Page 333 - Gulf Precis(VIII)_Neat

*9
117. A German, named Noelek, arrived at Dushire on the 17th June 190a
en route for Shiraz to join the German
Arrival of an Assistant for a German firm at Shirae.
Pcrslin Gulf diary fur tho woelc ending 23rd firm of Heinecke & Co.
June 190a.
Arrival of Professor L. Drro, a Naturalist at 118. Professor L. Bero, a naturalist
Mortal. travelling on behalf of the Austro-Hunga­
Persian Gulf diary for the week ending 9th Juno rian Government, arrived at Maskat on
190a. the 21st May 1902.
U . A German, named M. Bahson, said to hail from Hamburg, arrived at
Arrival of a German for the firm of Mr. Waif Bandar Abbas on the 14th June to join the
khaus at Lingah. German firm of Mr. Wankhaus at Lingah.
Persian Gulf diaries for tho week ending 30th M. Bahson subsequently went to Bahrein,
June and 7th July 190a. where Air. Wankhaus resides.

(iv) Activity of other Foreign Powers. *
120. On August 1 (5th, 1880, the Resident in the Gulf reported that Mr.
United States Consul at Maskat. Maquire, a British subject residing at
Maskat, had been appointed Consul there
Political A 1 September 1880, No. 1888.
for the United States of America.
121. In 1887 we find Mr. A. Mackirdy, a partner of the firm of Messrs.
W. G. Towell and Co. (then Agents of
External A., Novomber 1887, Nos. 52-55.
British India Steam Navigation Company
at Maskat), was acting Consul for the United States of America and held a com-
See notes in Secret E.. November 1901, N01. mission from the Government of the States
6*8. as Vice-Consul from 6th June 1881. This
post he still held in 1901.
122. In 1895 an Italian subject, Alexander Touini, applied for a concession
to construct a railway line from Basrah
An Italian railway project.
Secret E., June 1895. Nos. 366-367. to Baghdad with branch lines to Kerbella
Secret E., August 1895- Nos. 218-220. and the Persian frontier. The project
Secret E., October 1895. Nos. 236-238. was a purely commercial one and the
Secret E., April 1897, Nos. 7-8.
application was strongly supported by the
Italian Embassy and the ministers at the Porte. But the negotiations seem to
have come to nothing.
123. In 1899 it was alleged that a concession for pearl fishing in the
Persian Gulf had been granted by the
Pearl fishing concession to a Spaniard and
Belgian. Persian Government to Messrs. Raphael
Secret E., June 1899, Nos. 187-191. Sunye and Auguste Hagens in March of
Secret E., July 1900. Nos.^ 178-192. 1898, and later it was reported to have
Secret E-, August 1900, No. 204.
been renewed by Russian influence in the
name of Monsieur Sunye. The Persian Government were informed by the Lega­
tion at Tehran that no contract could be recognised which would have the effect
of interfering with the rights exercised by Chiefs under British protection.
124. In February 1902 the United States Minister at Tehran informed
a Persian proposal for opening an American line Sir A. Hardinge that the Grand Vizier had
of steamers to the Gulf. been urging him to impress upon his Gov-
Secret e., May 1902, No 50. ernment the openings for American trade
in Persia, and has stated that if an American line of steamers to the Persian
Gulf could be started, as he suggested it might be with a subsidy from Washing­
ton, it woujd receive every encouragement and support at the hands of the
Persian Government. His Highness alluded in this connection to the important
part recently played by the United States in maintaining the independence of
China, and indicated a hope that the creation and development of American
commercial interests in Persia might similarly lead the American Government
to watch with, greater attention the political future of this country. Mr. Griscom
seemed to think that the views expressed by the Grand Vizier on this subject
were quite earnest and sincere, and not simply a piece of Persian flattery, served
* As regards the visit of the Belgian yacht Selita to Maskat tail the Gulf see paras. 28 and 49.