Page 55 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

FOE THE YEAH 1®1 *. 46
move in the matter; he was however quite willing to use such influence as he
^Lsessed in support of Monsieur Zwinno should the Misbah-i-Diwan prove
Obstructive in any way. As Monsieur Zwihne was then in the habit of
insulting Captain Biscoe in almost every matter of importance in local
(Toir3* and subsequently sought his advice regarding the salary that should
i p paid to the Deputy Governor, and other details of the new rdgime, Gapti * am
fliscoc not unnaturally assumed that he had dropped the idea of making any
^presentations against the Misbah. On the 20th March the Misbah-i-Diwan
had received reports to the effect that the Governor of Bushire contemplated
Lmissing him; as he feared arrest he took “bast” at the Consulate. On
the 23rd March however assurances for his personal safety were given by the
Governor through the Resident and he was induced to return to his duties,
jhia digression is necessary for a proper understanding of what subsequently
occurred.
The mail steamer by which Monsieur Pater was to leave for Charbar was
expected on 18th April, but two days before it was due, Captain Biscoe
ascertained that Monsieur Zwinne did not intend to adhere to the terms of
the agreement entered into with the merchants, and to send Monsieur Pater
off by that mail. At an interview which took place Monsieur Zwinne admitted
this, but stated that he had not understood that Monsieur Pater was to leave
by the first mail: but on Captain Biscoe’s pointing out the extreme undesira­
bility of his not adhering exactly to the agreement entered into with the
merchants, he again agreed definitely that Monsieur Pater should leave that
maiL On Thursday afternoon, however, just after the mail had left, Monsieur
Ztfinne wrote and informed His Majesty’s Consul that he had after all found
it inconvenient to send Monsieur Pater to Charbar, but had sent him to
Hormuz, an island about seven miles off, to await the following mail. The
following day the principal merchants of the town arrived at the Consulate,
informed Captain Biscoe that it was quite evident that the Director of Customs
had no intention of keeping faith with them and announced their intention of
taking “bast ” at the Consulate and closing the bazaar as a protest against his
action. It also transpired that Monsieur Zwinne, while accepting Captain
Biscoe’s mediation in his difficulties with the merchants, had at the same time
been acting in direct opposition to his known wishes and had been making
representations against the Misbah-i-Diwan to Tehran, as a result of which
the S.S. “ Persepolis ” had left Bushire with a new Deputy Governor and
some tufangchis on board and had anchored that day behind the island of
Hormuz, with the object of effecting a surprise and landing the new
Deputy Governor and his tufaDgchis at night and capturing the Misbah-i-
Diwan. As however the Belgian commander of the “ Persepolis *’ landed on
the beach at Bandar Abbas at noon in the steam cutter of the ship, and
subsequently left with the Director of Customs for Hormuz, the plan was ill-
hid, the Misbah-i-Diwan was informed of the intention to capture him and
in company with some 200 tufangchis also sought “ bast ” at the Consulate,
which fortunately possessed an extensive compound. At about midnight
“Persepolis” arrived with the new Deputy Governor, Ali Karam Khan,
Uonsieur Zwinne and Monsieur Pater on board : it subsequently transpired
&at the latter had proceeded from Hormuz to Minab to collect tufangchis to
^pport Monsieur Zwinne’s projected coup d'etat. For some time an absolute
impasse existed : the bazaars were closed, the ex-Deputy Governor and a large
number of tufangchis were in “ bast ” at the Consulate and all business was
a standstill. Monsieur Zwinne appeared to be thoroughly alarmed at the
Jtfni affairs had taken, and again sought Captain Biscoe’s assistance, but the
htter naturally declined to be a party to any further negotiations and the
j&erchanta resolutely declined to enter into any direct communication with
Telegrams were sent by them to Tehran demanding Monsieur Zwinne’s
J^sfer, and Captain Bisooe suggested that either Monsieur Zwinne should
^ transferred or the Misbah-i-Diwan reinstated. The impasse continued till
8th May when news was received that a band of raiders' about 400 strong under
one Husein Kalleh Khan, a follower of Saiyid Abdul Husein of Lar, bad
filtered the district. On 13th May a large number of men were viable on a
about two miles nor£h of the Consulate and some sowars rode up to
Vltbin about half a mile of the town. As the looa authorities appeared