Page 667 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

CHAPTER VI.
ADMINISTRATION REPORT FOR THE ARABISTAN CONSULATE
FOR THE YEAR 1911,

H$jor L. B, H. Haworth, I.A., who arrived on the 12th January and
took over charge from Lieutenant A. T.
Hu Hojorty'n Connuloto.
Wilson, I,A., on the 14th, was Consul
for Arabistan throughout the year.
Lieutenant J. G. L. Ranking, I.A., was Vice-Consul for Arabistan and
Consul for Ahwaz until the termination of the Bakhtiari agreement regard­
ing the purchase of the oil-fields, when, on the 15th May, he handed over to
Captain A. J. EL Grey, IJL
Mr. V/. N. Slqueira was Consular Dragoman and Mirza Ahmed Khan
Consulate Mirza.
The European colony in the district has grown steadily. Mohammarr-h
contains 21 Europeans of whom 18 are
Cc2=zs E-c’.urn*.
British; in addition there are S7 British
Indian subjects.
^hwaz 17 Europeans of whom 14 are British and 23 Indians.
The oil-fields at Masjid-i-SuIeinian contain £3 British of whom many
are Canadian, and SO natives of India.
At the Abadan Refinery there are 17 British, 521 British Indians and
CO Cliinece.
Governors of Arabistan.—The Governors of Arabistan changed with the
same frequency £3 those in other parts
Locd OrSciale.
of Persia. At the beginning of the
year Fakhr-ul-Lfiulk held the position, but he left for Kerbela on a pilgrim­
age, in January, returning on the 1st April to MoharUmerah, proceeding to
Abwaz for Shuchtar the same day. He was dismissed three weeks later,
tha Kargnzar being deputed to act temporarily.
At the end of May Shahzcdah Assadullah Llirza, Shahab-ed-Dowleh,
was appointed Governor. Ee did not take up his appointment.
In the middle of June Shahzadah Imad-ed-Dowleh was nominated to be
his successor and left Tehran travelling vid Kermanshah. While on his way
the cx-Shah returned to Persia, and Salar-ed-Dowleh raised the standard of
rtvolt at Kermanshah. Imad-ed-Dowleh joined him, thus creating a further
vacancy in the appointment for Arabistan.
Nizam-e3-Sultaneh was appointed in October, as stated under 14 Inter­
nal Administration,” but he did not take up the appointment.
Finally, at the beginning of November, Ijlal-es-Sultaneh was appointed
to the post. He is still the nominee, but at the close of the year has not yet
arrived to take up his duties.
The Governorship of Arabistan does not oonfer very great powers, most
of the country being under the rule of the Shaikh, the portion in the district
of Ram Hormuz being administered by the Bakhtiari: thus leaving but
Shushtar and Dizful to the nominal Governor of the Province.
It seems difficult to obtain anyone of sufficient importance who will
accept a position in which he is really but a man of straw; the real influence,
even in the districts controlled by the Governor, lying with the Shaikh and
the Bakhtiaris.
Still more difficult would it appear to be to find a man who will be
neutral, the main requirement for tne appointment.
Shaikh Sir Khaz’al Khan, K.C.I.E., Sardar-i-Arfa, continued his rule
(luring the year under report in which work he was assisted by Haji Rais-uU