Page 419 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 1009. Q

Directorate at the beginning of the year but left for Europe during the
second week of January on the termination of his contract with the Persian
Government. He is understood not to intend to re-engage. His successor,
Monsieur Zwinne, a recent arrival from Belgium, is a well-meaning official but,
as has been our experience of all new Belgian hands, showed himself inclined
to be ultra punctilious in the enforcement of the letter of the law without due
consideration of the particular circumstances of each case. Monsieur Zwinne
had a difficult time "and some humiliating experiences (which he bore with
creditable detachment) during the Seyyid Murteza’s troubles, being in the first
place expelled from the Customs and subsequently, in the interests of the
Administration, coming to terms with Seyyid Murteza and agreeing to super­
vise the Customs work on certain constitutional conditions. On the 27th of
April Monsieur Zwinne informed the Residency that his superior, Monsieur
Leleux, who had recently arrived from Mohammerah, had taken over from him
the charge of the Customs. As the political position was somewhat nebulous
at the time, and as it was doubted whether the National party in power would
regard Monsieur Lelcux’s advent favourably, Monsieur Zwinne was asked
whether Monsieur Leleux had come to any written agreement or understand­
ing with the local Anjuman recognising his assumption of the Directorate.
A satisfactory reply was received. Monsieur Leleux brought with him from
Moharamerah a reputation for taking a very strict view of his regulations and
responsibilities, but he certainly belied it during his term of office at Bushire,
and proved conciliatory and reasonable in his official dealings with the Resi­
dency. He remained in charge until the end of the year.
Monsieur Kadloubousky, Vice-Consul in charge of the Russian Con-
. sulate-General, for whose co-operation
1 * during the Seyyid Murleza’s disturbances
His Majesty’s Consul-General had reason to be grateful, left as soon as the
situation cleared, for Shiraz to join his Chief. Monsieur Passek. On the 12th
of June he telegraphed to the Resident, from Kazcrun, informing him that his
caravan had been fired on; one of his Cossacks hit in the mouth, and his own
horse shot- just behind the saddle, the bullet just missing his leg. Monsieur
Kadloubousky reached Shiraz without further incident and remained there
till the end of the year. An attempt was indeed made by Monsieur Passek
and himself to return to the coast towards the end of November, but their
caravan was attacked near Khan-i-Zinian, on the 25th November (a Cossack
of his escort being killed), and the party at once returned to Shiraz.
Dr. Listemann proceeded on leave, on the 20th of April, and was relieved
bv Herr Wassmuss from Zanzibar, a young man without previous experience
of Persia or its language. He arrived at an exceedingl}- difficult juncture,
and being entirely dependent upon his Mirza for local information, was
worked upon bv the latter, an unscrupulous intriguer, to take up an attitude
calculated to give difficulty to the Residency, at an anxious time when, practi­
cally speaking, the interests and personal safety of all foreigners in Bushire
was dependent upon the policy of the British Government- and its Represen­
tative. There was no moral doubt that the German Dragoman, very pro­
bably for his own delectation, and without the knowledge or instructions of
his new Chief, was in close intercourse with Seyyid Murteza throughout, and
assisted him with advice and drafts of letters, when in correspondence with
the Residency. Herr Wassmuss was, on more than one occasion, given a
friendly hint not to rely alone upon the reports of his Mirza in regard to
local politics, but he not unnaturally replied that he placed the fullest confi­
dence in his subordinate, and was satisfied that he was keeping absolutely
clear of local faction intrigues. Similarly, Herr Wassrauss was badly advised
by the same individual in his quarrels with the Karguzar. With the return
of the Bushire situation to normal however, and the expulsion of Seyyid
Mur-eza, the atmosphere cleared, and Herr Wassmuss’s last few months in
Bushire were undisturbed by any elements of friction. He was still in charge
at the close of the year.
Monsieur R. Chaloin continued to hold the post of French Vice-Consul
until November when he was removed for certain irregularities, and French
interests were then, for the time being, consigned to the care of the British