'File 12/1 [1 A/1 I] Persian Claims to Bahrain' [‎136r] (276/502)

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mean that articles exported, for instance from the
Shaikhdoms j^a Bahrain, will not be entitled to any
preference. If necessary therefore it is proposed that the
entry in any list of countries entitled to preference should
be in the following form :
"Arab Littoral of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ", (i.e # Bahrain,
Kuwait, and the Trucial Sheikhdoms).
4. The only article of any importance exported to India
from the places concerned, ifchich would be entitled to
preference under the Ottawa Agreement, is dates, which are
imported annually to India from the Bahrain Island to the
value of over Rs, lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees , 'ifcese would be granted a
10 per cent preference, provided they were the actual
produce of such places ( vide rule 4(2)(a) of the Ottawa
Trade Agreement Rules), It would probably therefore be
necessary to make some arrangement whereby dates which
were entitled to preference under this rule isould be
accompanied by a certificate of origin. It is suggested
that this should be granted by the local authorities and
countersigned by the political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. concerned. It will
however be a matter for serious consideration how far the
Political Agents will feel themselves in a position to
countersign such certificates of origin, having regard to
the possibility that dates produced in other territories
my be brought to Bahrain, etc., for shipment. This
difficulty has been felt in respect of certain cosmodities
imported from other Colonies, For example, it was found
necessary entirely to refuse the benefit of the
preferential rate of duty in the case of the copra imported
from Penang owing to the difficulty of ensuring that the
copra waA really the product of Malaya. Again, it was not
found possible to apply the preferential tariff to coconut
shipped from Penang or betel-nuts shipped from Kalantan
until an assurance had been obtained from the local
authorities concerned th*t there was not in fact any
import trade in these commodities into these settlements
from territories outside Malaya.
The issue of the above has been authorised.
Deputy Secretary to the Gov* it of India.
(iMJM