Page 302 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

2 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY

increased the number of caravan robberies and rendered the settlement of
outstanding claims more difficult to achieve than ever.
At the beginning of the year the Province of Pars was in a state of
absolute anarchy, but when His Imperial Highness the Zil-cs-Sultan was
appointed Governor-General in March, matters mended considerably.
During Ilis Imperial Highness’s short administration, the roads bccamo
temporarily safe and the province was quieted as if by magic. Unfortu­
nately the Zil was removed from office after the Shah’s coup d'etat
apparently because his adherents at Tehran had been intriguing with the
Constitutional Party and left for Europe in July. His Excellency the Asaf-
cd-Dowlch having been appointed Governor-General sent his Deputy, Sardar
Firuz, to take charge, and did not himself arrive till September. His
Excellency nominally retained the post of Governor-General till the end of
the year, but has shown himself absolutely incapable of governing Pars and
the province has remained in complete anarchy since the departure of the
Zil.
Shirftz. The Resident visited Shiraz arriving there in June during the Zil-es-
Sultan’s reign and leaving in October after the arrival of the Asaf-ed-Dowleh.
The principal subjects in Mr. Bill’s interesting report on Pars are—
(1) The extraordinary effect produced by the nomination of His
Imperial Highness the Zil-es-Sultan to the Governor-General­
ship simply owing to his reputation as a ruler who had no use
for rose-water methods.
(2) The treacherous murder of the Motamid-i-Diwan by the Arab
Chief Asghar Khan in revenge for the former’s share in the
murder of the Kowam-ul-Mulk in March 1908.
(3) The apathy with which the Shiraz populace received the news
of the fall of the Constitution.
(4) The rise of Seyyid Abdul Hussain Lari as Nationalist leader in
Lar.
With these topics Mr. Bill has dealt very thoroughly and further com­
ment from me is superfluous.
13nshire and As far as the town of Bushirc was concerned it was most noticeable that
Persian coast. during all the disturbances in other parts of Persia it was tranquil. The
Bushiri of course regards his town as distinct from Persia and all the current
generation wants is some reasonably just form of government under which
Be can pursue his business avocations undisturbed. At the beginning of the
period under review, the local assembly which had been formed nearly two
years after those in other parts of Persia, was in full swing. Under the
presidency of a disreputable petty trader named Mirza Ali, it interfered
with every matter, great and small. During its regime therefore it was even
more difficult to settle eases than ever. The average Bushiri became very
tired of the Majlis and of the busy-bodies composing it and when it was
eventually abolished as a result of the Shah’s coup d'etat, the people viewed
its demise—not merely with apathy as the Shirazis—but with undisguised
relief.
The principal matters of interest mentioned in my report for Bush ire
(annexed) are—
(1) Lingah affairs including the revival of the question of the protec­
tion of Bahreinis.
(2) The question of the flying of German flags by dhows, and the
regularization of the conditions under which the British flag
can be flown by persons under British protection on their
sailing craft.
(1) The finding of oil by the Concessions Syndicate at. Maidan
Abwaz.
Manaftun.
(2) Messrs. Lynch Brothers’ renewed efforts to build a shed at Sha -
aili.