Coll 28/19 ‘Sistan & Kain. Annual Commercial Reports’ [‎93r] (189/318)

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New Items o£ Trade.
The roads in East Persia are being steadily
improved and reductions in prices of British
lorries and cars should make it possible for an
opening to be made in this line. At present the
market is entirely American and American firms
have Agents in the principal towns. There are no
Agents for British cars in East Persia and the entire
absence of any advertising of British cars in the
vernacular is a great disadvantage.
It is believed that British motor-cycles with
side cars might find a market if suitably advertised.
The Agents of British firms in India are quite
unenterprising as regards Persia, know nothing
of the conditions, and so frequently fail to supply
spare parts for British cars that it is hopeless to
purchase a car of British manufacture while relying
on Indian Agencies to supply spare parts when
required.
Failing direct representation in Persia, which at
the present stage would probably be unremunera-
tive, Agents at Quetta working with a Sub-Agent
at Zahidan or Meshad and able to supply spares at
short notice would be of the greatest advantage.
The few owners of British cars here, at present,
have to rely on Agents as far away as Delhi,
Bombay, or Calcutta, and more often than not
such Agents are unable to supply spares urgently.
New Trade Channels.
Nil.
Popularity of Foreign goods due to quality, price,
terms of payment, etc.
Price is always the determining factor. The
population is too impoverished to consider quality
except when goods of equal price are compared.
Agents of American motor firms in India have
Sub-Agencies in Persia. Formerly Easy Terms
w r ere granted, but these have now been greatly
restricted.
Openings for British Goods.
See £ New items of Trade ’ above.
The forwarding of British interest is difficult
in the absence of local Agents. It is questionable
whether establishment of any Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. would pay
at present, trading conditions being so abnormal
under the Monopoly Law.
Representatives of firms visiting India might,
however, take advantage of establishing relations
by a personal visit, by returning to Europe via the
East Persia route. In this connection the advice
and assistance of His Majesty’s Consuls resident in
the provinces should be sought. Information
regarding the route, India-Persia-Iraq can be sup
plied on application to :—
1. His Britannic Majesty’s Consul General,
Meshad.
2. His Britannic Majesty’s Consul, Sistan and
Kain.
Growth of Foreign Competition and danger to
British interests therefrom.
Nil.
Persian Trading Methods.
The working of the Perso-Russian Trading
Agreement became increasingly unpopular and
during the last quarter of the year Persian mer
chants in East Persia boycotted Russian goods
and all trade with Russia was virtually at a
standstill.
Credit offered by Foreign firms as opposed to that
granted by British firms.
3. His Britannic Majesty’s Vice-Consul at
Zahidan.
Overtrading.
Conditions are so uncertain that no overtrading
has been indulged in.
Commercial Morality.
The standards are so entirely at variance with
that recognised in the British Empire that British
firms are advised to seek the advice of His Majesty’s
Consuls before entering into business relations with
unknown firms.
Working of Law Courts in Commercial Cases.
Under present conditions the grant of credit by
British firms unrepresented by reliable local Agents
cannot be recommended. Goods should be quoted
F. 0. B. Karachi (India) payment being effected
against documents through a Bank there.
Traders in East Persia are in touch with
forwarding Agents at Karachi.
MC202FD
Judged by European standards the Courts
cannot be regarded as efficient. Procedure is
involved, Legal Advisers with an adequate know
ledge of the Law are non-existent.
Appeals may be to a Court 600 miles distant by
road and the expenses involved in contesting small
cases is prohibitive.
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