Page 499 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 1910. 6

offered to Mr. R. H. New, of the Indo-European Telegraph Department, who,
as Assistant Superintendent of the Jask Sub-Division, had for the past two or
three years been rendering valuable co-operation to the Naval and Political
authorities, in connection with the suppression of the arms traffic on the Mek-
r&n Coast. Mr. New assumed charge of his duties on the 29th of March.
The objects with which Mr. New’s appointment was made, were that he
should study and stimulate trade at Lingah, and endeavour to bring about an
effective competition by British traders with German enterprise at that port;
secondly, that he should, as opportunity and experience made it possible, visit
and study the trade of Debai, and thus prepare the way for the more effec­
tive British representation on the Trucial Coast generally; thirdly, that he
should co-operate in the measures in progress for the suppression of the arms
traffic, which industry appears to be extending its tentacles northwards.
The affairs of Lingah afford no material for permanent interest until the
last quarter of the year. The hinterland and Laristan generally had still re­
mained in the state of lawless chaos in which it had been left last year by the
vagaries of Seyyid Abdul Husein Lari. On the 20th of October, lively news
reached Lingah to the effect that Ghulam Hussein Khan Varawi, supported by
Ali Akbar Khan of Giladar, Bakar Khan of Ishkhanu, Shaikh Mazkoor of !
Gaobandi, had collected a force not less than 3,000 strong and intended raid­
ing Lingah. The inhabitants of the port were greatly alarmed and began
making preparations for the removal of their families and valuables. His
Majesty’s Vice-Consul was directed to send a friendly letter to Ghulam
Hussein Khan, warning him that His Majesty’s Ships of war were at Lingah
and would do what was necessary to protect British subjects, and that the
intended raid with which he was credited would involve a good deal of risk
to those who participated in it. On the 27th of October, the Deputy Gover­
nor. having informed His Majesty’s Vice-Consul and the Senior Naval Officer
that, with the forces at his command, he was unable to accept responsibility
for the safety of the town and the communities inside it, 174 men with 4 guns
were landed from Ii. M. S. “ Fox,” while I-I. M. S. “ Odin ” was sent up to the
Shib Kuh ports to deal with some dhows of armed men which Shaikh Mazkoor
was reported to be sending by sea to participate in the attack on Lingah.
Ghulam Hussein Khan ec Co. replied to His Majesty’s Vice-Consul that their
business was with the Shaikh of Islugam, and that they had never had any
intention of attacking Lingah. It is known, however, from the correspond­
ence which was intercepted, that Lingah was their real objective, but the
action of the British authorities had the effect of averting the raid, and on
the 10th of November, there being no longer cause for apprehension, H. M.
Ships “ Fox ” and <! Odin ” were able to re-erabark their men.
It is satisfactory to know that Messrs. Gray Paul & Co., after a good
deal of friendly pressure, and stimulated by the appointment of a British
Vice-Consul, have deputed an English employe to look after their interests at
Lingah. and I understand that the measure is re-paying them.
British Commercial interests at Bandar Abbas and Minab have suffered
no less than they have everywhere else.
Bandar Abbaa.
Bandar Abbas was disturbed by frequent
rumours of impending raids. In October, a force of Baharlu raiders from
Fars, nominally under the control of the Kawara-ul-Mulk of Shiraz, overran
the entire district, looting the goods of British Indian subjects to the value of
about half a lakh of rupees, none of which has been recovered.
Owing to the difficult position in which Bandar Abbas is placed by the
presence of large parties of Afghans, ostensibly there for ordinary trade, but
indistinguishable from, and often including, gangs engaged in the smuggling
of arms, who are apt to become truculent on hearing of the seizure of their
consignments by our ships, it was considered prudent to place the compound
and building forming His Majesty’s Consulate in a condition better adapted
for self-contained and effective defence. The necessary alterations were car­
ried out during the year, and included underground communication between
the Cable House and the Consulate;—a most convenient arrangement. This
is a fresh instance of the possibility in Persia of obtaining, by lapse of time
what diplomacy has been powerless to achieve.