Coll 30/5 'Persian Gulf. Diaries: Bushire Residency (Persian), Jany. 1931 - Dec. 1940' [‎602r] (1203/1320)

76. Economic Conditions.
The economic conditions are steadily
going from bad to worse.
But for the private charities the poorer
Population would starve. Haji Muhammad
Baqir and other merchants have been giving
doles to the poor. Tickets are issued by
them for the free daily supply of bread.
Their kindness however only relieves a
minute portion of the general distress.
At the end of the month, the news that
the Government has sanctioned immediate
construction of Bushire-Lingah Road came
as a welcome rehef, and thousands of the
poor who had flocked in from the out
lying district immediately left the town to
work on the road. The Governpr informs
me that labourers are receiving 3 Rials per
diem, but from this is deducted the cost
of getting food and water to them. They
should eventually receive 1-25 to 1-50 Rials
a day in cash.
The prices of cereals are no lower and
although the Municipality attempt To fix
rates, they cannot compel shopkeepers to
sell at them.
The news from Shiraz and Kazerun
that the crops are not barely half of normal
has removed all hopes of a fall in prices.
The Governor is endeavouring to import
good wheat from Kirmanshah wdilraq. He
calculates to get it to Bushire for 20 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value.
a Kharwar as against the present charge of
24 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. a Rahrwar (100 Tabriz Maunds).
77. Mohammerah.
(a) Iraq Interests. —His Majesty King
Faisal of Iraq, accompanied by Aga Mansur-
al-Mamalik, Minister of Inferior, Aqa Amir-
i-Nizam, Rais-i-Tashrifat, Shahzadeh Nadir
Mirza, Governor-General of Khuzistan, Aqa
Nabvi, Persian Minister, Baghdad, Aqa
Wathooq, Chief of Census Department,
Khuzistan, Sartip Zanghami, Officer Com
manding, Troops, Khuzistan, Sartip Faqir
Khan, Chief of Amniyah, Khuzistan, and
9 other Military Officers arrived at Moham
merah from Tehran via Ahwaz, at about
5 p.m. on the 4th May 1932, and after having
tea in the bungalow of the Resident-Direc
tor of Messrs. The Anglo-Persian Oil Com
pany, left for Basrah by the Iraq Govern
ment ship “ Nearchus”. Only Aqa Nabvi,
Persian Minister to Iraq, accompanied His
Majesty to Baghdad, the remainder of
Persian party returning to Tehran.
On his arrival His Majesty was accorded
a Persian Military Guard of Honour and on
his departure a salute of 3 guns, fired by the
Persian boat “ Homai”.
MC393FD
His Britannic Majesty’s Vice-Consul,
Mohammerah, was granted an audience by
the King on board S.S. “ Nearchus ” and
gathered that His Majesty was pleased with
his visit to Persia, which from all accounts
was a success.
(6) German Interests. —-Dr. Jur Edward
Brucklmeier, Secretary to German Legation,
Tehran, arrived at Mohammerah on the
8th June, and proceeded to Bombay on the
11th by S.S. ‘‘ Vasna ” en route to Colombo.
He is en route to take up the post of German-
Consul General for South India. Accompa
nied by the local Manager of the National
Bank of Persia, Mohammerah, he called on
His Majesty’s Vice-Consul on the 10th
June.
(c) American InterestsMr., Caroll, Chief
Engineer of Persian Railways, Ahwaz,
and his wife passed through Mohammerah
en route for America via Basrah on the 8th.
He is reported to be taking 4 months
leave.
Mr. Allen and his wife of the American
Mission, Mohammerah, visited Bushire in
May, and then left for Syria on the 19th
June on transfer.
Mr. Bressler and his wife of the American
Mission, Bushire, left for Mohammerah on
the 23rd June to take charge there in the
absence of Mr. Allen.
(d) Russian Interests.—The Russian Con
sul, Ahwaz, visited Mohammerah on the
24th June and returned to Ahwaz the next
day.
(e) Persian Railway. —-There is a rumour
in Mohammerah that the Persian Govern
ment is negotiating with the American
Government for a loan of 25,000,000 dollars
for the completion of the railways both fn
the north and south of Persia ; further that
negotiations are going on with the Anglo-
Persian Oil Company at Tehran for a con
tract for the construction of the railway in
the south of Persia.
(/) Local Government. Military. —On the
30th J une a notice showing the names of the
youths eligible for conscription for the year
1311 was posted in the town by the Police
warning them to report themselves to the
Police Office within two months and to be
ready to produce their grounds if any for
exemption should they claim this.
78. Bandar Abbas.
Local Government. Owstoms.—Reference
paragraph 68 of May. Monsieur R.
Delcorde, Inspector General of Customs,
left Bandar Abbas for Zahidan via Kerman
on the 12th June.
Chamber of Commerce. —At a meeting of
merchants held on the 30th May, 18 names