Ext 3252/43 ‘Persia: Security of the Bushire-Shiraz Road’ [‎38r] (75/124)

end of the policy of weakness, of conciliation
of petty chiefs, of distribution of arms, v\hich
has in the past year done so much to bring the
administration of the imperial Government into
disrepute in my consular area. I pointed out that
the problem was not one that called for any consi
derable dispersion of troops from the forces at
Your Excellency’s disposal; and suggested that the
moral effect alone of restoration by the army of
law and order in this area was one that would well
repay the effort required.i informed your Excellen
cy that many of the chiefs in Tangistan and Dashti
were at loggerheads with each other, and suggested
that the present moment was most opportune for a
vigorous display of strength, i argued that, so
long as such petty chiefs were allowed to loot,
smuggle, misappropriate foodstuffs, resist the
collection of wheat and generally defy authority
in the Bushire area ( which is supposed to be a
settled area), it was not to be expected that
tribal leaders in other areas would be disposed to
take seriously even such a proclamation as one whicfc
Your Excellency has recently issued on this subject.
3. your Excellency informed me that it was
your intention to restore order tn the Bushire
area no less than in other parts of South Persia,
and that without delay.
4. in matters of detail, I drew your
Excellency’s attention to various points, which
we re : -
(i) The coastal area is long and narrow, a
fact which emphasises the importance of communicatix
The provision of some lorries is essential, and
also of a lauch for communication with the isxxx
coastal ports, a 60-H.P. launch used to be at the
disposal of the Bushire Customs; but it was sent