File 3360/1916 Pt 1 'Persian correspondence (1916-17)' [‎162r] (328/804)

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As regards (1) Darya Begi expressed view that, as so far it had not been
possible to take steps to restore law and order ic Pars, lawless elements, on
hearing that all merchandise for Shiraz was proceeding on a certain route,
would concentrate on that route.
The object of (2) would be to prevent Khans and merchants of Borazjun
being in a position to purchase goods in Bushire ostensibly for local consump
tion but really for transmission to Shiraz there to undersell merchandise
brought by more devious routes.
It, however, cuts both ways and another result would be that Khans would
seize all merchandise now on the road, and either plunder it or keep it as
security that road will be used. Head of Municipality who keeps record of
loads leaving Bushire estimated that there are about 3,000 loads at Borazjun,
30u at Daliki and 2,000 at Kazerun. Similarly he estimates there are some
10,000 donkey loads (mostly sugar) between Ahram and Eiruzabad which
will take about tw 7 o months to reach Shiraz. These would probably be also
made away with. In order to enable all this merchandise to reach Shiraz and
thus save heavy loss it would be necessary to defer changing routes while
merchants themselves restricted merchandise going up on ground that they
had so much on road that they were unable to despatch more till it had got
through, or for some other plausible reason. It is doubtful whether they
would hang together sufficiently, and it is probable that whenever road was
closed large number loads would remain in hands of Khans.
Enclo. No. 7-
Telegram It., No. 37-282, dated the 14th February 191 h
From—The Deputy 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. , Bushire,
To—His Majesty's Minister, Tehran
(Repeated Chief Political Officer, Basrah, and 11 is Majesty’s Consul, Shiraz.)
Gough’s telegram 50 and my immediately preceding telegram addressed
to Gough. Afterjmeeting Darya Begi discussed political aspect of closing the
road here and transferring traffic to Bunder Abbas. Eollowing conclusions
arrived at.
Khans as mentioned in my telegram 32-267, anticipate move against
them : if they find that we not only do not make any but transfer our trade to
Bunder Abbas, they will probably assume that we are afraid of them. This
will make them puffed up. If we close the road they may consider it breach
of arrangement made last August and resume active hostilities.
Apart from this, closing the road is not likely to bring lawless Khans
to order, unless strict blockade of the Tangistan and Dashti coast is enforced,
and even then it would take some time. The road was closed for more than a
year between July 1915 and August 1916 and closing only began to take
effect just at the end. It would take longer now as, in anticipation of opera
tions against them, Zair Khadhar and other Khans have been smuggling
in large stocks of rice and other food stuffs to stock their hill fastnesses.
To close road thoroughly would entail prevention of free going in and out of
Bushire, and this would hit peaceful agriculturists and gardeners harder than
the hostile Khans.
Darya Begi is firmly convinced that if steps could be taken to punish one ^
Khan severely, the road question would settle itself. ^ ^ j/ic^CoJLaj^
I think he is probably right. j (fli'ui ?
Enclo. No. 8.
Telegram R,, No. 132, dated the 15th February 1917.
From-^-His Majesty’s Vice-Consul, Bunder Abbas,
To—His Majesty’s Consul, Shiraz.
(Repeated to His Majesty’s Minister, Tehran, and Deputy 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. , Bushire, repeated
from Busbire to Basrah.)
Y our telegram 50.