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File 948/1909 'Persia: Situation in the South; Condition of the Roads. Attack on Mr Bill. Road Guard Scheme.' [‎363v] (731/744)

The record is made up of 1 volume (370 folios). It was created in 1909-1911. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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entirely unable to cope, and which nothing but a reversion to a reason
able all-round ad valorem tariff or an organized system of coastguard
will stop. 1 his smuggling industry is obviously extremely damaging to
the interests of legitimate trade. An honest trader at the ports naturally
cannot do business when the wares tn which he deals can be bought for
10 or 15 per cent, less a few miles outside the port if not actually in it.
I respectfully ask if it is necessary that we continue indefinitely to
allow our traders to be increasingly oppressed at the ports by the harsh
application of an inflated tariff only accepted on specific terms, which
the Persian Government make no attempt to fulfil, and could not if they
would.
Novv that wo have settled our differences with Russia, would it not
be possible to get them to agree to its abrogation in favour of an all-
round 71 or b per cent, ad valorem duty, a change which would render
smuggling a useless risk and increase the revenue at the same time ?
7 • 13 /< examination of the Arrangement under which His Majesty s
ships Sphinx, Lapwing,” and “Redbreast” are subsidised for Service
in the l ersian Gulf. We have now had nearly four years’ experience of
the working of this arrangement, and while cordially appreciating the
complete co-operation and support which I have received from His
Excellency Sir George Warrender and his predecessor Sir Edmund Poe,
, ., r . . lse ^hat the Naval Commander-in-Chief cannot perform impossi
bilities, and am of opinion that if present conditions are to continue, as
it seems likely that they will, the requirements of the Gulf of Oman, the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. proper, and the Shatt-el-Arab cannot be adequately met by
three vessels now subsidised. Even at normal times, taking into account
en minimum periods of absence for necessary service purposes
such as recommissioning, redocking and fitting and occasional and
very necessary changes of air and scene for the officers and crews
1 r + n c eai ^ ve E hard for three ships to do the work required
0 them without undue strain ; and if the concentration of ships
on the Mekran coast in the winter months in connection with the
arms traffic is to continue, the needs of the northern part of the
Gulf will suffer greatly At the present time, moreover, owing to
tfm absence of any settled or effective Government in Tehran His
majesty s Legation is perforce not in a position in connection with
incidents arising m the Gulf to obtain satisfaction in Tehran by ordinary
i’LTiumWn 118 !’ t ’ nd a i Hl i S f a J est y’ s Government, for reasons which
1 well understand have decided to retrain for the present from taking
any drastic steps for asserting our position, it follows that, as in the
depend chie^ ^or^^P 6 " 1 ° f a ]iaIlreini at Lin S ah . 1 shall have to
, - v '' maintaining our interests and good name in these
Sle^It il ‘ ^ b6 !° Cally With the “ ordinarily
tion 6 B would a be n a ^ 1 rTW 0 h ° Pe ’ recei ving favourable Considera
tion. it would be a great advantage to connect up Lingah at the same
easy'reaeh o' Sh ^ ^ being whh“n
sy reach of Lmgah It would seem important also that His Maiestv’s
subsidized ships should be fitted with wireless as soon as possible.' ^
r Illl P rove d Representation on the Trucial GW*.—-The experience
these\actwafd 0 Sheikh W" 8 me , doilbt Aether it is safe to leave
mese backward bheikhs longer m the charge of a native ao-ent X shod
shoitly address Government a separate communication on the subject.

About this item

Content

The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, and notes relating to the security situation in south Persia, 1909-1911.

The discussion in the volume relates to the deteriorating security situation for travellers and trade in south Persia (which was held to be a British sphere of influence) caused by fighting among the Kashgai, Lur and Arab tribes who had rejected the authority of the Governor-General of Fars. A further cause of insecurity relating to this is referred to in a note (ff 335-336) by the 2nd Assistant Resident, Bushire, J S Crosthwaite, who describes how tribesmen had invested their money in rifles and could only earn their living by robbing the caravans of commercial travellers.

Correspondence discusses how this culminated in an attack upon J H Bill, Acting British Consul, Shiraz, in which two horsemen or ' sowars ' were killed, as he travelled along a caravan route. Correspondence discusses measures to be taken as a result of this attack, including a claim for compensation from the Persian Government, a punitive expedition against the Kashgais tribe and the role of Soulet et-Dowle, Governor General, Fars. Measures discussed include using the guards ( gholam ) of the Indo-European Telegraph Department paid for by a surcharge on customs duty levied by the British at Bushire; implications for relations with the Persian Government and the Russian Government are also discussed.

Included in the volume is a 'Memorandum respecting the Disorders on the Trade Routes of Southern Persia' by H G Trick, Vice-Consul for Fars.

The principal correspondents in the volume include Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; Viscount Morley of Blackburn, Secretary of State for India; Percy Zachariah Cox, the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; and Sir George Head Barclay, Minister at Tehran.

Extent and format
1 volume (370 folios)
Arrangement

The subject 948 (Persia: situation in the south) consists of 1 volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 366; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located at the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the two leading and ending flyleaves

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English in Latin script
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File 948/1909 'Persia: Situation in the South; Condition of the Roads. Attack on Mr Bill. Road Guard Scheme.' [‎363v] (731/744), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/163, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100030540736.0x000084> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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