Page 664 - PERSIAN 9 1941_1947

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from August to October, 1947#
(c) .Shipping,
During the period under report 24 ships called
at Sharjah ana 32 ships at Dubai#
(d) The Golden Valiev Ochre and Oxide Comngnv.

Fining for red oxide on Abu I-'usa Island y;as continued
until the 9th Fay when Hr. F. Innes PococV, of the Golden
Valley Ochre & Oxide Company, Limited, returned to the United
Kingdom. 1,000. tons of red oxide from Abu ruse and about 70
tons from Sir Abu Fa'Air Island were shipped to England by
S.S. Beharistan. On the 22rd September i'r. Innes Focock
returned to Abu *.:usa and recommenced operations on the Island
early in October, he was still working there at the end of the
year". His operations were hampered towards the end of the year
by the Sha?>h of Sharjah*s taxing the labourers working in the
mines and attempting to secure the dismissal of those subjects
of other Shaikhs fror. whom he was unable to eytort a large
portion of their earnings.
(e) Imperial Rank of Iran

At.the beginning of the year the Imperial rank of
Iran, which had only recently been opened in Dubai, was to a
large extent on probation to the commerical community* The
greatest call was on their service as exchange dealers and some
caution v/gs at first shown by merchants in depositing funds-with
them. The advantages of having a bank account are new more
widely recognised and the use of the cheque as a means of
exchange has greatly increased.
The bank's principal dealings in exchange were
with Ir.dia, v/ith their other Persian Gulf branches, and with
Basra, where the Trucial Coast wheat quota was purchased. A
slight tut welcome increase has been perceptible in trade with
the United Kingdom, and the ee* Sterling Area. The tank are
fostering this as far as possible - the main difficulties being
the relatively small market for British goods (largely owing to
the state of depression now prevalent) and the inability of r.ost
of the merchants to correspond in Fnglish. The bank are
endeavouring to develop the merchants* contacts with United
Kingdom firms and think they will be able to give useful service
in this field#

-The demand for other facilities normally associated
v/ith a bank - such 'as safe deposit facilities and the issue of
travellers cheques - has been very slight.
(f) Order-in-Council#

On the 26th April, 1947, the Trucial States
Order-ln-Council, 1946, was brought into force on the Trucial
Coast. By the Order-?n-Council His i:ajesty*s Government
assumed jurisdiction over all persons in the Trucial States
other than subjects of the Trucial Shaikhs. Since the Order was
brought into force some progress has been made in acquainting
foreigners with our judicial administration and in establishing
joint courts, although not all foreigners who have complaints
against subjects of the Shaikhs yet bring their complaints to
the Agency in the first instance. Certain of ihe Shaikhs refer
Joint cases to the Agency Immediately they are received; others
are being asked to do so. Meanwhile, foreigners whose cases
are first decided by the Shaikhs tend to bring them to the Agency
if they get no satisfaction from them.
l (vi) Officers' Tours • •