File 2984/1920 'PERSIA: TRADE WITH EAST PERSIA [REPORTS & NOTES BY MAJOR TEMPLE]' [‎16r] (36/404)

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KHOEASAN TRADE RETURNS.
OVERSEAS TRADE NO. 3 OE 1920.
REMARKS. [ edly what the new Anglo-Persian Agreement
In future, a fuller service of Customs statistics
is to be supplied to this office, by friendly arrange
ment with the provincial Director of Customs,
with effect from the Persian New Year, which
roughly corresponds with our own financial New
Year. This should enable us to maintain a
closer observation on the course of Khorasan's
foreign trade ; but, as pointed out in Trade Note
No. 1*2, the Customs returns, if they are to serve
reliably as our sole source of commercial statistical
information, need a larger amplification than can
be conveniently arranged here with the local
authorities. For the present, therefore, the
Customs returns, and consequently also our ob
servations thereon, must continue to be regarded
as wanting in precision and completeness.
Subject to this important qualification, the follow
ing remarks are offered on the Customs returns
for the quarter October-December, 1920 :—
The total value of the trade amounted to
£922,461. The value of the Imports was
£795,605, and of the Exports £2,126,856. The
shares of the two dominant rivals in this trade
were as follows :—
Imports.
India
Kussia
£
524,918
270,687
India
Russia
Exports,
£
13,440
. 113,416
Thus, while India still maintains the role
(which Bolshevic Russia surrendered to her a few
years ago) of principal purveyor of manufactured
goods to Khorasan, Russia preserves, though in
greatly diminished degree, her former advantage
as principal purchaser of Khorasan's raw products.
Vf e are trying to modify in our favour this latter
condition, as indicated in Trade Notes 18, 25 and
27 ; and the quartely reports for the second half
of 1920 and thereafter will exhibit the result of our
exertions.
Nevertheless the commercial situation in East
Persia remains inchoate and demands from us the
early formulation of a purpose and a plan.
Persians continue to importune us for transport
facilities, and when we point out in reply that the
merchants themselves have full liberty to embark
upon transport enterprises of their own they
plead their incapacity and they ask not ill-natur-
SGPI—123 F&PD—9-10-20—
is
for.
Although our commercial year ends on the 31st
March, the receipt of the Customs returns for the
Uctober-December quarter enables us to present
here the trade statistics for the complete calendar
year 1919. The total value of the trade amount-
ed /o¥o 01j064 * The Value of the Sports
was £2,729,702, and of the Exports £771,362.
I he shares of the two dominant rivals in this
trade were as follows :—
Imports.
India
Russia
£
1,921,042
808,660
India
Russia
Exports.
£
. 112,571
. 658,791
These figures reflect on a large scale for the
whole year the conditions revealed by the figures
of the last quarter of the year, and, in addition,
they indicate that Imports have been tending to
increase and Exports to decrease.
The quarter’s statistics, when analysed, are
seen to be less favourable to Russia and more
favourable to us than the totals would indicate.
Thus, of the imports from Russia about half the
total amount was for the purchase of some 8,500
Turkoman camels whose transfer southwards
marks the passing of trade from Russian keeping.
Half the remainder represents the value of some
10,000 Turkoman carpets destined for Europe but
unable to get there by Russian routes. And so,
though less markedly, with regard to the exports
to Russia. The largest single item is Indian tea,
and another considerable item is British cotton
fabrics.
IMPORTS
During the past month into Khorasan.
1st January, 1920.
£
Textiles
16,980
Iron and Steel
£285
Leather
27S
Glass . .
63
Chemicals
10
No alteration in Reports previously submitted.
Messed, 14th June, 1920.
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