‘File 28/42 Persian Gulf War Trade Bureau Reports’ [‎41v] (82/194)

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to Naryambuit Abdulla, c/o T.E. Roberts, Karachi
n A sample of thread is attached hereto, please when you come
here bring as many as 100 doz.'of different deep colours; green,
blue, pink, yellow, brown and red# These threads are mostly
saleable in Bahrain and they are more profitable* to.,you than
bringing money."
(c) Official arrangements for trans-port of -good-s from Bahrain to
Saudi Arabia - The following extract from a letter dated 24.8.1942
from Yusuf Abdul-. Rahman Fakhroo, Bahrain, ytd Fa had Marzook, Karachi,
explains the position:- v-;-.--- ./ ‘
"Two days ago we were asked by 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. to submit a
detailed statement of all the rice, flour and.sugar imported by
us. This has been presented by us and your name has'been given
therein as the shipper. Today there was a meeting in the P.A.*s
office and there he;,explained to us how transhipment of goods to
r Saudi Arabia will in future be arranged. Its isummary/'ls as
:- v follows l ' • • •' ’ ■' r; [
The quantities of rice, flour and wheat permitted by the Govern
ment, of India for export to Saudi territory are fixed, and these
will be "shipped from 3 places, viz., via Kuwait, Bahrain, and
Jeddah. Those shipped via Bahrain will be dealt with by ll/s ^
Gray Mackenzie who:Wiil take-over the shipping documents from-
the merchantsvof Bahrain on payment of the Invoice value plus a
profit of 10 to 20$ as fixed by the Supply Directorate of Bahrain.
All expenses.towards securing shipping facilities 7 'etc. if added
to the Invoices will be refused. The Invoices will be carefully
- scrutinized, and compared with similar Invoices from others. The
P.A. himself stated that the time of bribery, is, now gone, the
* quota for Saudi Arabia is fixed, by thei Government of India and
anyone claiming additional undue expenses willlhimbelf be liable
to prosecution^ < • • .r : . : 1 '-v
Now that the matter has reached such a stage and gbods will have
to be;‘sold at a fixed margin the transit business ioses all
importance.". r v'. *•"
D. MUSCAT. (•; . -
(a) Fictitious orders requested from Muscat with a view to obtain
ing- quota The following is an extract from'a fetter dated, 19.8.1942
from Fars Co., Karachi, to Khoja Abdul Hossain Gulamali Matra, Muscati-
"We have to submit an evidence on the 20th of every month to the
Customs authorities for the export of foodstuffs. Therefore
' please; wite"to'us as follows for the. goods required’bylyou:-
Rice b ags v Wheat flour £>ags, Pulses^^ bags^ Whea.t b ags
and so on for. grams,• barley, cloth, ghee etc. You should continue
to write letters like that and please pote that you. will get
permit for instance-for 100 yds. of cloth only if you place an
order for 10,000 yards,of cloth."
(b) M uscat Customs confiscate'wheat " In a letter dated 5.8.1942
to Ha ji -K o psa •' Ha ji Suleman, Bombay, Kho j a Hass an M ohd • Fa j a 1, Mus ca t,
informed that whatever small quantity of,wheat flour reached Muscat was
being taken away and sold by Customs .authorities.