'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency for the Years 1911-1914' [‎91v] (187/488)

44
PERSIAN GTJM 1 ADMINISTRATION REPORT
and has always been most friendly disposed towards British subjects WU
not a man of much force of character or influence, he does his best to obtai
a settlement of outstanding claims against Persian subjects, and generally w
with a fair measure of success ; he is a veiy satisiactoiy man for the post.
Monsieur Zwinne held the post oi Director of Customs up to the 23rd hh
when he was relieved by Monsieur ri
Conduct of Director of Customs. lettc from Lingah, who in turn ^
relieved by Monsieur Zwinne, on 1st December. The latter continued to hold
the post to the end of the year.
The feature of the administration this year has been the handing oyer to
the Director of Customs entire control of the finances of the district. Under tlie
previous system the Deputy Grovernor used to collect and pay to the Governoi
of the Gulf Ports the revenue of the district minus such charges as pay
of tufangchis, etc., which he could get his superior to allow, and anything
additional to these which he could extract from the local inhabitants went into
his own pocket, and formed his salary. In February^ the Deputy-Governor
was informed that, from the beginning of the next Persian year, i .e., from 21st
March, the revenue should be paid to the Director of Customs who would paj
the Deputy Governor such sum as might be fixed as his salary, and as pay for
his establishment, tufangchis, etc. The introduction of this system, which w
consequent on the appointment of Monsieur Mornard as Treasurer-General,
completely altered the status of the Director of Customs and, from being an
official appointed to perform certain well-defined and limited functions, he
became a factor in the local political situation and in some ways the most
influential person in the district. As controller of the purse he could bring
considerable pressure to bear on all Persian officials, who naturally found it i
their interest to adopt a subservient attitude towards him, and his functions
were extended to every branch of the civil administration.
As was mentioned in last year's report, Monsieur Zwinne was very lax in
exercising supervision over his subordinates; he attended office but seldom,and
left everything in their hands. As he was also a person with strong likes and
dislikes, the result was that certain Customs employes who stood high in his
favour obtained an unduly influential position at the customs and, in many
instances, adopted a very high-handed attitude towards the mercantile commun
ity, who had no redress, as the Director of Customs was seldom at the office and
even then could only be approached through his interpreter. On assuming
charge of the finances Monsieur Zwinne announced the introduction of various
local taxes, which had been abolished by, and in abeyance since, the Anglo-
Persian Commercial Convention of 1903. The irritation caused by the conduct
of the Customs employes was augmented by the introduction of these taxes and
finally culminated, on 5th April, in all the Persian merchants of the town clos
ing their shops and taking "bast" at the Persian Telegraph office, demanding
the dismissal of two Customs employes, a Monsieur Patei^ a Dutch subject, and
a Persian by name Mirza Husein Khan. Monsieur Zwinne appears to haie
reported to Tehran that their action was really a protest against the introduction
of the ^ new taxes and was fomented by the local priests and the local agent o
the Moin-ut-Tuj jar of Tehran, and asked that the latter should be expelled fro 111
the town. Monsieur Mornard approached His Maiesty's Minister o^ the suO-
^ a ^ er as ^ :e( ^ f 01 'the views of His Maiesty's Consul. Onreceip
oi this telegram the latter interviewed Monsieur Zwinne and after some t 18
cussron Monsieur Zwinne agreed that Monsieur Pater should be transferred t
Char bar by the first steamer and that he would hold an enquiry into any spec 1
complaints that might be put forward against Mirza Husein Khan. ^ Te o 0 ®
tionswere then carried on through the Misbah-i-Diwan with the merclian
and finally, on the 12th April, they met Monsieur Zwinne at the Cons*
and there the above terms were formally agreed to by both parties,^
meic ants left bast" and the bazaars were opened.
iVTrw* 16 Misbah-i-Diwan undoubtedly rendered valuable assistance inthisnic#
thp pff Ur 4- .fw 1 ? 0 ^ on one 01 ^ wo occasions complained to Captain Bisc
SLS^ lle ^. nd him difficul t to deal with in financial matted J
wffll w-^ 0S f^ y 0f re P laci ng him: the latter however stated that,®
MonXl 7 • '^ wanworkedwellasfaras was concerned, and uii
r wmne could name a really satisfactory substitute he was not pr P