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‘File 29/25 DATES QUOTA – 1944-’45 FOR BAHRAIN AND TRUCIAL COAST’ [‎18r] (35/188)

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The record is made up of 1 file (92 folios). It was created in 10 May 1944-24 Jan 1950. It was written in English and Arabic. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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(c) It is clear that this margin between the naked ex garden
price and the original F.O.B. selling price of 25/- was
excessive and encouraged snuggling on a wide scale, smugglers
had ample room to pay the growers higher prices than ID. 40
per kara and still resell at less than the prescribed F.O.B
price of 25/- per cwt. under zhe scheme.
(d) The factors outlined above in (a) (b) and (c) contributed
to cause a serious restriction in the volume of supplies
available for the Sheikhdoms through the controlled channels.
Althourh the somewhat inexplicable collapse of demand in
recent weeks seems to indicate that these territories did An
fact secure some supplies, presumably through smuggling, it
would appear incontestable that the flow of supplies to them
was unduly delayed.
(e) Where centralised purchasing by the recipient country has
obtained, delays havo occurred in finalising arrangements
for payment and this has caused difficulties in relation to
tne positioning of transport and shipping. Wether, however,
such delays have ultimately reduced the total deliveries to
any territory is doubtful, except possibly in the case of
Saudi Arabia.
(^f) The insistence of certain territories, particularly the
^haiklidoms, upon Sayers as against 2ahdis or other types at
the same price limited the nuantitias which could be made
available at particular times and doubtless resulted in some
dhows sailing without full cargoes.
Arranpement s for 1944 season .
Although the experience of the initial year of control
has reen discouraring, and although the Scheme nay not have
appeared to offer advantages commensurate wihh its defects,
it is felt that its intrinsic merits are such as to warrant
its continuance for a further season if the support of the
territories concerned is maintained. It is at least arguable
that, even if disappointing in its direct results, it mater
ially assisted in restraining the flight of prices and in
giving some measure of direction to the flow of supplies. The
experience gained, moreover, has been invaluable, particularly
on price and cost matters, and lias clearly emphasised the
factors which are essential to its smooth running.
The fundamental elements of the procedure for 1944, assum
ing a general agreement to the continuance of the Scheme, may
be summarised as followss-
(a) The Iraq ^ovornraant have again resisted proposals for a
Government to Government contract, and as far as Basra dates
at least are concerned the agreement for purchase will rest
between Andrew Weir <1 co. and the Date Association. On this
occasion every effort would be made to include Euphrates
from the inception. Andrew Weir would resell to the Ministry
of Food and act under their direction for distribution.
(b) Naked ex garden prices would be held to ID. 50 for Hallawi
and Khedraqi, and ID. 40 for 2ahdi and Sayers. ( Braim and
Chibchab which caused considerable pj^obleros in disposal
would not be handled under the scheme.)
(c) It would be hoped to secure 70,000 tons from the Basra
area and 30,000 tons from the Euphrates area, of which not
more than 4^,000 tons would be packed in cases for delivery
\to the U.K., Services and Russia.
(d) The Ministry would insist on a reduction in Andrew Weir's
remuneration and by shading its own provision for contingenc
ies to the narrowest margin, subject to Treasury approval,
would endeavour to sell basket dates at around 19/- per cwt.
F.O.B. This it is felt would reduce the margin within which

About this item

Content

The file contains correspondence about a British Ministry of Food scheme in 1944 for ensuring a controlled supply of Iraqi dates at reasonable prices to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. shaikhdoms during the Second World War (1939-1945), because local date crops were insufficient and imported dates were subject to wartime quota arrangements. Included in the file is a comprehensive memorandum written by the British Ministry of Food Dried Fruits Division in Wales in 1944, describing in detail the Ministry’s wartime scheme for the central purchase and coordinated distribution of Iraqi dates throughout the Middle East, India and Africa, following the short Iraqi date crop of 1942. There is also correspondence between the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Bushire and the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. in London in 1944, about the merits of the British governmental central purchasing scheme for Iraqi dates, for keeping prices down, preventing wartime profiteering, ensuring fair distribution and discouraging the sale of smuggled Iraqi (and Persian) dates in Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ports. These concerns are discussed repeatedly in correspondence throughout the file.

In 1944, 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. , Bahrain discusses in detail with the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. and other British officials in Sharjah, as well as the Adviser to the Government of Bahrain, why the Sheikhs of Bahrain, Qatar and the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. shaikhdoms of Dubai and Sharjah prefer to use their own commercial agents and local merchants for the procurement of their respective allocations of quota imports of Iraqi dates, rather than as hitherto, the British company Andrew Weir of Basra (appointed Crown purchasing agents in the Middle East). From May 1945 onwards, their official discussions focus on gathering information about the annual requirements for dates in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. shaikhdoms in the current year, as well as the total number and quantity of their current date exports and imports, in preparation for the gradual relaxation of Government of India wartime trade restrictions on the export and import of dates by Bahrain and the other Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. shaikhdoms under British protection, with Iraq, Saudi Arabia and India.

Extent and format
1 file (92 folios)
Arrangement

Files papers are arranged more or less chronologically.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 94; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 2-93; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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‘File 29/25 DATES QUOTA – 1944-’45 FOR BAHRAIN AND TRUCIAL COAST’ [‎18r] (35/188), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/785, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100026481800.0x000024> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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