‘File 28/42 Persian Gulf War Trade Bureau Reports’ [‎12r] (23/194)

Extracts from Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. War Trade Bureau
Report No.23
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A. PERSIA.
2(c) Sugar - Demand for sugar in Persia continued strong
as usual. It appears from interceptions seen during the
period under review that Persian merchants are still obtaining
sugar from India via Dubai. Merchants, however, are
apprehending that this sort of business will not be allowed
any longer and in this connection the following extract from
a letter dated 13.7.1942 from Ali A. Kazim, Bombay, to M/s
Mahmood Kachani & Bros., Seraye Mir Ali Naghi, Tehran, is of
interest;-
"Since long time, the exports of Java and Indian Sugar are
prohibited by the Government of India, for all foreign
countries including Iran and Iranian ports. The only
port of Dubai was admitted.
At that time, a certain quantity of sugar was shipped by
country craft to Dubai and re-exported to Iran. So, I
had sent you many cables recommending strongly to purchase
and remit us directly and telegraphically free exchange
for the total amount, as we expected that this port
will be also prohibited.
We have received a letter by Air Mail from our agents at
Dubai informing us that the country craft SHAHDAD has
arrived safely. The goods will be re-shipped to Bunder-
Abbas, so we have requested you to wire us the name of
your agent at Bunder Abbas, to take delivery of the goods.
Sugar market at Dubai is very high owing to the scarcity
of goods and also no more import from India to Dubai.
The present rate at Dubai is Rs.110/- per bag, which we
have informed you in our telegram of the 11th mst. In
case you require to sell the goods please let us know.”
(d) Tea, soda and sal-ammoniac-
fi) Proposal to import into Persia via Dubai - In a
letter dated 20-6-42 H. Aminee, Tehran, requested M.J. Mowla
& Sons Karachi, to ship good quantities of soda and sal-
ammoniac to Dubai obviously with the intention to tranship
them to Persia. The following extract from the letter is
interesting:-
"Please purchase and ship tea worth Rs.40,000 to Khorram-
shahr for which credit has already been opened.
I am awaiting for the sugar consignment to be sent to
Dubai. You should ship &ea soda and sal-ammoniac to
Dubai if possible and the money will be remitted in due
course.”
(A few other interceptions contained suggestions to ship tea
to Dubai for onward despatch to Persia).
C. BAHRAIN . Vegetable oil to Bahrain - Ravji Jhaverchand & Co»,
South Napier Road, Karachi, in their letter dated 7-7-42, to
Haridas Janimal & Co., Bahrain, enclosed a D/L for 1500 tins
of vegetable oil and intimated their intention to ship the
goods per s.s. ”Virginia”.
D. DUBAI. Rice for Dubai - proposal to sell while in.transit -
A letter from R.A. Ghafoor, Bombay, to Mohamed Ali Badri &
Co., Dubai, dated 4-7-42, stated that the writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. had shipped
rice (1000 bags valued at Rs.18,214 ?) to Dubai from Karachi,
and hoped the addressees would sell it in transit at a very
profitable rate. Failing this the Dubai firm was advised to
ship them to Bahrain in transit for Abdul Aziz Ali Bassam.
Camp, Bahrain,
15th August 1942.
The Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Bahrain.