'Memorandum by Sir M Durand on the situation in Persia' [‎45r] (23/42)

It therefore follows that matters brought forward must correspond in some degree to the
pc^ion of the authority to whom reference is made, for though most officials have judicial
powers, only the most influential can secure execution.
The actual execution of judgment rests with a class of people known as “ Farrashes.” The instruments of
In the capital the chief Farrash-Bashi is a personage of much consideration, and a servant justice,
of the Shah. Under his orders are subordinate Farrashes, whose business it is to give
effect to the orders of the Minister of Justice and others.
In the provinces the Farrash-Bashi is nominated by the Governor. All judgments,
whether religious or civil, Sharh or Urf, are executed by his staff of Farrashes.
It will be seen that theoretically there is a strongly marked line between the Sharh Usurpation of power
and Urf laws. The first sign of weakness, however, on the part of the civil authorities, b y the Ulema,
or the slightest relaxation of their control, at once adds to the influence of the Ulema, and
with it comes an usurpation of the Urf laws by the religious authorities.
No. 8.— The, Ministry of Commerce.
As already stated, this Ministry till quite recently formed part of the Ministry of The Ministry.
Justice, presumably because the role of the xViinister confined itself almost entirely to the
judicial side of commercial business.
Theoretically, the organization of the Ministry takes the same lines as that of Justice, Organization,
the Minister relying on special agents to control or direct commercial justice in the
provinces and chief towns. The position and functions of the agents depend entirely on
the amount of support the Minister is able to extend. More often than not they are
absolutely useless, and ignored by the civil authorities who usurp their powers.
Competence in the case of ordinary law is dependent solely on the power of the Commercial business.
officials to give effect to their judgments, or to the decisions of special Committees of
merchants to which complicated cases are referred.
Commercial business is conducted according to the Urf laws, but advantage is
always taken by the Ulema of any disorganization in the Urf Administration to intervene
between merchant and merchant.
Of late years their intervention on behalf of the native merchant has been temporarily
such as to cripple foreign trade and to render the relations between the foreigner and the
people almost impossible.
The cases have been numberless where they have been able to set aside the decisions
of the civil authorities, and even the special orders of the Sadr Azm himself, to whom, in
the absence of any responsible Minister, all final appeals are now made.
No. 9 .—The Ministry of Posts.
The first effort towards any definite organization of Posts commenced with the Fj rs t commencemeof*.
institution of “ Chappar Khanas,” postal stations built on the high roads between the
capital and the provinces, for the better and quicker conveyance of the orders of the
Sovereign.
At the same time private individuals, merchants, &c., employed foot runners for the
conveyance of their own and other correspondence, which they undertook to deliver at a
certain charge.
Gradually the Government messengers were allowed to carry private letters without
fixed charge, and later permission was given to travellers to make use cf the Chappar
horses, a privilege at first jealously guarded.
On the return cf His Majesty from the first journey to Europe in 1872, an Austrian Establishment oF
officer, named Roederer, was engaged to organize a regular postal service with the Emin-ed- Euro P ea n system.
Dowleh, at the head of the Administration as Minister.
For the first two or three years the service was little used. It then gradually
developed to a relative degree of activity, and now that the people have gained confidence
is used as a means of transmitting large sums of money, valuables, &c.
Insurances are effected through Lloyd’s or other Company by telegraph.
Ihe Posts are administered on the usual principle, that is, more or less on the lines of Monopolization of
a private monopoly, subsidized in this case by the Government. The Minister is not Posts,
called upon to render an account of his trust, but is simply expected to maintain the
Department at a certain degree of efficiency, and is at liberty to dispose of the profits as
he may think fit.
1 he subsidy is a relic of the old days, when the Government was in the habit of
granting a certain sum for the maintenance of establishments and horses at the different
Chappar services. These allowances have never been allowed to lapse, and form part of
the stock in trade of the Ministry.
Any attempt to form an estimate of the revenue can only be guesswork, for the Revenue.