Skip to item: of 712
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

Coll 30/80 'Trade: Reports on Persian Gulf Market and trading possibilities' [‎28r] (56/712)

This item is part of

The record is made up of 1 file (354 folios). It was created in 30 Apr 1930-12 Mar 1948. It was written in English. 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. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

Copy of Express Letter No.C.180-17/11 dated the 5th March
1947 from 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. , Muscat, to the Hon*ble 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. , Bahrain? .
Reference your Express Letter No.166-10/20 dated the
24th January, 1947.
2. The United Kingdom^ share in Muscat's imports during
the last twelve years has averaged approximately of the
whole. Roughly speaking these imports may be classified
as spirits and wines, woolen goods, cigarettes and tobacco,
soap, perfumes and scent, and cotton plecegoods. In short,
with the exception of cotton piecegoods, all are luxury
goods. Most of the essentials such as cereals, coffee,
spices, sugar, tea, and cotton piecegoods, come from Inaia.
Muscat is not a wealthy State and there is little surplus
moneyto spend on luxury goods. I am doubtful, therefore,
whether the appointment of local agencies for this class
of British goods could result in any very considerable
Increase in the imports from the United Kingdom. It is
to be considered, however, that most of the present agencies
for British goods are held either by firms in India or Aden,
and in both cases, presumably, supplies to Muscat will be
counted against the allotted quotas for these countries.
In the former case, the British goods have also to compete
with Indian goods for which export licences are more readily
available. While in the latter case, communications except
by dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. are virtually non-existent. It is clear, therefore,
that efforts to increase the united Kingdom's share in
Muscat's total imports will not be successful until they are
made more readily accessible. While I feel that the value
of Muscat trade will not justify the appointment of direct
agencies in Muscat, it may well be to the benefit of the
British firms to consider re-adjustment of their agencies
so as to appoint a central agent for the whole of the Gulf —
say at Bahrain — with dealers in less valuable markets such
as Muscat.
3. The following commercial literature is received at
this Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. .
Board of Trade Journal
The Motor
The Light Car
The Commercial Motor
Motor Cycling
Cycling
The Motor Boat
The Aeroplane
The Motor Ship
The oil Engine
Light Metals
Plastics
I
l
l
l
l
l
I
I
I
Supplied by the Temple press
Limited, London, by arrange
ment with the Board of Trade
Export Promotion Department.
There is no association or other similar body of merchants
at Muscat, and commercial literature received is circulated
among them individually.
4. Possible lines of development for British trade are in
cotton piecegoods, crockery and cutlery, perfumery, hardware,
enamelware, refrigerators, typewriters, sewing machines,
paints and varnishes, etc. Literature giving names and
addresses of exporters in the United Kingdom, who can supply
these articles of import would be useful and could be passed
on to the merchants. 5
5. A statement on commercial condition and possibilities
in Muscat is enclosed.

About this item

Content

The file contains information on economic and trade conditions in the states located on the Arab side of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and discussion of the potential market there for British goods. The main correspondents are the Department of Overseas Trade, and 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. . The file also contains a number of detailed reports from British officials, which were submitted to the Department of Overseas Trade.

The first of these reports, dated 1931, relates specifically to cotton piece-goods, and consists of a general report by the British Vice-Consul at Bushire on the Arab coast market, and reports on local conditions from the Political Agents at Kuwait and Muscat, the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Agent, Shargah [Sharjah] (relating to Debai [Dubai] and the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. ), and the Director of Customs and Port Officer, Bahrain. Further general reports on economic conditions in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. by various British Vice-Consuls at Bushire, are dated 1934-37 (including a Department of Overseas Trade published version, for October 1934, folios 126-144). There are also other reports on local conditions, and general correspondence concerning economic conditions and the market for British goods. Papers from 1936 onwards show increasing awareness of the importance of oil in enhancing the potential economic significance of the Gulf states.

The following correspondence is also of note:

The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 file (354 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 355; 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. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

Coll 30/80 'Trade: Reports on Persian Gulf Market and trading possibilities' [‎28r] (56/712), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3797, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100042657785.0x000039> [accessed 28 March 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100042657785.0x000039">Coll 30/80 'Trade: Reports on Persian Gulf Market and trading possibilities' [&lrm;28r] (56/712)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100042657785.0x000039">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000648.0x00016c/IOR_L_PS_12_3797_0056.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000648.0x00016c/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image