Coll 30/9(2) 'Admin. Reports of the Persian Gulf - 1945 -' [‎555v] (1110/1148)

CHAPTER IV.
ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE KERMAN AND BANDAR ABBAS
CONSULATES FOR THE YEAR 1939.
A.—KERMAN.
L—H. M. ? S CONSULATE.
Personnel. —Major G. A. Falconer, I.P.S., held charge throughout the
year.
Tours.—-R. M.’s Consul resided in Bandar Abbas for 9 weeks in January—
March. He also proceeded to Isfahan in May, Bandar Abbas in July and again
to Bandar Abbas on 27th August until the end of the year for special duty there.
His Majesty's Birthday. —H. E. the Ustandar made a formal call on H. M.’s
Consul in the morning of the 8th June and attended an evening party at the
Consulate.
Consular Statistics (1939)—
British subjects registered .. • • • • • • M
Passports issued .. * * • • • * * • 1^
Passport renewals granted .. •. • • * • 3
Documents legalised or attested .. .. * - • • 71
Fees levied •• •• •• *• *• £62j3{0
II.—VISITORS.
Mr. J. S. Moose, Secretary to the American Legation, Tehran, and
Mrs. Moose visited Kerman 15—17th March.
The Czechoslovakian Charge d Affaires and Mme Fiat arrived on the 4th
.Tune and returned to Tehran on the 7th.
The Rt. Revd. W. J. Thompson, Bishop in Iran, visited Kerman in May
and from 2nd to 28th July.
III.—BRITISH INTERESTS.
Trade. —In common with the rest of Iran most foreign imports were made
by the Monopoly companies and not by individual merchants. Except for a
limited quantity of cotton piecegoods, few British products were available in
Kerman. It was noticeable, however, that the market carried an increased
quantity of British materials, particularly woollens and tweeds, towards the end
of the year. Iranian requirements are in any case limited, but there is scope for
increasing British and Indian trade if the difficulties of foreign exchange can be
overcome.
Bicycles are still in demand and the British-made “ Hercules ” is a popular
machine. With improved roads there is a growing demand for motor cycles ;
23 German machines were sold in Kerman during 1939. With German trade at
a stand-still there seems to be a good opportunity for British manufacturers to
step in and meet this demand.
Indian grown tea continues to monopolise the market.
Notwithstanding the setback due to the outbreak of hostilities, export of
carpets from this district to London was slightly above the figures for the pro
ceeding year.
Anglo-Iranian Oil Co. —The Kerman agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. has been extended to include
the district of Bandar Abbas. It is the centre of supply for Yezd, Rafsinjan
Sirjan, Bam and Zahidan. With the improvement in motor oils and grease the
Company’s products have now ousted all competitors.
Church Missionary Society.—(a) Medical.— Dr. R. H. Carpenter was in
charge of both the men’s and women’s hospitals until he proceeded on leave in
October, when Dr. (Miss) D. M. Howgate assumed charge. The hospital con
tinued to render good sendee to the inhabitants of this district. Out-patients
attendances numbered 29,000 while 774 in-patients were treated ; 272 major and
2,103 minor operations were performed during the year.
(b) Educational.—Both the boy’s and girl’s schools, along with other
foreign educational establishments in Iran, received orders to close down in