File 1749/1921 ‘Persian Gulf:- Residency news summaries 1921-25’ [‎236r] (486/494)

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It is reported that the younger Bahhtiari jvhans are concerting together
with a view to depriving the senior Khans of their properties and governing
Bakhtiari themselves. It is not unlikely that they may fall into the clutches
of Bolshevik propagandists. Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Muhtesham has imprisoned one of the
leading democrats Agha Abdul AH Erbab and is, His Majesty’s Consul-General
learns, trying to extort 10,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. from him. He has also collected 700
tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. from the lawyers who were refused access to the law courts by the
Mullahs and has now given them permission to resume their professional
duties as hitherto. The Mullahs appear to have accepted the arrangement.
The absence of money in the Government chest and the two months* arrears
of pay due to all Government Departments may have driven Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Muhte
sham to these expedients.
Mr. Cowan, His Majesty’s Vice-Consul, left for Kermansbah where be
has been appointed Consul.
Shiraz .—The state of the town and district remains satisfactory, and so
far the Soulat seems to be adhering to the terms of his agreement. The
improved state of the district is alrendy bearing witness to the expediency of
the reconciliation between the Soulat, Persian and British Governments, and
Ehtisham.
The democrats are apparently undecided what attitude to adopt towards
the Bolshevik treaty and while mistrusting it yet are not ill pleased at the
blow not so much to British pre>tige as to that of Vossuq-ud-Dowleh, whom
they all denounce in no measured terras, and it is stated by them and others
of different shapes of opinion that the still-born condition of the Anglo-Persian
Agreement was only to be expected having regard to the standing of one of
its parents.
Election papers have been distributed to the people, but
instructions have since been received from the Minister of the Interior that
no further action is to he taken until the election official has arrived from
Shiraz.
Amir Mofakh Khan, Amir Mojahed, Murteza Quli Khan and other young
Khans arrived at Behbehan on the 19th instant. They were enthusiastically
welcomed by the people on their arrival. The Ham Hormuz and Masimr-
Hendijan roads are safe, but the Dilum road is unsafe owing to the oppression
of the Zaidun guards.
The market rates are very dull, money is scarce and the people are in
great financial difficulties,
Bmhire .—On Tuesday, January 4tb, Bishop Linton, D.D., left Bushire
for Shiraz, en route to Ispahan.
The Governor-General tins decided to reinstate Asaf-ul-Mulk as Deputy
Governor of Dashti and Dashtistan, and he left Shiraz about the 29th January
accompanied bv Ghazanfar-us-Sultaneh, Nur Mahomed and Ewaz the Khans
of Boraziun, Daliki and Kamarij who were dismissed by the local represent
atives of the Persian and British Governments during the operations of
1918-19 on the Bushire-Shiraz road, and who are now also being reinstated.
At one time it seemed probable that the Khans who are being dismissed
would offer active resistance to the return of the above party, but the provision
of a strong escort of the South Persia Kifles, who accompanied Asaf-ul-Mulk
from Kazerun to Borazjun, prevented this materialising.
The ruturn of these persons cannot be too strongly deprecated. Asaf-
ul-Mulk is an excessively corrupt official and a singularly mept Deputy
Governor, and the others were renowned for their oppression on the Bushire-
Shiraz road, before they became actively anti-British during the wa*
Dr. Schutz, the German military doctor from Tabriz, accompanied by a
batman and Eraulein Neunzig, the governess to the children of the £<^iil-
General for Norway in Tehran, have arrived in Bushire en route for Europe.
The Karguzar having had instructions from Tehran arranged for their
accommodation. So far they have not been able to receive passages to India.