Page 413 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

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POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 1909. a
was eventually given to a comparative stranger to Fars politics, the Saham-
ed-Dowleh, whose appointment the now powerful Sowlet was graciously
pleased to approve. This official appears to have been of a type unfor­
tunately a very rara avis in Persia hitherto. Had he received reasonable
assistance from the Central Government in the direction of financial and
practical support, it is conceivable that he might have been able to effect an
entire change in the situation in Fars. Without these aids his regime, in
spite of his strong personality, was doomed to succumb to the forces of fac­
tion-intrigue and corruption by which he was beset.
Apart from the above, the salient points to which I would draw atten­
tion in the Shiraz Report, are : (i) the despatch from Bushire of a small
mixed detachment of 50 men under the Second Assistant Resident, Lieuten­
ant J. S. Crosthwaite, and Lieutenant George Lang, R.N., in July 1909, to
strengthen the escort of the Consulate, on which there were some grounds to
expect attack. This party was subjected to discourteous treatment by the
Shaikh of Borasjun, who, on their arrival at midnight, refused them the
hospitality of his caravanserai. There is reason however to think that the
incident was partly due to avoidable misunderstanding, and the Governor-
General at Shiraz has undertaken that reparation is made on the detach­
ment’s return-journey: (fi) the attack made on the caravan of the Russian
Consul-General, apparently by Kuhgelu raiders and (Hi) the rise of the
Sowlet-ed-Dowleh, Ilkhani of the Kashgais, to a position from which he was
able practically to dictate the policy of the Persian Government in Fars and
to make it impossible for any Governor-General, not palatable to him, to
retain his position.
Apart from Fars politics, which have been sufficiently dealt with above,
'I need only mention (i) the revision of
an r A “■ the status and jurisdiction of our ap­
pointment at Bandar Abbas, owing to altered political conditions, and, (it) to
the promotion of the Telegraph Office at that port, hitherto run only as a
departmental station, to the status of an International Office. It is hoped
that in the course of time the present high scale of charges will admit of some
reduction.
The province of Kerman, though not immune from the general conditions
of anarchy which prevailed, had little
Kerman.
direct participation in the outburst of
revolution or “ nationalism ” (if this euphemism is preferred) which so con­
vulsed Fars.
It will be seen, however, that Persian Baluchistan was practically out
of control all through the year. On the 11th of July, Major Ducat tele­
graphed that, in the event of the forces of the allied Baluchi Chiefs, then
on the war-path, reaching Bam, Kerman would certainly be taken by the
Afshars, and the situation would then be one of great danger. Under in­
structions from the Minister, His Majesty’s Consuls at Kerman and Seistan
sept warnings to the Chiefs that they would be held responsible by tbe
British Government for any loss to British subjects resulting from their
proceedings, and at the same time the Resident telegraphed to Sardar Seyyid
Khan of Gaih warning him against further aggressive action. These mess-
ages apparently had their effect, and nothing more was heard of the Baluchi
advance.
The wholesale migration of indigent Mekranis, reported from the Jask
District, is a serious difficulty for which
Tho Persian Mokran Coast.
it is hard to devise any practicable
remedy. During the present year it will be seen that some 1,200 souls were
driven by the pressure of famine conditions to migrate to the Oman Coast.
There, the greater part of them either sell themselves or otherwise lapse into
a condition of slavery. Their plight however only becomes apparent when
perhaps they have earned a little money and are anxious to return to their
country : then their protectors or masters, as the case may be, intervene and
prevent their departure. Thus, at some of the Arab Coast ports, I have