'SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND MEASURES OF THE VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. I. JANUARY 1899-APRIL 1904. II. DECEMBER 1904-NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV. PERSIA AND THE PERSIAN GULF.' [‎16r] (36/386)

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the matter on an independent basis. All tbe principal articles of British
commerce were heavily burdened. Cotton-yarns were subjected to a duty of
11 to 13 per cent; on cotton piece-goods the rate was lb-19 per cent, on
Indian tea 195 per cent, on woollen piece-goods 68 per cent, on indigo 47
per cent, on rice 9 per cent, and on other less important commodities on a like
scale. All these had previously been admitted at a uniform rate of 5 per cent.
Some compensating advantage was secured by the abolition of export duties on
all except a few specified articles of merchandise. The actual effect of the new
tariff on British trade is somewhat difficult to ascertain. Statistics published
by the Belgium Customs administration show a rise in the value of British
trade from £2,300,000 in 1902-03 to £2,718.381 in 1903-04. On the other
hand, figures recorded at British and Indian ports and by British Consular
officials in the Gulf show a distinct decline of British trade during the same
period.
Year.
Total Persian trade.
Totiil of British and
Indian trade with
Persia as registered
at British and
Indian ports.
Figures of trade with
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
p Tt* as reported by
British officials in
the Gulf.
Trade of Persia with
the British Empire
according to Statis
tics published by
Mons. Kaus.
Total.
1
2
3
4
5
1898-99 ...
£9,000,000
2,074),873
2,165,336
1899-00 ...
10,500,000
1,918,964
2,237,570
...
1900-01 ...
7,321,872
2,087,537
2,395,649
...
1901-02 ...
8,106,818
2,168,638
2,767,002
...
1902-03 ...
8,358,527
1,887,919
2,544,459
2,300,000
1903-04) ...
11,633,000
1,802,526
2,182,554
2,718,381
One of the earliest matters that attracted His Excellency’s attention was
that of improving British Consular representation in Persia. When Lord
Curzon assumed office, the total number of British officers holding permanent
Consular appointments in Persia was no more than six. These were stationed
at Tabriz, Resht, Meshed, Ispahan, Bushire, and Mohammerah. At Kerman-
sbab and Shiraz, there were native agents Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. ; while at Kerman Major Sykes
held a temporary post as Consul. In their despatch of the 21st September
1899 Lord Curzon’s Government proposed that additional Consular represent
atives should be appointed at Kermanshah,
British Consular Representation in a t Ahwaz, and at Bunder Abbas; that
^ ersia " Kerman should he the seat of a regular
Consulate; that a native agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. should he posted to Bampur, and that, in
certain contingencies, Seistan should also have a British representative. The
contingency contemplated was soon realised. In February 1899, Mons. Miller
arrived in Seistan as the first Russian Vice-Consul; and the Government of
India at once proposed the appointment of a British official of like rank.
The new officer arrived at Nasratabad a few days after the Russian agent. The
next point to which a British Consul was posted was Bunder Abbas, where
the first British representative took up his head-quarters in February 1900.
Arrangements in regard to Kerman were completed in January 1903, when
Major Sykes assumed his appointment at Kerman as a salaried member of the
Political Department of the Government of India. In July 1903 Mr. Grahame
assumed charge as the first British Consul at Shiraz and in the following
September a Vice-Consul started for Turbat-i-Haidari. Ahwaz was provided
with a Vice-Consul in January 1904, and Kermanshah with a Consul in July
of the same year. In April 1905 a Vice-Consul was posted to Bam. The