'Adminisistration [Administration] Reports 1931-1935' [‎54v] (108/416)

10
market. Iriie following estimate, furnished h} 7- a reliable local authority, tends
to confirm this report.
1931 crop : approximately
1932 crop : approximately
Exports about > /
Stocks in hand
In merchants go-downs
Cases.
7.500
2.500
10,000
3,000
5,800
1,000—1,500
—There have been fairly extensive shipments of gum, principally in
view of their value in export certificates although there Was a sharp demand
from Germany for lower qualities towards the end of the )ear.
Imports.
Sugar .—The import of sugar into Persia is a monopoly of flm Russians,-
but deliveries have been erratic and prices have shown a tendency to increase.
Matches also are now controlled by a Russian monopoly and short deliveries
Of inferior qualities have caused some profiteering in spite of a controlled official
price.
Piece-goods. —Cotton piece-goods form an important item in the Persian
market which lias been flooded with cheap Japanese goods of a design suitable
to Persian tastes. The Russians, who previously had practically driven British
(Lancashire and Indian) goods from the market found themselves in turn,
unable to compete in spite of price-reductions and offers of discounts. Japanese
business is conducted principally through buying agents in Bombay where
goods are transhipped to British India Steam Navigation Company's boats;
The terms are usually 20 per cent, with order and balance payable on shipment
of the goods. No credit is allowed but discounts are accorded varying between
10 and 40 per cent.
Manchester piece-goods still come into the country but in very limited and
diminishing quantities and only in certain line's of standard quality such as
white mulls, white nainsooks and Black Italians. Messrs. Zieglers tell me that
they are unable to cover the cost of a recent import of one of their oldest and
fiiost stable lines, a white shirting made especially for them.
Tea.—As a result of ihe general economic situation the import of tea, which
is almost entirely Indian, has fallen considerably and prices have increased from
Rials 574 per man in January 1932 to Rials 72 in December of the same jmar.
Sunday wurke/.—According to reports there is a general tendency through-
out the country to.purchase from Britain in preference to the United States of
America or other European sources but this condition is said to be due entirely
to exchange consideration. In view of the competitive prices otfered by the
.L in ec Kingdom manufacturers, a rapidly increasing number of British trucks
is being imported by Messrs. Zieglers who have completely dropped competing
American interests. 1 ^ ^ ^
imaltered relatlVe p0Sltl0n of ot *’ er interests, excluding Russian, remains
T ! le Comme reial Treaty with Russia, which was signed on October 27, 1931,
came into operation during Uie year and strenuous efforts were made by the
iflh Treaty In Z f r 8» Iuza i taon <. ake advantage, of the favourable terms
of the Treaty to develop Russian trade with Persia Persian merchants,
tTrorkTe'rsfan mlrtfjr'y ‘¥1 ^ 'Wy merely strengthened Russian
control ot Persian maikets to the detriment of the Persian merchants them-
rancellarion Unp ° pularity of the ^cement provoked an agitation for its
The traditional hostility to the Russimio in thL n* + ^ ± j , , o
trading method's is detrimental to the development of anr ? A s . trilst af th i
from the monopoly goods they have n^t " ieS ^ ^
J. G. BALLLIE,
H. M.’s Vice-Consul,
Bushire-.