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These recommendations were considered by a Commission appointed by the
Russian Minister of Finance, and it was reported that it had been decided to
establish (i) a Russian Consulate at Bushire, (2) steamship connection between
Odessa and Bandar Abbas. Commercial intercourse between Russian firms
and the south of Persia was also to be strongly' encouraged by the' Russian
Government.
Reuter recently telegraphed that the first vessel of the new Russian line of
steamers was to have left Odessa on the 14th- February to trade in the Persian
Gulf.
27. M. Syromiatnikoff appears to have paid a visit to Koweit and made
Sheikh Mubarak offer of a Russian decora­
Secret B., November 1900, Nos. 95*98.
tion as a public recognition of the hospita­
lity'shown by him to the gunboat Gilyak during its recent visit to the place.
The Sheikh declined the offer,
28. On the 27th February 1901, news was received that the Belgian yacht
Selika had left Aden for Maskat, Bandar Abbas and' Bushire, and was
believed to be carrying arms. The vessel arrived’ at Maskat on the 7th March.
Movements' cf the Belgian vessel "Selika " (at On the following day, M.- Ottavi, the
present the Persian “ Muuaffari," /po/). French Consul, asked the Sultan for an
Secret B., July 1901, Nos. 126-155.
interview for himself and' a party from the
Selika which was accorded. • In introducing the party M. Ottavi said that
the leader was a French Government official who was sent on Natural History
Research'. They asked for permission to call at Sohar, from whence the ship
intended to proceed to the various Pirate Coast' ports. Colonel Kemball tele­
graphed on the 2nd April that he had' good grounds for believing that the
Selika' Had come to the Persian Gulf to prospect pearl fishery ground. She
arrived at Bahrein on the 1 ith April 1901, and next day a party from the vessel
called on the Sheikh. They made enquiries after the trade of the place and
secured samples of cloth, sugar and glassware. Lieutenant A'sterrieth, one of
the party,, asked the Sheikh whether Belgian subjects would be prohibited from
trading in Bahrein. On being informed that there was no restriction! he
asked the Chief for a written undertaking which was refused. The Selika
left on the 20th April and arrived at Bushire on the 23rd ApriL She left on the
25th April for Maskat vid Lingah and Abu Thabi.
29. His Britannic Majesty’s Chargd d’Affaires at St. Petersburgh reported
„ . - , n • in December 1900 that a Russian expedi-
tion had been organised to investigate
certain commercial’questions in Persia. The members of this expedition arrived
in Tehran about January 1900. Count Olsonfieff travelled to Ispahan and
after a short stay returned to Tehran. Two other gentlemen belonging to the
Mission went together to Kermanshah. They also returned after a few days’
visit.
30 The clerk in charge of the Indo-European Telegraph Office at Charbar
reported that two Russians, by name
Movements of Russians in Eastern Persia.
NicolasSlekcheevitch and Michael Haerms,
accompanied by a Russian servant and a Persian, arrived at Charbar on 24th;
that they had travelled from Bathkooba via Asterabad, Meshed, Seistan, Sara-
wan, Dizak and Dashtyari, which they had been surveying, and that they
left for Bampur vid Geh.on 28th March, taking plans and photographs of
that country and natural history specimens.—(Extract from the friary of the
Political Resident in the Persian Gulf for the week ending the 8th April
1901.)
31. Two Russians, MM. Leontieff and Ermtere, arrived at Maskat by the
Visit of Russians to Maskat. S.S. Kurdistan on the 9th March
Secret E„ July 1501, Nos. 126-155. 1901. They came on shore directly the
vessel anchored, and visited the French Consul. They’subsequeritly interviewed
the Sultan and asked for a written permit'to start operations in the arms and
ammunition business. The Sultan replied' that there was rlo necessity for a
written permit, as the import of arms was free to all. In taking leave of the
Sultan, they said that they would return in a month’s time. Captain Cox
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