Printed papers on the political situation and military policy in Egypt [‎47v] (94/176)

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duty of 11 per cent was imposed on native benzine and of 4 per cent, on local liquid
fuel. On the 27th July, 1921, a droit de consommation was imposed on certain
liquids, foodstuffs and building materials. This tax is 2 per cent, ad valorem, : it is
collected on all such articles manufactured in the country and in the case of
imported articles it is payable in addition to the existing import duty
167. The Egyptian Government had been considering for some time the
advisability of increasing the taxation of alcohol, but was not able to do so owing
to its commercial agreements with certain Powers. Great Britain and France
signified their consent to the proposed measure without demur, but it was not until
the summer of 1920 that the formal consent of Italy was obtained; in consequence,
Egypt now enjoys complete freedom in the taxation of alcohol and alcoholic drinks,
with the exception of wine and vermouth. On the 25th June, 1921, an import duty
of 100 milliemes per litre of liquid was imposed on imported alcoholic liquors
containing not more than 50 per cent, of alcohol, and a duty of 200 millibmes
per litre of pure alcohol was imposed on liquors containing more than 50 per cent,
of alcohol Alcohol imported for burning is admitted, after denaturation, at a
tax of 6 milliemes per kilog. An excise duty of 195 milliemes per litre of alcohol
corresponding to the increase in import duty was imposed on all locally distilled
alcohol : this necessitated the creation of a new branch of the customs administration
for the collection of this duty. The effect of the new duty has been to increase the
tax on a case of whisky, valued at £E. 2.500, from 250 milliemes to 900 milliemes.
168. On the 3rd October. 1921, the duty on stemmed leaf tobacco from countries
having no convention with Egypt was increased from 620 milliemes to 820 milliemes
per kilog., that on unstemmed leaf tobacco from 720 milliemes to 920 milliemes, and
that on cigars, cigarettes and manufactured tobacco from 720 milliemes to £E. 1 020,
and from the 3rd December the drawback on exported Egyptian cigarettes was
increased from 400 milliemes to 600 milliemes.
Petroleum Products.
169. During 1921 207,000 metric tons of Egyptian crude oil were received at
the Suez refinery, an increase of 46,000 metric tons on the quantity received last
year. Foreign crude oil brought for the refinery has decreased from 107.000 metric
tons to 63,000 metric tons. In addition to this the refinery has received 137,000
metric tons of foreign benzine, 74,000 metric tons of foreign kerosene, and 43,000
metric tons of foreign fuel oil.
Countries of Origin.
170. The value of the imports from nearly all countries has decreased. Germany
and Roumania are the chief exceptions. Germany’s imports have increased from
£E. 1,186,000 to £E. 1,649,000. She has contributed a large variety of articles, of
which the most important are machinery, manufactured iron and steel, synthetic
indigo, motor cars, locks and door-fittings, toys, pianos, cotton hosiery and beer.
Roumania’s imports have increased from £E. 527,000 to £E. 1,094,000, and have
consisted almost entirely of barley, kerosene and timber. Czechoslovakia has also
slightly increased the value of her imports from £E. 262,000 to £E. 273,000.
171. The United States have proved a serious rival to the United Kingdom, and
the value of the imports from that country has been £E. 8,356.000 as compared with
£E. 10,751,000 in 1920. The chief items have been coal (£E. 1,697,000). wheat
flour (£E. 2,157,000), maize flour (£E. 988,000), wheat (£E. 903,000), maize, kerosene
and mineral oils. It is improbable that the figures for coal and cereals will be
maintained in the future.
172. The share of the United Kingdom and British possessions has fallen from
48 per cent, to 40 per cent., and that of the United States has increased from 11 per
cent, to 15 per cent. France comes next with 8 per cent, as against 6 per cent, in
1920, followed by Italy with 6 per cent., Argentina and Germany with 3 per cent.,
and Greece and Belgium with 2 per cent.
173. Imports from Japan have shown a marked diminution. During the war
Japan had built up a considerable trade with Egypt, her share increasing from
6 per mille in 1915 to 50 per mille in 1918, in which year her imports totalled
£E. 2,534,000 out of £E. 51,155,000. Since then, Japanese imports have steadily
decreased and only reached 13 per mille or £E. 747,000 out of £E. 55,508,000 in 192i.
This decline is partly due to enhanced prices, and partly to the inferior quality of
Japanese goods. The chief articles which show a decrease since 1918 are matches,
from £E. 289,000 to £E. 27,000 (this trade having returned to Sweden and Italy);.