File 3852/1912 Pt 1 'Persia: Trade in South. Conditions on the Bushire - Shiraz Road. Russian commercial competition in S. Persia' [‎119r] (237/368)

nkr
^nil,
16 hu
■ Ws IBP
VS fldl
andiiij h
) will on
)iD»soratlf!
'8 his positii
rishictioiisiii
throiiglitk
except ifo
are w li: '
til
at aij
and
]Oi
1 l! ty
li
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
PERSIA AND CENTRAL ASIA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[6701]
* *> \T
> *3 % v '•* ^
[February 14.]
Section 1.
Consul-General Lorimer to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received February 14.)
(No. 3. Confidential.)
Sir, Bushire, January 25, 1914.
WITH reference to Sir P. Z. Cox’s despatch No. 14, Commercial, dated the
28th September, 1913, and the memorandum therein enclosed on the subject of the
decrease of transport animals on the Bushire-lspahan road and the need in British
Interests of arranging for a greater number, I have the honour to submit a memorandum
by Air. H. G. Chick, which comments on the effect of regulations by the gendarmerie
on traffic, as observed by him during his recent journey in connection with oil at Daliki,
reported in my despatch No. 2 of the 18th January, 1914.
It is believed that the obnoxious regulations which Mr. Chick found in force
have now been withdrawn, but a careful watch will be kept upon the matter by this
consulate-general.
I have, &c.
J. G. LORIMER, I.C.S.,
British Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and
His Majesty’s Consul-General for
Ears, &c.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Memorandum,.
DURING my recent short journey the route followed took me across and over
sections of the caravan road between Daliki and Bushire, and the following observations
regarding the state of the road, and of the present policing arraugements may be of
interest.
I noticed no change, except for some half-dozen gendarmerie posts in front of
villages along the road, in the outward appearance of the road from that seen on the
many previous occasions when I had travelled over this part of the route. As has
been often stated, caravans have for many years moved night and day without fear of
robbery between Bushire and Daliki; and blackmail (“rahdari ”) was levied in unobtrusive
fashion at the stage caravanserais, and at four or five villages en route. Gendarmes
and the people of Dashtistan seem to be getting along together very well, and the
responsibilities of the former are here light.
The tendency now is for this part of the road to be over-regulated.
On the 7th instant our destination was the village of Qarawal Khaneh, near which
we had two days’ work to do. We struck into the caravan road coming from Tangistan,
and after nightfall left the road again to camp at the village, where I was known. 4 he
subordinate officer of gendarmerie in command of the post on the road at some distance
from the village (Mirza Ali Akbar Hamadani) gave me cause for considerable annoy
ance, first of all by claiming that we might not halt for the night elsewhere than at his
post (which was far away, for fodder, fuel, and supplies), and trying to stop our mules.
He said that his orders were definite, travellers and caravans could halt nowhere else
but alongside his post. Even when he knew my status and I had told him that 1
came there with the knowledge of the Governor of Dashtistan, was travelling m the
district of my official jurisdiction, not along the main route, but wherever I liked acioss
the country side, as I had done many times before, he continued to talk about his
powers and demanded, if I stayed at the village, a letter taking all responsibi ity on
mvself, which I did not give him. As he continued to worry me alter my tent was
pitched I had to point out to him that I understood his duty was confined to the road,
r tr. the rliatrirU.H nf the local Government, where the village
responsible for guarding myself and caravan at night, if necessary.
[2044 o—Ij
k 26 FES 1£;
fCopv to