Page 320 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

CHAPTER II.
ADMINISTRATION REPORT FOR ARABISTAN FOR THE NINE
MONTHS ENDING 31ST DECEMBER 1908.

The present Report deals with the period 1st April to 31st December
Vico-Consn- 1. Charge.—Charge was held throughout the year by Captain D. L. R.
Into Alfnira.
Lorimer, I.A., but before its conclusion it had been informally announced
that sanction was accorded to Captain Lorimer's proceeding on long leave,
and that he should make over charge to Lieutenant J. G. L. Ranking, I.A.
2. Raising of the status of Vice-Consulate.—Owing to the appointment
by the Netherlands Government of Mr. Gratama to act as their representa­
tive at Ahwaz with the honorary rank of Consul, it was found necessary to
raise the status of His Britannic Majesty’s Vice-Consulate to that of a Con­
sulate. Accordingly His Majesty’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
intimated to Captain Lorimer, under date 1st May 1908, that he had been ap­
pointed His Majesty’s Consul for Arabistan. The title, however, duplicates
that held by His Majesty’s Consul at Mohammerah, and there is reason to
believe the intention was to confer the local rank of Consul at Ahwaz.
3. The Head Clerk.—Mr. Ahmad Khan, who has been Head Clerk in
the Vice-Consulate since the autumn of 1904, has applied for transfer to
India, and, Government having accorded its sanction, he will shortly quit
this post on being relieved.
4. The Indian Oil Guard.—This Guard has been retained at Maidan
Munaftun since January last.
In August the question of the necessity for its retention during the
year 1909 came under, consideration. His Majesty’s Consul was of opinion
that it would be inexpedient to remove it as it appeared to have effected the
purpose, and no radical change having taken place in the situation, there was
no guarantee that its removal would not be followed by a recrudescence of
the trouble experienced in 1907.
In November notification was received that Mr. D’Arcy had expressed
the opinion that its retention was unnecessary, but it has since been ascer­
tained that this view was not shared by Mr. Bradshaw, then in local charge,
nor now is by Mr. Reynolds, who has again replaced him. Before leaving
London Mr. Reynolds was informed by his Principals that the Foreign Office
had assured Mr. D’Arcy that the Guard would not be retained during next
hot weather, but no notice of a final decision has reached His Majesty’s
Consul.
5. Lieutenant Ranking.—Of the two Officers in charge of Che Guard,
Lieutenant Ranking was attached to His Britannic Majesty’s Consul from the
beginning of June for a period of five months, the intention being to enable the
latter to exercise greater freedom of action.
Starting in May he accompanied the Consul to Dizful, and thence vid
Bazuft to Ispahan. Unfortunately, owing to Captain Lorimer falling a
victim to neuralgia, it was impossible to take full advantage of the arrange­
ment, but had it not been made this little used route vid Bazuft would not have
been attempted.
6. On arrival at Ispahan it was found that the Indian escort attached
to the Consulate-General there in the absence of the Consul-General had got
out of hand. On Captain Lorimer’s suggestion the charge of the guard was
made over to Lieutenant Ranking. The necessity of this move was soon
proved by the development of a mutinous spirit in the guard, which even-
tually led to orders being issued for its withdrawal to India. The escort