'Seistan' [‎276r] (551/782)

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On May 24th Sir A. Hardinge, by direction of Lord Lansdowne, addressed
a note to the Persian Government regarding the separation of the Customs
Administration of Arabistan from that of the remaining ports of Southern
Persia which are under the “Direction Generale” of Bushire. 11S 110 e
states that the separation of Mohammerah for Customs purposes from the other
ports of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. might, in the absence of a clear declaration o le
contrary, give rise to an impression that the Customs revenues of Arams an
were excluded from the term “ Customs of Pars and the Persian Gull usee
in tbe Russian Loan contracts of 1900 and 1902, and were therefore pledge
to the service of the loans created by these two agreements. Tbe note con
cludes by asking for an official assurance from tbe Persian jovernmen ia
Mohammerah and its dependencies, including all tbe ports of Arabistan, are
still comprised with tbe remaining Southern Custom Houses m the term
“ Pars and the ports of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ” employed in the loan contracts
with Russia of 1900 and 1902. To this note the Persian Government returned
an evasive reply to the effect that for administrative and Customs purposes
Pars and Arabistan had always been separate, that they were only united
recently as a temporary measure for Customs purposes and that tbe question
whether Mohammerab was to be considered as a Gulf port vas one tor
Geographers to determine.
Early in June serious riots took place at Tabriz and Isfahan. In tbe case
of tbe former the mob were incited to violence by the preaching of the local
Mullahs against the new tariff and the Belgian Customs officials.. At Isfahan
tbe riots were directed against tbe Babis by tbe notorious Mujtehed Agba
Nejefi.
In tbe same month tbe Government of India appointed a native agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. at
Kerbela with a view to exercising influence over the principal Mullahs of that
place and Nejef.
In June His Majesty’s Consul at Batoum reported that M. Govsky, Agent
of tbe Russian Steam Navigation and Trading Company at Bushire, and M.
Pavloff bolding tbe same appointment at Bussorah, bad been instructed to or
ganise museums in those towns exhibiting complete collections of products and
articles of export manufactured by different firms in Russia.
Considerable correspondence took place during tbe first six months of 1903
between tbe British and Persian Governments regarding tbe Russian cholera
cordon in Khorasan. On July 1st, a memorandum was addressed to Count
Benckendorff pointing the various reasons why this cordon should be withdrawn.
Tbe memorandum concluded with the following words : —
<f In these circumstances and in view of tbe fact that tbe Persian Govern
ment have repeatedly pressed for the withdrawal of tbe Russian Sanitary Cordon,
His Majesty’s Government are compelled to arrive at tbe conclusion that its
maintenance is not only irregular and unnecessary, but constitutes at tbe
same time an encroachment upon the sovereign rights of Persia whose integrity
and independence they and the Russian Government are equally interested in
maintaining. His Majesty’s Government would therefore express the hope that
tbe Russian Government will see fit to take early steps for tbe withdrawal of
their officers from the quarantine posts
To Sir c. Scott, xo. 182, July, 1st i 03 . that they now occupy in Kliorasan.*’
Lord Lansdowne further verbally informed Count Benckendorff that His
Majesty’s Government would, in case tbe cordon were not withdrawn, station
a British post in its immediate neighbourhood for the purpose of protecting
British interests. A Consul, with a small escort, was subsequently despatched
to Turbat-i-Haideri.
Early in July disturbances directed against the Seistan Boundary Com
mission took place at Nasratabad. These riots were instigated by the Russian
Consul in Seistan, hut on strong remonstrances being made by Mr. Dobbs and
supported at Tehran by His Majesty’s Minister, were suppressed by the
Hasbmat- uLMulk.
Owing to the riots which had taken place in various parts of Persia, His
Majesty’s Minister suggested that a message should be conveyed to the