§ Mr. DILLONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether British sailors are still in possession of Bushire; what number have been landed; at whose request the landing took place, and what were the grounds on which the landing was called for; who is at present in control of the government at Bushire; who collects the Customs duties; and to whom are the duties paid?
§ Sir E. GREYIn view of the improvement in the situation at Bushire, authority has been sent for the withdrawal of the British sailors, but I have not heard yet whether withdrawal has been effected. One hundred bluejackets were originally landed at the request of His Majesty's Consul-General at Bushire, who, together with the other Consular officers, considered such action necessary for the protection of foreign life and property, in view of the presence of armed tribesmen from the interior. The late Governor, the Darya Begi returned to the town on May 10th and 546 was received cordially by the inhabitants. The Customs continue, as far as I am aware, to be collected by the ordinary Customs officials, but the present arrangement as to the disposal of the dues is that they are paid to the Imperial Bank of Persia to the account of the Director of Customs, who may not, pending the settlement of the constitutional troubles, withdraw the money without the Bank's consent. This arrangement is made in pursuance of an agreement previously made with the Persian Government, under which interest on certain existing British loans to Persia was to be provided out of the proceeds of the Bushire Customs dues, and is carried out with the approval of the Nationalists of Bushire.