Page 82 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920

72 PERSIAN GULP ADMINISTRATION REPORT
whioh has existed between himself and the Bakhtiaris in recent times, a certain
amount of intrigue is bound to occur among those who for the time happen to k
discontented and of such there are always some in any Oriental country. Notfo *
of any importance has occurred however, and even those to whom the Shaikh ?
most'loosely knit answered to his call during his trouble with the BakhtiarL U
As reported last year the Shaikh’s control over the outlying parts of ^
territories, such 03 that occupied by the Beni Turuf, lias been strengthened k
his receiving the KC.IE. which was considered to convey a certain amoum
of British proteetton. Some of the Arabs of Failiaynh have shown sign* 0{
restiveness but nevertheless the Shaikh has steadily consolidated his pow^
and has been gaining more influence with the Arabs around.
There has been no cause for the complaint made by the Sardar Assad that
the Shaikh has oppressed his people unduly.
The town of Mohammerah has been quiet and showB signs of increase
prosperity. The Governor, Agha Abdi, is a man of the old school who can
neither read nor write and w&l hardlv be able to deal with the situation when
the town develops, as it must do with the arrival of the railway.
Captain James has noted on the want of sanitation in the streets of the
town, but I have little doubt that, when the time comes, the Shaikh will follow
any advice vc may give him with a view to bringing things on to. a more
modem footing.
The Governor s rule is autocratic in all matters connected with the dispesj.
ing of justice, but there has been no complaint to make from the point of Ym
of this Consulate.
The Shiakli has realised the importance of improving communications in
the town and has placed the arrangements for a road from the river to the town
in the hands of His Majesty’s Consul. The work has been given to Mr
Shaw, a British subject from Basrah, and it is hoped that it will be proceeded
with.
The Shiakh improved his relations with the Turkish authorities and ex­
changed frequent visits with the head
External Relations.
officials at Basrah.
Saiyid Talib, the Constantinople Deputy for Basrah, is with his father, the
Nakib, an old friend and as the former has been practically Dictator at Basrah
it has smoothed matters for the Shaikh who has now been granted full power to
register his properties in Turkish soil, aright which had been withheld frtm
him.
The close relations which Shaikh Khazal has always maintained with
Shaikh Mubarak have been, if possible, still closer during the year under
report, and the latter has spent quite a considerable part of his time at
Failiyeh.
Last year’s report closed with the arrival of the Nizam-es-SuItanehat
V. iiam-c-s-^ni i aneb. Mohammerah where he had been brought
by the Shaikh who had succeeded in releas­
ing him from Daliki where he was in difficulties after his exit from the Governor­
ship of Shiraz. Notwithstanding his previous bad behaviour, it seemed grod
policy to assist the Nizam especially as the Shaikh was convinced of his future
good intention, and he was the owner of lands through which railways in the
south, and particularly those in Arabistan, might run.
His case was accordingly recommended to the Minister at Tehran who verj[
kindly-gave his good offices which, combined with a bribe which tho Bakhtiari
Ministers were presented by the Nizam (amounting to 10,000 tomans) enabled
the latter to obtain permission to leave Persia.
His Majesty’s Consul was able to obtain from the Nizam an undertaking
in the direction of the free grant of ground for Railway purposes
lands owned b.y him in Arabistan; such as might be required for too
Mohammerah-Khoremmnbad Railway. At the request of tho Resident, a simile
undertaking was obtained in regard to land in the Daliki district belonging to
the Nizam, which might be required for other railways in project. In the mean­
time it transpired that the Nizam was heavily in debt to the Russian Bank, »
224 F D