Page 366 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

14, PEHSIAN GULP ADMINIST3ATI0N REPORT

intention protested verbally to Monsieur Willemscns, Ills contention toeing
that the old flagstaff was orocted on the roof of tho Customs house while tho
now ono was to bo erected on the ground which, was directly contrary to
Persian Government rules. 3f. Willemsons ignored tho protest and, on tho
7th April, proceeded to put up tho new flagstaff. No sooner was it up when
tho Tangistani tufangchia of tho Deputy Govomor rushed into the Customs
premises armed to the teeth and pulled it down. Tho incidont was reported
to the Officiating Resident who arranged with tho Governor of tho Gulf Porta
for ordors to bo issued to the Deputy Governor to re-erect tho flagstaff on a
concrete base in the same spot as the dismantled ono. The orders were received
on tho evo of Monsieur Willemsens departure and ho failed to insist on their
being carried out Tho Customs house remained without a flagstaff till the end
of the year.
Shortly after the occupation of Bushire by our troops the Deputy Governor,
for some unknown reason, disarmed his Tangistani guards. The same evening
he called on the Residency Agent and, during his absence, the guards re-possess­
ed themselves of their arms and took up their quarters in the Port. On his
return from the house of the Residency Agent the Tangistanis fired a volley
over the house of the Deputy Governor doing no dainase. Tho next day the
Tangistanis made their submission to the Deputy Governor and were allowed
to retain their rifles and fulfil their ordinary duties.
A few days later the Deputy Governor convened a public meeting at
which he declared his intention of resisting by force the landing of British
troops in Lingah. Considerable alarm was felt by British subjects as they
feared an attack by the Deputy Governor and his men. His Britannic
Majesty’s Vice-Consul wrote the Deputy Governor a stern letter of warning
holding him personally responsible for any ham to life and property of British
subjects. Shortly after receipt of the letter the Deputy Governor proceeded to
Bandar Abbas and reported to the Vice-Consul that the Tangistanis had
mutinied and asked him to co-operate in obtaining funds from the Persian
Government for the entertainment of new guards to suppress the mutiny. At
the same time the Vice-Consul received a report from the Residency Agent
informing him that the Tangistanis were quite friendly and had no intention of
harming British subjects. The Vice-Consul, leaving the Deputy Governor in
Bandar Abbas, visited Lingah and interviewed the Tangistani Chiefs. He was
told by them that the Deputy Governor had ordered them to resist the landing
of British troops. They further stated that the taking away of their arms ana
their subsequent attack on the Deputy Governor was all a farce aiTanged by
the Deputy Governor himself. Their story seemed plausible in view of tho
Deputy Governor’s conastant policy of obstruction and his anti-British attitude.
It seemed evident that the Deputy Governor had first urged the Targistanis to
so against us but afterwads, fearing the consequences, tried to throw ihe blame
on to his tools. The Targistanis were however so incensed at having been played
false with by the Deputy Governor that they vowed not to let him land. Ho
succeeded in doing so, cn the 19th September, under cover cf darkness, but was
virtually kept a prisoner by them till his departure for Bushire on the 12th
October. With the dismissal of the Deputy Governor order was again restored
in the town-
No instance of gun-running was re­
Arm Traffic.
ported during the year.
Five slaves took refuge in the Vice-Consulate during the year. Of these
one absconded before bis case was settled
SI* ra Traffic.
and the remaining four returned to their
owners after their grievances had been redressed.
Tho British India Steam Navigation Company’s subsidiary Mail steamers
visited I^ingah regularly till November
British Interest*. Tho
when the service was discontinued.
Persian GuU Steam Navigation Company’s steamers visited the port frequently
during the year.
Herr M aqicke represented the Pirm of Messrs. Robert Wonckhaus and
Company till the 16th of May when, accom­
Fastis Interest*.
panied by his assistant, Haji Ali, ho left