gleadowo Newcomen, President of the British Indian Commercial
Mission to South-Eastern Persia, arrived
BriL'uib Commercial Hu»ion.
at Bushire on 12th May 1905, having
been preceded a fortnight before by the other two members of his party, Messrs.
Luff man aud Ryan.
Tbc Mission bad entered Persia from .Bunder Abbas in the preceding
November and travelling via Kerman, Yezd and 8hiraz, completed its labours
at Bushire. An interesting and important report of the itinerary and doings
of the Mission and of the conclusions arrived at has since been published by
the Government of India for Mr. Newoomen, and apart from other practical
merits the work forms a valuable book of reference in regard to all matters of
trade and communication in Southern Persia.
It is unnecessary here to make more than passing reference to the work
of the Mission ; for further details attention is invited to Mr. Newcomen’s full
report above mentioned. Suffice to say that the general conclusion come to
seems to be that, the position of the trade of the British Empire is not so bad
as it seems at first sight and that a good deal can and should be done to
ameliorate the commercial outlook.
On the arrival of the Mission at Bushire (in the absence of the Governor)
the Persian Foreign Office Agent having expressed his inability to call at the
Resident’s request on the President, and having subsequently been instructed
to uo so by the Musbir-eu-LowVeh at lire instance of His Majesty’s Legation,
gave as bis reason for the omission that while the British Authorities fre-
quently.asked for the special treatment of their Consular Officers and persons
in a special position like Mr. Newcomen, they did not altogether reciprocate, in
their treatment of Persian officials in India, He said he spoke from personal
experience at Bombay only, though he was inclined to think that the case was
much the same at Calcutta. He was not able, however, to quote any special
instances in point and it is doubtful whether this was his genuine reason, he
having at first told the Resident that having been Consul-General in Bombay
some years ago, he considered that he was of superior standing to
Mr. Newcomen. (He eventually called just after Mr. Newcomen had left the
Suhzahad Residency for the Laurence). His observations regarding
his Indian experiences were, however, communicated to the Government of
ludia and His Majesty’s Legation.
In May 1905, a Monsieur M. T. Hatinoglou, the representative of tha
Sponge Exploration Concessions Syndicate,
The Sponge Exploration Conceuiors Syndicate,
Limited, a company registered in London,
arrived at Bushire from Europe, and asked the assistance of the Residency ia
obtaining concessions for “ the exclusive right to fish for sponges, pearls,
corals, and all other undersea produce suitable for commercial purposes.”
Monsieur Hatinoglou was advised to refer to His Majesty’s Government in
the first instance. This he did, and while correspondence was proceeding, he
employed his time in exploring likely fields in Gulf waters. In October 1905
he informed His Majesty’s Vice-Consul that he had obtained a concession
from the Persian Government and soon afterwards proceeded to Maekat*
where although the Sultan had been warned of his intentions, he was able on
9th November to obtain a concession from Hia Highness for sponge
fishing for 15 years, the cancellation of which was recommended, but was
not considered feasible by His Majesty’s Government. It was subsequent1 y
ascertained that the Persian concession had been obtained from HU Majesty
the Shah while travelling in Europe. *
S