'SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND MEASURES OF THE VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. I. JANUARY 1899-APRIL 1904. II. DECEMBER 1904-NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV. PERSIA AND THE PERSIAN GULF.' [‎70v] (145/386)

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traders who wore exeiript from such burdens. The leading features of the system
to he introduced were a uniform rate of 6 per cent, ad valorem on all exports
and imports, whatever the origin of the goods, or the nationality of the trader •
the suppression of transit dues in the interior and the abolition of arbitrary
restraints on trade imposed, generally for corrupt purposes, by local governors
The new arrangements touched the pockets of the Darya Jlegi, Governor
of the Gulf Ports, and the more important merchants who would he
unable to make favourable arrangements with the foreign officials to
the detriment of their less important competitors, as was possible under
native Persian administration. The Darya Pegi instigated the local chiefs and
merchants from Bushiro to the Shat*el-Arab on the west and to Bunder Abbas
on the east to forcible resistance, while the Minister of Commerce himself foment
ed an agitation from Shiraz to Bushire and from Kermanshah to Meshed. The
native merchants of Bushire and Shiraz refused to clear their goods from the
Customs House. For a month or more business was entirely suspended and
goods imported remained uncleared. M. iNaus was indignant. He made strong
representations to the Persian Government in support of his scheme and
demanded the recall of the Darya Begi which was long delayed but eventually
carried out. The Government, however, was in no mood to face an agitation
so widespread, and counselled patience and tact. They proposed to introduce a
new tariff on a sliding scale which would be more favourable to the native mer
chants than the proposed 5 per cent. rate. This tariff, placing native merchants
and foreigners on the same footing as regards the payment of duty, was also op
posed, but the Persian Government remained firm and the new tariff came into
force in August 1900, and after slight opposition wds generally accepted and
immediately extended to Charbar and Gwettur where the farmers were British
Indian subjects whose contracts were arbitrarily terminated. No intimation
was given to the Resident, Bushire, who was compelled to address the Legation
with a view to a remonstrance being made to the Persian Government.
7. Further disregard for British interests was shown by the Director of
Belgian Customs control over Liogah. Bushire in March 1902. At
. Lingah there was a large community of
British Indian traders. Ihe importance of the port as a trade centre was
due mainly to the fact that, by its position and conveuienoe as a port of call
for ocean steamers, it was the chief emporium for the trade of the various places
on the Opposite coast of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , such as Shargah, Debai and Abu
Dhabi. At first, after introduction of the 5 per cent, import duty special arran^e-
ments were, owing to the exceptional circumstances of Lingah, allowed to re
main m feroe for merchandise subsequently exported to the Arab coast, and no
disparity o. treatment was shown to British Indian as compared with Persian
traders Early in 1902 however goods transhipped within the harbour were
compelled to pay i kran per package transhipment dutvj but, if landed
and re-exported within 20 days—a period complained of as* being too short to
arrange for sailing craft during which period they must be placed within the
control of the Custom House,—the rate of J kran per package was leviable.
Otherwise the full export duty of 5 per cent, was charged. Further, rice and ghi
(mel ed butter) and wheat and barley were charged an export duty of 10 and
35 per^ cent respectively, notwithstanding that these articles had been im-
ported into Lingah from India and had paid the import duty of 5 per cent.
^ it f e ence se up by the Customs authorities that the export of provisions
from Persia was prohibited, was flimsy in view of the fact that the articles
lad been imported for the purpose of subsequent re-exportation. The trade of
ikIwi i5 tC . s 1 ^ ea ? 1 . ers began to take freights direct to the Arab coast;
i''" a .- e Pm^ali Customs House uncleared. Representations were
made to the Legation who secured the re-exportation of the bags free of export
duty but no permanent modification in the rules was effected and the trade of
Lingah has continued to decline.
8. Nor was the activity of the Belgian Customs Officials confined to the south
toina’o 0 moor« powef of tlle Bolgion Cas ' or ^ m ited to purely customs matters.
rLT n , . „ ^ IWO M. Castaigne and a subordinate
™ f “ K !,° ra f n = and , m Ma y of f'c following year the customs of Seistan
w re formally transferred to the new Department whose power was gradually