Page 418 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

CHAPTER I.

ADMINISTRATION REPORT FOR BUSHIRE AND FARS FOR THE
YEAR 1909.

(a) Governor.—His Excellency the Moazziz-cd-Dowlch (see last year's
report) who, shortly after his arrival, in
Changes among Persian Officials.
October 1908, had proceeded to Mekran
and remained in retirement at Charbar, apparently with the idea of evading
the cares of government, did not return to his head-quarters until the 25th of
March. He then appeared not to realise the developments which had super­
vened at Bushire during his absence, as he landed without precautions, and
was promptly placed under arrest in a private dwelling in the town, by
Seyyid Murtczas orders. This course was said to have been taken both in
order to keep the Moazziz out of mischief, and with the idea that the fact of
his being in custody would serve as a guarantee for the good behaviour of his
brother, His Excellency the Asaf-ed-Dowleh, Governor-General of Shiraz.
A few days later, having suspicions of the Seyyid’s intentions towards him,
the }doazziz came into bast at the British Residency, and remained there
until assurances were received from the Seyyid that he would be permitted
to depart in peace to Shiraz. His Excellency did so, and reached Tehran in
safety, but later in the year news was received of his death in the Capital.
On 10th Hay, His Excellency the Darya Begi returned once more and
was received with acclamation by the same populace who a few months before
had been equally ready to say good bye to him. He was now hailed however
as the one man likely to be able to restore Bushire to its normal condition.
Kis Excellency had a fair measure of success and remained as Governor
until the end of the year.
(5) Kargr.zar.—After the departure of the Masud-es-Sultan, chronicled
in the last year's report, Bushire was left without a Foreign Office Agent for a
period of seven months. The new incumbent, Itf !a-.d-Dowleh, arrived in
February 1909. This official appears to have an uusavoury record, but for­
merly, as Karguzar at Moharamerah, he had been apparently friendly to
British interests, and this was also the case when he represented the Persian
Foreign Office at the Baluchistan Frontier Meeting of 1907 for the settlement
of the border claims. He had since been for a time Karguzar at Kerman;
and subsequently took to journalism, conducting a newspaper called the
Ispahan ” until he received his present post. He is a person of extravagant
habits and generally out at elbows, and was a good deal under obligation of
the Residency for friendly help <in the past or substantial recognition for
co-operation rendered : consequently his appointment as Karguzar was not
regarded with disfavour. He remained in office until close upon the end
of the year during which time he gave a good deal of assistance in the settle­
ment of British commercial cases. Unfortunately, however, he came to log­
gerheads with the German Consulate in connection with a question of cere­
monial, and also over a certain commercial claim in which the interests of
Messrs. Wonckhaus and two or three British firms were concerned. The
Karguzar's treatment of the case was satisfactory from the British point of
view, but the German firm and Consulate considered that their interests had.
bccD ignored, and made vigorous complaints, through the German Legation,
regarding the Ittela-id-Dowleh’s attitude, both in respect of the question
of ceremony and this commercial claim. They were unable to effect the Kar-
guzar’s transfer directly, but unfortunately his relations with the Darya Begi
were unsatisfactory, and this reason was made a pretext by the Persian
Foreign Office for getting him transferred to Mohamraerah. He was replace
by Mirza Ghulam Ali Khan, Saad-es-Sultan, from Mobammerah, who gives
promise of being a satisfactory official, as things go in Persia.
(c) Customs.—Monsieur Stas (who gave us trouble at Bandar
1906, in connection with the landing of the cable) was in charge of the Busniro