'A Précis of the Relations of the British Government with the Tribes and Shaikhs of 'Arabistan By Lieutenant A T Wilson, Acting Consul for Arabistan' [‎22r] (48/143)

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In October 1904, the local Customs officer announced 1 that he had in
structions to collect “ office dues ” on shipments of dates, this the Shaikh
u 0 ^ similar claim in regard to “ cabotage ” was raised by
the Customs and decided in favour of the Shaikh.
In 1906, on the arrival of Monsieur Leleux, difficulties again arose
between the Shaikh and the Customs, mainly owing to the resentment of the
former at the attitude of Monsieur Leleux who constantly ignored the Shaikh’s
farmans and his rights and privileges in regard to the Customs.
The Shaikh complained in September 1908, in response to representa
tions by His Majesty’s Consul regarding the increase of smuggling, that he
could not be responsible for what went on in the Customs as long as the Bel-
gain Directors in contravention of his farman, neglected to take his orders
in regard to the appointment of minor officials. This tendency, he said, had
been noticeable even since 1906, and in particular during the tenure of office
of Monsieur Leleux. His Majesty’s Consul added that with the present high
duties it was not possible to put an end to smuggling and the only way to
reduce it was to secure the co-operation of the Shaikh.
The alternative would be to get rid of the Shaikh’s supervision altogether
and no longer acknowledge him as Director, a policy which would inevitably
lead to increased smuggling, unless the scale of duties was revised.
Early in 1909, the Nationalist troubles in Tehran, which resulted in the
deposition of Muhammad Ali Shah, became acute and the Bushire Custom
house was taken over by the Nationalists on the 22nd March. The Shaikh
had already, in December 1909, pointed out to Major Cox that he was anxious
as to the effect of the revolutionary movement in Persia on his position. He
represented that the greater part of Persia was completely out of control,
that payment of revenue had been suspended all over the country and that he
was in a strong position, were he to consider his personal interests alone, to
refuse revenue and turn out the Belgian Customs. He begged us for our
advice and assistance at this juncture.
He was reassured by Major Cox and encouraged not to modify the con
stitutional attitude which he had hitherto maintained which was the one best
calculated to enable the British Government to support his interests.
As regards his relations with the popular movement, the Shaikh reiter
ated his complaints against the Belgians for ignoring his farman, and
said that he was being urged by both sides to declare himself. The popular
party had urged him to seize the Customs and to send assistance to Tabriz,
whilst requests for assistance reached him simultaneously from the Shah
through the Nizam-es-Saltaneh. He was in danger of falling between two
stools and asked for our advice as to what course to pursue. He was put off
for the time, however, and advised to temporise until the difficulty passed
over.
Later on, however, on 8th March, 2 Major Cox was instructed on grounds
of our policy of non-interference in internal disputes, not to comply with the
Shaikh’s request for advice in connection with the representations he had
received from the Constitutionalists on the one hand and from the Shah on
the other.
Meanwhile the Constitutionalists continued to exert very strong pressure
on the Shaikh and the difficulty of his position was aggravated by the fact
that it was impossible for him to get any private telegrams to the Shah or
Prime Minister past the Nationalist censorships at Ispahan.
On the 26th March, Major Cox, who had arrived at Mohammerah re
ported that the Shaikh had informed him that the situation at Mohammerah
had been rendered much more critical by the news of the recent successes of
the Nationalists at Bandar ’Abbas and Bushire and that he consequently
anticipated that their unruly levies would now turn their attention to his
outlying ports of Dllam, Hindijan, etc., and that he could not hold out much
1 Vide Annex. 2.
2 Telegram, Legation to Resident, No. 33, dated 8th March 1909 : “ The request for advice^ had better be
ignored. If it is repeated, compliance should he refused. Advice to him on such questions is incompatible
with our policy of non-interference in the present differences between the Shah and his people.”- Bar lay.