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File 1283/1913 Pt 3 ‘Persian Gulf: Trade Commercial Mission’ [‎104v] (213/578)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (285 folios). It was created in 18 Jul 1916-12 Dec 1919. It was written in English and French. 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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4 Subsidiary Measures.-The subsidiary measures required for developing
and safeguarding British commerce in the Gulf are discussed with reference
tn each of the three spheres into which the trade currents flow, namely.--
(1) Mesopotamia ;
(2) Persia ; ,
(3) the Ports on the Coast of Arabia.
Mr. Lloyd in his report of 1908, described the dimensions and conditions -
of British trade in Mesopotamia and drew attention to the danger to be
anticipated from the rapidly growing German trade with -the advantage of
subsidies and the cleverly devised system of through lates On tin v hole,
British merchants seem to have retained the great advantage which they
derived from their long start. German trade has now dropped to the
bottom of the ladder and, if the Resolutions of the laris Conference are
broimht into effect, it will be unable to start climbing again for a period of
years' after the conclusion of peace. When this period comes to an end,
however, it must he expected that German competition wall re-appear m
Mesopotamia as in other places, assuming that the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. will remain
open to foreign shipping.
5. Commercial Bureau.—The contrast between the methods of the British
and German merchants must be ascribed very largely to deep-seated causes
and was not peculiar to Basrah. The German political organisation and
their system of education must be held responsible for the high standard of
business efficiencv maintained by the merchants. A few suggestions of a
general nature are offered for the information of' British linns who con
template opening business in the Gulf. Lor the proper enlightenment of
Chambers of Commerce and individual merchants, it is essential that
a commercial intelligence officer should be appointed in the occupied
territories at the earliest possible date, possibly with an Indian attache.
(3 Agriculture.—Commerce m Mesopotamia before the vai was ciamped
and confined, owing, firstly, to the paucity of exports for which imports could
be exchanged and, secondly, to the inadequacy and insecurity of the internal
communications. The inefficiency of the furbish administration was
ultimately to blame for the undeveloped state of the country. Scanty
exports were due to the backward condition of agriculture, which, in itself, is
attributable mainly to the uncontrolled vagaries of the rivers, coupled with
scarcity of labour and insecurity of life and property. ^
The main agricultural products of the Basrah \ ilayot before the war
were dates, rice, wheat, barley, millet, melons, vegetables, fruit. It is
estimated that the total area cultivated was about 350,000 acres, of which
100,000 were under rice, 70,000 under barley, 30,000 under millet, 20,000
under wheat and 20,000 under vegetables. Date groves accounted for about
100,000 acres. These estimates must, however, be accepted with great
caution, since the data on which they are based are by no means reliable.
The rice crop is of great value and capable of much expansion. The wheat-
exported came mostly from outside the Vilayat and the trade was subject to
remarkable fluctuations, owing to the uncertainty of the water supply and
the inadequate transport. Suggestions are offered with a view to improve
ment of the existing system of cultivation and handling of the crop. In
some areas, agriculture has suffered severely from the insecurity of the
cultivators’ tenure, and the matter needs careful consideration. The
institution of an Agricultural Department at an early date is recommended.
There is every reason, however, to hope that Mesopotamia has a future
not only for wheat but for cotton. The soil and climate appear to be suitable
for the cultivation of fine cottons, and it is recommended that tests be
made at an early opportunity with a view to ascertaining the suitable varieties
for adoption.
7. Irrigation and River Control.—Next, with a view to the development
of the agricultural possibilities of Mesopotamia, plans must be devised for
the scientific control of the rivers, so as to prevent the damage now caused

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Content

The volume is concerned with commercial possibilities within Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. for British trade. Of particular concern for British officials is ensuring that British firms are placed in the best possible position to counter expected competition from Germany and Japan following the cessation of hostilities. Much of the file is taken up with proposals for a Mesopotamian Trade Commission, prompted by a report produced by Captain George Lloyd on the economic situation in the Gulf and Mesopotamian markets in 1916; multiple copies of Lloyd's report can be found between folios 216-285. This includes details behind the selection of the Commissioners (Robert Erskine Holland and John Wilson), the division of expenditure between the British and Indian Governments, and the remuneration for the Commissioners. It also outlines some of the process behind the British Government's decision not to publish the report immediately following its submission in 1917, and subsequent reviews of this decision.

The volume does not contain a copy of the report produced by the Holland-Wilson Commission. However, a summary of its recommendations can be found on folios 104-06, and a note on the report prepared by 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. (dated 6 February 1918) can be found on folios 100-03. Copies of the Commission’s original instructions may be found on folios 180 and 182. Proposals from Sir Percy Cox dated 1 March 1917 on measures to turn the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. into a British ‘mare clausum’ [closed sea] can be found on folio 154, along with English and French copies of the ‘Recommendations of the Economic Conference of the Allies’ held at Paris 14-17 June 1916 on folios 155-58.

Another matter discussed within is an application from Messrs Lynch and Lord Inchcape [James Lyle Mackay] to establish an office for their joint firm — Mackay, Lynch and Company — at Baghdad, and for permission to implement a pre-war concession from the Ottoman Government to run steamers on the Tigris and Euphrates. This includes the minutes of a meeting of the Middle East Committee of the War Cabinet (see folios 84-5) held on the 18 February 1918 on the undesirability of granting a monopoly on these rivers.

Other matters covered by the file include proposals — dated 28 February 1918 — from the Bahrain 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. (see folios 53-4) towards the establishment of a strong commercial position for British trade at Bahrain, an agent deputed by Messrs Herbert Whitworth Limited to establish branches at Basra and Baghdad, and the construction of a through railway between Basra and Baghdad.

The main correspondents are officials of the Board of Trade (Henry Fountain), 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. (Arthur Hirtzel and John Evelyn Shuckburgh), the Foreign Office, and the Government of India; with significant input from Sir Percy Cox (serving as Chief Political Officer of the Indian Expeditionary Force), and the Under Secretary of State for India (John Dickson-Poynder).

Each part includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 volume (285 folios)
Arrangement

The subject 1283 ( Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. : German Competition) consists of two volumes: IOR/L/PS/10/366 and 367. The volumes are divided into three parts with parts 1 and 2 comprising one volume, and part 3 comprising the second volume. The papers within this volume are filed in reverse chronological order.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 287; 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.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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File 1283/1913 Pt 3 ‘Persian Gulf: Trade Commercial Mission’ [‎104v] (213/578), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/367, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100032759256.0x00000e> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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