File 1749/1921 ‘Persian Gulf:- Residency news summaries 1921-25’ [‎118r] (250/494)

The Minister for War, who accompanied the Shah, did not fulfil his
promise to return the call of His Majesty’s Consul and appeared to have
returned from Bushire in a thoroughly anti-British mood, _
His Highness Prince Sarum-ud-Dowleh, the new Governor-General, who
reached Shiraz on the 30th November, has published a statement of his
programme including maintenance of security, and improvement of education,
trade and communications.
Haidar Quli Khan, former F'arrash bashi of Soulat-ud-Dowleh, was
arrested for complicity in the recent attack at Sivand but was subsequently
released.
A circular telegram is stated to have been issued, placing all the tribes
under the Ministry of War.
On the 28th December the Finance Agent received telegraphic instruc
tions that all revenue payments and payments to the Department of Indirect
Taxation were to be placed in a Bank Account, and that the military require
ments in Fars would henceforth be met by the Ministry of War in Tehran
from their budget.
It is learned from reliable authority that the Minister for War intends
to send 800 troops from Tehran. This measure is believed to be aimed against
Qawam-ul-Mulk who has already been compelled to yield up the balance of
100 rifles originally furnished by General Sykes. It is even rumoured that
he will be called upon to surrender the old Turkish guns lent to his late father
by Sir P. Cox in 1916.
The Palace garden with its buildings is to be taken away from the
Governor-General and annexed by the Military Command.
It is reported that the Military Authorities have despatched robes of
honour to the sons of Sheikh Hussain of Chahkutah who w r as killed in fighting
against the South Persia Rifles in 1920. The family is notorious for lawlessness
and crime and it was only after their expulsion by the Indian troops in 1918
that the sons were restored to the Zabitship of Chahkutah and Ahmadi in
April 1921.
The Governor-General has stated that he has received instructions to .
impose forthwith certain tolls on the Bushire-Shiraz road, which, according
to him, is “ completed ” and easy for light cars !
Behbehan .—No news of importance.
Bushire. —(1st—31st December.) The 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. left Bushire
in R. I. M. S. “ Lawrence ” on the 11th December and returned on the
18th after visiting Mohammerah, Shargah and Bahrein.
Zaiya Sultan, Governor of Behbehan, arrived at Bushire from Shiraz and
left for Behbehan on the 20th December.
The Central Authorities have wured to the Controller of Finance in
Bushire that in view of the fact that the Financial Departments throughout
the country have been subordinated to the American Advisers,'no disburse
ments should be made for any purpose until further orders.
The Officer Commanding Troops, Bushire, has issued a proclamation
announcing the taking over of the Police by the Military Department, and
under his orders, the Tufangchis on three posts on the roads leading out of
Bushire have been replaced by regular troops, those posted in Foreigner’s
houses are, for the present, retained. In consequence of such steps, the
relations between the Civil and the vi Hit ary continue to be very strained and
the Governor’s position is rendered the more difficult as he is uncertain of the
extent to which the Civil Departments in Tehran will support him in resisting
the interference of the Military.
There is no change in the situation as regards Allah Karam Khan w r ho
is still in confinement in barracks. The reports of the Commission of Inquiry
held on his father, Haidar Khan’s affairs, have been ignored by the Minister
for War who demands an immediate assessment of Haidar Khan s revenue
and a guarantee that he wull obey the orders of the Persian Government.
Telegraphic information was received towards the end of the month from