ملف رقم ١٢٨٣\١٩١٣ الجزء ٥ "التجارة في بلاد الرافدين، إصدار تقرير تجارة جديد" [ظ‎‎١‎١‎٨] (٢٧٠/٢٣٢)

58
m The operations of the Banque dePre'ts de Perse * had a marked effect in increasing
v ; r Russian trade with Tersia. The
* Now Banque d'Bscomptes. Bank was to some extent indepen
dent of current profits, since it was connected with the Russian ^ State Bank.
It devoted particular attention to the import of Russian cotton textiles and came
to the assistance of merchants, who could not afford to pay customs duties and
dues immediately. It made a practice of taking up the invoices and clearing
and warehousing the goods, charging only 2 per cent, commission. _ Mr. Maclean
noted that, if a certain Russian firm, which had been established m Ispahan for
two years 9 past, succeeded in establishing a business in cotton prints and tissues
dependent on ordinary mercantile profits, then there was no reason why
Russian manufacturers should not be able to compete with Manchester in all
parts of Persia, and even in Mesopotamia and India, since the cost of transport
from Moscow to Ispahan, via Enzeli or via Bushire (with State-aided freight),
was about the same.
(c)
(d)
(5)
drawback of duties previously imposed was granted in Russia on certain com-
Cotton linen tetiles, gr.in, froit, eugar, modifies sported toPersia Sagar
matches, petroleum, tea and tobacco passed in transit which formed quite one-halt OJ the
and obtained refund of excise. total imports into Persia from
Russia, got a refund of rouble 1*75 per pound. Cotton tissues, which formed
one-fourth of such imports, got a refund of excise.
The Russian manufacturer catered for a large population in Russia, with require
ments similar to those of a large section of the Persian population, and, there
fore, did not need to manufacture expressly to suit the Persian market. Russia's
manufacturing skill had also made great progress of recent years.
The disappearance of grain exports from the southern provinces, owing to prolonged
agricultural depression and hampering restrictions on the cultivators, had
affected British trade prejudicially, because these regions with good harvests
would have brought manufactured articles from Britain with their surplus agri
cultural wealth. Much of the southern and eastern regions had but scant
irrigation and little rainfall, and the turbulent nature of the inhabitants
prevented agricultural or industrial progress.
The following suggestions were made for the improvement of British trade
(1) That bonded warehouses, private or Government, should be erected at Bandar
Abbas, Bushire and Mohammerah, in order to enable stocks to be kept at
these ports at small cost. This would mean an enormous saving in interest and
in money locked up, involving, in the case of certain grades of tea, as much as
100 per cent. The erection of private bonded warehouses was provided for in
the Replement Legal.
(2) That Indian traders and manufacturers, who had hitherto, to all intents and
purposes, neglected to investigate and cater for the wants of Persia, or to
enquire into its productive possibilities, should set themselves to study the market
and to supply exactly the Persians' requirements. Goods to be marked plainly
in the Persian character, and catalogues and price lists to be printed in the
Persian language. Prices to be in rupees at the factory, and c. i. f. Bandar
Abbas and Bushire. All correspondence to be conducted in Persian. It was
suggested that Persian and Persee youths, studying in India, should be taken
on tour to the great modern manufacturing oentres and interested in the
products of India.
(3) That special attention should be directed to the following items l—
(a) Sugar, which comprised one-half of the Russian exports to Persia.. Indian
sugar, both crystal and loaf, might compete on favourable terms with
and rescue the market from the French, Egyptian, Austrian and Belgian
sugars, which flooded the whole of Southern Persia, even as far north as
Hamadan, Ispahan and Yezd.
{b) Tea. The Persian taste had been educated to appreciate light liquored
teas only, and Indian trade might be largely developed by shipping a
moderately priced and light liquored article.
(e) Yarns and twists. India might improve her already firm position, if she
could manufacture some finer grades.
(d) Cotton goods and prints and woollens. The trade might be largely
developed by careful study of requirements.
[e) Persian exports, comprising dry fruit, raw cotton, opium, rice, gums and
dyeing materials, were capable of great improvement, especially the last
two.