"ملف 29/21 - III الإمدادات الغذائية الأرز" [و‎‎٢‎٠‎٨] (٧٢٠/٤١٥)

V
Copy.
(fi 16878/69/65)
Dear Miss Waterlow,
Portman Court,
Portman Square, London, 17* 1.
21st December, 1948.
I thank you for your B 15873/69/65 of 17th December enclosing
letter dated 8th December from W.R. Hay of the Persian Qulf Residency
Bahrein together with completed questionnaires from Muscat, Kuweit,
and the Trucial Coast. These questionnaires come too late to
forward to the I.E.F.C. who have already published rice allocations
for the first half of 1949. However, they have allocated for this
period Bahrein 1900 metric tons Egyptian rice; Trucial Coast 2000
metric tons Egyptian rice, while Kuweit is included in a block j
allocation for 1949 of 40000 tons Egyptian rice to "Arab States"
(including also Syria, Lebanon, Transjordan and Arab Palestine).
The Ministry have a Purchase Agreement with Egypt, and (subject
to receiving deliveries under this Agreement) can supply Bahrein,
Trucial Coast and Muscat. Kuweit, however, will have to make their
own arrangements for purchase with the Egyptian Authorities.
Although Muscat is not included in the allocations, I think the
allocation of 2000 tons for the Trucial Coast is intended to cover
Muscat also, and consider there would be no harm in amending the
quantities to be shipped to these three territories more in
accordance with paragraph five of Hay's letter provided the total
quantity of 3900 tons is not exceeded,
L The Ministry's normal method of selling rloe to Middle Bast
territories is to place monthly quantities f.o.b. Alexandria or
Port Said. The Ministry have an Agency in Egypt, the British
Ministry of Food Rice Agency, 1 Rue Centrale, Alexandria, who, when
the Ministry have authorised release, cable an offer of the quantity
released to the territory concerned advising them of the f.o.b.
price. After receiving acceptance they engage suitable freight for
Receivers Account and ship the rice. Possibly freight consideraticne
may make it desirable to ship two or three months' quotas at the same
time to these territories, but this can be arranged later.
It is, - however, necessary either that confirmed irrevocable
credits are opened in London in the Ministry's favour to cover the
cost of the rice or that payment is made in London before shipment
is made. Such credit or payment should include the cost of the
freight if this is to be prepaid in Egypt. // I suggest that the most
convenient method would be for the Sheikdoms to appoint authorised
agents who can receive rice on their behalf and arrange payment with
the Ministry of Food in Londor^J I understand that Frank Strick &
Go. act for the Cereals Division of the Ministry in the Persian Gulf
and possibly they might be suitable agents for the Sheikdoms to
appoint.
To sum up what the Ministry would like to know are:-
(a) How the 3900 tons are to be divided between Bahrein, the
Trucial Coast and Muscat.
(b) To whom are the Rice Agency at Alexandria to make offers
when releases are authorised.
(c) To what Ports are shipments desired
(d) ’.Vho will make payment to the M.O.F. in London.
I would be glad if an answer could be given to these questions as soon
as possible so that if the Sheikdoms desire to take advantage of these
allocations, shipments can commence early in the New Year.
Miss Waterlow, Yo ? rs sincerely,
Middle Bast Secretariat, (Signed; G.P.h. Rathbone.
Foreign Office, S.W.l.