ملف رقم ١٢٨٣\١٩١٣ الجزء ٥ "التجارة في بلاد الرافدين، إصدار تقرير تجارة جديد" [و‎‎١‎٢‎٤] (٢٧٠/٢٤٣)

Soaps. — An opening for the extension of Sunlight, Gossages and other makes of
British soaps exists, provided the necessary organisation can be arranged by these firms,
or others.
Generally speaking, the best method would be for the Board of Trade to interview likely
firms concerned in each case with a view to getting them to combine, in different groups, to
establish British managed agencies in Persia, the essential point, after such agents have
sent home samples of goods in demand, being that these men should travel for part of each
year round the inland centres. The work of such enterprise would be considerably assisted,
if a system of Government Trade Agents in the various provinces were introduced.
EXPORTS.
Almonds. —If Government Trade Agents in the provinces could, by touring and personal
inspection, ascertain quantities likely to be available and districts where purchase could be
systematically carried out, there is a great opening for some British firm to establish a British
agency, or agencies inland.
Ghm Tragacanth. —A large part of the export from the Ears region has of recent
years, gone to the United States, where a German specialist, living at Shiraz, had
established a good trading connection. This applies to exports of Gum Arabic or
Insoluble also.
Gum Arabic or Insoluble. —For the most important market for southern Persia is in India
whence it finds way to Europe to some extent.
Cotton. —The most important cotton centre in Persia is Khorasan, but cotton is grown
also, in Central and Southern Persia. Large quantities are consumed in the country for the
manufacture of eirpets and numerous native textiles. Nearly all the exported cotton is
despatched to Russia, a trifling percentage being sent to the British Empire and Turkey.
The reason for this is, firstly, that Russia admits Persian cotton at favoured rates and,
secondly, because Persian cotton is too weak and too short in staple to be of much use to
Emglish or Indian mills, though a certain amount finds a sale in Bombay for mixing purposes.
The acreage devoted to cotton growing, or the outturn, is not known.
Mr. Maclean gave it as his opinion that cotton could hardly be grown in the Southern
Provinces at remunerative prices for export. Mr. Gleadowe-Newcomen differed. He held
that, while in the northern uplands it was impossible, owing to the shortness of the summers
aud the rigour of the winters, to grow cotton suitable to meet British and Indian require
ments, there were considerable tracts in the Karun district and the warm southern zone,
Bam-Narmashahr, Jiruft and Rudbar, where cotton of good length and staple could be
grown from good Egyptian, American and Bombay seed to considerable advantage, if the
country were irrigated, as it was capable of being, and if methods of cultivation were
improved. Given the possession of certain assurances and concessions with a certainty of
tenure, which, with the support of their Governments, might be secured by English or
Indian manufacturers interested in increasing the growth of cotton, British-Indian capital
might give a very great impetus to its cultivation and to the development of agriculture
generally in the south.
The export has fallen off on the whole during the past decade, and no one has tried to
develope an export for the Indian market. l&Yii a propos of Mr. Newcomen’s remarks, a
proposal was made a year or two back by a firm of Parsi (Persian) bankers and estate owners
than an Englishman should be put in to manage their properties in the Kirman province, but
the project did not mature. One way to develope the export of cotton and other produce from
the interior might, however, be to encourage British “ estate-agents/' in the same way as the
Russians (and Germans) have done in the Ispahan province. Many Persian notables would be
glad of the opportunity.
Raisins and Sultanas. —Though to a much smaller extent than for almonds, the same,
remarks apply.
Rosewater and Otto of Roses, Essential oils. —A small sale to the United Kingdom
could be worked up if some British firm would get into personal touch with Maimand in
Ears, the chief centre for production. Bulgaria is one of the chief sources of supply of
Otto. Kullhung and Bannak berries has been experimentally exported, and no doubt
other substances growing wild and hitherto not recognised as of value might be possible items
for export.
Seeds, Roppy, Linseed, Sesame, Blackseed, Cummin, Aniseed and Assaf xtida.' —All these
articles of produce are entirely undeveloped by British firms, and expert and personal
incentive is necessary.
Fibres. —Samples of the fibres on stems of date-palms, which can be removed from the
trees each year, have been sent to Manchester, and offer an opening for examination and trial.
As it is a new suggestion for trade to the Persian date-tree owner, the ordinary firm or agency
in the coast region could hardly undertake the work. When it is certain that this fibre can
be utilized for manufacturing purposes, some special organisation would be requisite to secure
a sufficient sale from the date-producing regions.