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CHAPTER III.
SUMMARY OF EVENTS AND CONDITIONS IN EARS DURING THE
YEAR 1939.
General Situation.—Life in Ibis district pursued an even lonour in 193J.
No disturbances or agitations occurred and no reforms or developments wore
embarked upon. Even the outbreak of war in Europe produced, in this general
inactivity, peculiarly little effect. Jt is true that the steady rise in the cost of
living was given further impetus, the boycott of foreigners and in particular of
this Conciliate was intensified and the remnant of the export trade finally dis­
located but no fresh evils came into being and anxiety over the future problem
of obtaining supplies from abroad was only one of u few clouds on the horizon.
Local Administration.—Ears, now designated the 7th Uslan, was deprived
of an able and honest administrator by the death in December of Abul liussan
Pirnin. He was appointed Governor General (Uslandar) only in January and
in view of the constant going and coming of minor oflicials it is doubly un­
fortunate that this province should not have enjoyed for longer his beneficent
rule. Up to the end of the year no one had been nominated to succeed him and
in the absence of a Governor (Farmandar) tho practical direction of affairs fell
more than ever into the hands of the military authorities and the General
Officer Commanding the Ears division became the virtual Uslandar.
Military intervention in civil affairs led to no increase of local initiative, for
the army is obsessed even more than the civil administration with dread of the
Shah’s displeasure and action, at any rate of a beneficial kind, was paralysed
by the pernicious precaution of always referring to Tehran before taking the
pettiest decision.
Communications.—No work was undertaken of any major importance.
The Shiraz-Eiruznbad road progressed no further than Eiruzabad and the
Kazcrun-Basht-Bchbehan road is not yet open to traffic. The military road from
Shiraz to Behbchan via Ardakan is closed to civilians after Tul-i-Khosrovi.
In the spring the Sliiraz-lsfahan road was put in good condition for the
benefit of the foreign delegations visiting Iran for the Crown Prince’s wedding
but little has been done to it since and the surface, especially between Shiraz and
Tersepolis, is rapidly deteriorating.
Petrol pumps and oil depots were, installed by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Com­
pany at convenient intervals throughout the whole length of the road from
Bushire to Tehran.
Afjneulturc.—As a result of the plentiful winter rainfall grain crops were
excellent. Fruit suffered from late frosts in April. Sugar beet, in nearly all
parts of the district was attacked by caterpillars and only a poor crop was.
obtained. The cotton crop was good but much distress was caused by the Shah’s
prohibition of the cultivation of rice, for the waterlogged lands suitable for rice
cau rarely be put to an alternative use.
Trade.—The export trade in the produce of Ears such as gum tragacantb,
redgum insoluble, lambskins, almonds, seeds and licorice roots, struggled feebly
in the toils of innumerable governmental restrictions until the war gave it the
death blow. Shipments to Germanv in the first half of the year were effected
under the clearing agreement and to Jtalv under private barter arrangement .
The suggestion of German importers that gum and licorice should be shipped
from Bandar Shah via the IT. S. S. R. was rejected by local merchants who
foresaw much trouble and little profit and efforts were later initiated to find ail
outlet in India.
The import trade, apart from a few consignments of barter goods from
Italy, had long since succumbed to the difficulties created by the exchange and
monopoly regulations and practically all foreign supplies were drawn from
Tehran.
British trade remained nil and signs of the British drive to increase exports
were not apparent up to the end of the. year. Tn spite of all things, however, the
returns of the Shiraz branch of the Imperial Bank of Tran for the year ended
September 20th, 1939 showed that satisfactory profits were being maintained.
Industry.—The cotton mills of Isfahan and Shiraz, the woollen factories of
Isfahan and the silk factories of Yer.il all continued to work satisfactorily and
snnolied all local requirements. Difficulties however were anticipated for the
future in obtaining the requisite supply of dyes from Germany.