Page 498 - PERSIAN 8 1931_1940_Neat

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26. Ho was succeeded by Aqai Moharaed Ibrahim Alam (formerly the
Amir Chovket ul Mulk), who arrived in Shiraz on September 7 (His Excellency
is mentioned in Personalities in Persia, 1930, under the name of Mohamet
Ibrahim Khan, C.I.E.). He was appointed to Ears unexpectedly, not having
held any administrative post before under the present regime. He was
formerly hereditary Governor of Kain and Birjand, but has resided for some
years in Tehran. The appointment of one of the old nobility as Governor
General of Fars is an interesting experiment. The district which he adminis­
ters has since been re-organised and he has been confirmed in his post with
the title of Astandar-i-Junub (Governor of the Southern District).
27. His Excellency keeps completely aloof from local society and sees
little of his subordinates or military colleagues. Relations with the Consulate
hitherto have been courteous and helpful. It has been necessary again to
discuss the Consulate water and also the desecration of the' English Cemetery.
The Governor General was formerly very friendly towards British consular
officers and others who visited his district in East Persia. In view of this and
of his British decoration, it has been found prudent to restrict social relations
in order not to embarrass him vis-a-vis the present Government. The Acting
Political Resident accordingly did not call on him when in Shiraz on recess.
28. The Municipality was under the direction of Aqai Suhaily, brother
of the Iranian Minister in London, until August when he was removed. He
was brought back from Tehran under escort and has been in prison in Shiraz
for two months. Though largely the catspaw of the Governor General, he
and the Municipal Council have been guilty of numerous malpractices in the
matter of licenses and control of prices. There is little to show for his tenure
of office but work begun and not carried out. His successor is carrying on
with some of these schemes. They include a Hospital, an Orphanage, a
Municipal Tea-house and Guest-room for official visitors near the site of the
Quran-Gate, repair of the small bridge over the river on the Isfahan Road,
and the continuation of the central avenue of the town, Khiaban Zand, east­
ward through the centre of the town and bazaar. This street is now opened
up and in use by traffic for a distance of one and a half miles, but nearly half
its length is bordered by ruined houses. Some of the bazaar demolitions have
been cleared away. Compensation was paid to the Imperial Bank of Iran
for the expropriation of their land for this purpose.
29. One of the few survivors of the purge is the Chief of Police, who has
continued friendly towards the Consulate, though a little over-curious regarding
visitors and their movements. He furnished guides on several occasions for
British travellers who wished to visit mosques and other public buildings,
and he made prompt though unfruitful enquiries when damage was done in
the Cemetery. He has effected the change of all foreign notices to the Iranian
language without undue friction and has been instructed recently to devote
his attention to the sun in the national emblem, as depicted on papers and
buildings, from which the human features are to be removed.
30. The Acting Director of Public Security visited Shiraz during the
year and the Force has remained smart in appearance since his departure.
Burglaries were prevalent in the summer, but articles stolen from the Consul’s
car and from the Bank Manager’s car were in each case recovered, though I
aitides taken from the latter’s house were unfortunately not found.
31. Some difficulties were experienced by the Church Missionary Society
in connexion with Church services and literature for Iranian subjects.
32. During the summer economic conferences were held in Tehran
to consider future agricultural and industrial prospects, to which the Governor
General and the Director of the Finance Department went together with
many of the leading notables of the town to watch events and one another.
After the departure of the Governor General enquiries were made into the
working of various branches of the Finance Department. Finally the
Director was transferred in October and the head of the Grain Purchasing
Office was dismissed.
33. Stock's of grain and flour have been low throughout the year owing
to the operations of the central authorities in Tehran. The local office has
made continual difficulties for the German owner of a small flour mill and for