Page 99 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953

»■

y;j
loss of 1,000/. every voyage, a statemeut confirmed
by the annual report of the Company in Ham­
burg, thus affording substanco to the contention
that the service rested upon State aid. It
was expected that the earnings of the second
year would fall short of those of the first, as
British firms had been aroused by competition to
increased activity.
Statistics alone, howevor, hardly expressed the
spirit of competition engendered by the visits of
these steamers, for the monopoly of the service
enjoyed by a single firm, Messrs. Wfinckhaus, in
fostering their own commercial development,
coupled with the keen interest taken in the
success of the scheme by the German Govern­
ment, had aroused an antagonistic feeling
amongst the important British firms in the Gulf
ports.
Uncertainty as to the ultimate aim of the new
undertaking had kept the European mercantile
communities in a state of somewhat nervous
anticipation. Overtures by the Deutsche-Orient
Bank of Hamburg to native British traders in
Bunder Abbas, an ostentatious forward policy in
Lingah, including tlic Hying of the German flag
over two native boats, the endeavour to inaugurate
relations with the Arab coast, as well as financial
operations in Bushire, and many rumours of
other forms of enterprise had added to the per­
plexity with which the future of German identi­
fication witli the politics and commerce of Persia
was generally regarded.
Certain points were indicated in conclusion as
deserving of attention, with a view to meeting
the special forms of German competition:—
1. Reform in tho local working of the Bank of Persia.
2. Lighterago from British steamers in British owned
lighten.
Commercial Development. 3. Greuter regularity in the sailings of British vessels
from Persian waters.
4. Establishment of u British Compauy for transport
over the great southorn road.
5. More attention to export trade from Southern
Persia via Bushire.
6. The forestalmeut of all Gorman schemes of con-
cessions iu the valley of tlio Karun.
7. Close attention by those firms concerned to the
tendencies ot German development in the Gulf.
8. Tho pushing of British sugar and Indian indigo.
Action in regard to tho first two points
is being taken through the India Office and