"تقارير إدارية ١٩٠٥-١٩١٠" [و‎‎٢‎٥‎٣] (٦١٦/٥١٠)

POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 1910.
offered to Mr. R. H. New, of the Indo-European Telegraph Department, who,
as Assistant Superintendent of the Jask Sub-Division, had for the past two or
three years been rendering valuable co-operation to the Naval and Political
authorities, in connection with the suppression of the arms traffic on the Mek-
ran Coast. Mr. New assumed charge of his duties on the 29th of March.
The objects with which Mr. New's appointment was made, were that he
should study and stimulate trade at Lingah, and endeavour to bring about an
effective competition by British traders with German enterprise at that port;
secondly, that he should, as opportunity and experience made it possible, visit
and study the trade of Debai, and thus prepare the way for the more effec
tive British representation on the Trucial Coast generally; thirdly, that he
should co-operate in the measures in progress for the suppression of the arms
traffic, which industry appears to be extending its tentacles northwards.
The affairs of Lingah afford no material for permanent interest until the
last quarter of the year. The hinterland and Laristan generally had still re
mained in the state of lawless chaos in which it had been left last year by the
vagaries of Seyyid Abdul Husein Lari. On the 20th of October, lively news
reached Lingah to the effect that Ghulam Hussein Khan Varawi, supported by
Ali Akbar Khan of Giladar, Bakar Khan of Ishkhanu, Shaikh Mazkoor of
Gaobandi, had collected a force not less than 3,000 strong and intended raid
ing Lingah. The inhabitants of the port were greatly alarmed and began
making preparations for the removal of their families and valuables. His
Majestv's Vice-Consul was directed to send a friendly letter to Ghulam
Hussein Khan, warning him that His Majesty's Ships of war were at Lingah
and would do what was necessary to protect British subjects, and that the
intended raid with which he was credited would involve a good deal of risk
to those who participated in it. On the 27th of October, the Deputy Gover
nor, having informed His Majesty's Vice-Consul and the Senior Naval 0 _cer
that, with the forces at his command, he was unable to accept responsibility
for the safetv of the town and the communities inside it, 174 men with 4 guns
were landed from H. M. S. " Fox," while H. M. S. " Odin was sent up to the
Shib Kuh ports to deal with some dhows of armed men which Shaikh Mazkoor
was reported to be sending by sea to participate in the attack ^ Linga_
Ghulam Hussein Khan & Co. replied to His Majesty s Vice-Consul that their
business was with the Shaikh of Mugam, and that they had never had any
intention of attacking Lingah. It is known, however, from^the correspond
ence which was intercepted, that Lingah was their real objective but the
action of the British authorities had the effect of averting the raid and on
the 10th of November, there being no longer cause for apprehension, H. .
Ships " Fox " and " Odin " were able to re-embark their men
It is satisfactory to know that Messrs Gray Paul & Co after a good
deal of friendly pressure, and stimulated by the ^
Vice-Consul, have deputed an English employe to look after their mteres
Lingah, and I understand that the measure is ^ e "P a y in S u >,5™ cnffered
w c —i i—
Bandar Abbas. Bandar Abbas was disturbed by frequent
rumours of impending raids. In October, a force of Baharlu P^ e ^ e ^. an
Fars, nominally under the control of the ^. a ^ a r m '^ u X 0 , . ' va i U e of
the entire district, looting the goods of British Indian subjects to the value of
/
tne entire district, looting tu« guuus ux — o
about half a lakh of rupees, none of which has been recwerecl. ^
Owing to the difficult position in which Bandar Abbas is p y ^
presence of large parties of Afghans, ostensibly there o the smuggling
indistinguishable from, and often including, ^ an ^ s . en ^ o e i Z ure of their
Of arms 8 who are apt to became truculent on hearing of seizure^! tUeir
consignments by our ships, it was considered pru e P y adapted
and building forming His Majesty's Consulate « ^^fXTatoTwere car-
for self-contained and effective defence. The ne pLnmunication between
ried out during the year, and included This
the Cable House and the Consulate; almost jw'lapse of time,
is a fresh instance of the possibility in Persia of obtaining, by lapse
what diplomacy has been powerless to achieve.