Ext 8835/47 'Middle East: monthly economic reports' [‎10r] (19/30)

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6. The press reports that the Directorate-
General of Customs has indicated that
exports of gold from Syria and the Lebanon
are subject to export licences granted by
the Higher Council of Common Interests
upon the recommendation of the respective
GU^rnments. This report is interesting
in that it states that, as a result of this
decision, the “ foreign Consular Corps ”
are not authorised to carry any amount of
gold when leaving the Levant A geographical area corresponding to the region around the eastern Mediterranean Sea. States.
7. The following figures on French
imports and exports were recently pub
lished in the press in respect of the first
five months of 194fi and 1947 :—
£ sterling
Syro-Libano joint exports to
France—
1946 986,389,000
1947 202,141,000
French
francs
Syro-Libano joint imports from
France—
1946 ?, 130,504,000
1947 1,008,481,000
8. Though it is not yet known to what
extent the authorities will implement the
decision not to grant, or to restrict the num
ber of import licences in connexion with
which no corresponding applications for
foreign exchange (hard currencies) are sub
mitted, a recent press communique issued
by the Directorate for Foreign Trade and
Supplies indicates some intention of pur
suing this policy. The communique in
question points out that import licences en
dorsed for foreign exchange allocations,
granted before 14th July, 1947, may not
be substituted for licences not so endorsed,
already issued, or granted after that date,
i.e., it is intended that the foreign ex
change allocated should be used to import
the goods for which it was granted. How
ever, the communique provides for excep
tions being made to this ruling, subject to
an application with justifying documents
being submitted to the competent authori
ties, to obtain an endorsement showing that
the import licences not entitling the im
porter to foreign exchange have been duly
amended. The conclusion to be drawn—
in British exporters’ interests—is that the
previous recommendation, only to execute
orders or ship goods when a definite as
surance that an import licence and alloca
tion of sterling are available, or when an
irrevocable credit has been opened, should
be maintained.
9. A press report states that, in his
report to the Lebanese Government, the
Lebanese representative to the Inter
national Trade Conference (Ml. Moussa
Moubarek) has indicated that the Czecho-
34420-23
Slovak Government would be prepared to
purchase surplus quantities of Lebanese
tobacco, against supplies of telegraph and
telephone poles from Czechoslovakia to
Syria.
10. The representative in Damascus of
Pan-American Airways is reported to have
indicated that the present fortnightly ser
vice from Damascus to New York is to be
expanded to a weekly service in the near
future. The single fare on this service is
stated to be $615.
Ten “Harvard” training aircraft, for
the Syrian Air Force, are at present being
assembled at Damascus aerodrome, while
delivery of a further ten from the United
States is expected in the near future. The
equipment of these aircraft can be con
verted for various purposes, including light
bombing.
By decree No. 895 published in the
Official Gazette No. 41 of 18th September,
1947, exemption is granted to aircraft of
the Diplomatic Corps from all fees men
tioned in Decree No. 322 of 18th March,
1947, on the basis of reciprocity.
11. The agreement between Syria and
the Tapline Company, covering way-leave
rights for a pipe-line through Syrian terri
tory to the Lebanese coast, was finally
signed at the beginning of the month; the
agreement requires approval by the Syrian
Chamber of Deputies. Apart from the con
vention concerning the way-leave rights, it
is understood that the agreement covers, by
an exchange of letters, the possibility for
Syria to purchase up to 175,000 tons yearly
of crude oil at cost price before refining.
Press reports indicate that the Tapline
engineers have already selected two alterna
tive routes for the pipe-line; one of these
is said to run through 70 kilometres of
Syrian territory, the other being 200
kilometres long. A decision by the com
pany is awaited concerning which route is
to be adopted.
The press reports that negotiations have
begun between the Syrian Government and
the Iraq Petroleum Company in regard to
the construction of a second pipe-line
between Mosul and Tripoli (Lebanon),
and also with the Anglo-Persian Oil Com
pany concerning their projected pipe-line.
12. Damascus: Gold prices at 1st
October, 1947—
Sovereigns = 42 • 15-42 • 25 £S.
Five Tola Bar = 245 £S.
(b) The Lebanon
13. The Government and the general
public are still concerned about the cereals
situation during the coming winter and all
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