Page 208 - PERSIAN 9 1931_1940

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It is satisfactory however to note here that two important cases oufst«imi;,„,
from lfnst year, i.c., the “ Isa case ” at Gwadur, and Unit of Sheikh Yli ^
-Abdullah at Sur, have since been effectively dealt with. bin
The commercial Treaty between Ilia Majesty’s Government and the Sul
t/uiatc has been renewed as usual during the year.
4. Judicial.—Judicial matters form the subject of a separate report.
&. Trade.—AVlijlst the effect of general financial depression is still very
much in evidence, there arc signs of a slight revival in trade and the outlook
ol the trading community towards the end of the year under report was on the
whole more optimistic than hitherto.
The following figures, supplied by the Finance Department of the Muscat
State, will show at a glance a comparison of the trade position for the years
1032 and 1933
Year. Imports. Exports.
3931-32 37,37,118 17,07,327
1932-33 34,71,018 20,27,334
The apparent diminution of imports is attributable more to fall in the price
of imported goods than to the quantity of imports, which is actually stated to lie
slightly higher than in 1932. The increasing influx of Japanese goods, chiefly
confined to cloth and general dry goods, is largely responsible for the fall in
price of imports.
As hitherto the main articels of export have been (a) dry and wet dates, (/;)
dried fish, and (r) kasha or fish manure, whilst imports have been composed
chiefly of flour, rice, sugar, coffee, cloth and general dry goods.
Owing to a sufficiency of rains in the interior and on the Batinah coast the
date crop has exceeded in quantity and quality any that has been gathered in
the live years.
At the commencement of the date season excellent rates were obtained but
a subsequent fall in the prices of the Bcser date in the Bombay market led to
considerable disappointment in the Batinah, whose staple crop consists of this
poorer variety of dales.
The recent prohibition of the import into Germany of kasha is viewed with
alarm for the future as Germany has hitherto proved to be one of the chief
buyers of this commodity.
Generally speaking it is hoped that the rock bottom of prices and depression
has been reached but, none the less, extreme caution is still observed by the
trading community.
6. (A) Royal Navy.—Visits of H. M. Ships and Royal Air Force craft la
Muscat are detailed in Appendix “ A ” of this report.
During the year under report neither Service was called on for active
participation in affairs concerned with this Agency but the Senior Naval^Offi­
cer, Persian Gulf kindly placed II.M.S. “ Shorcham ” at the disposal of Die
Political Agent to convoy him and the Sultan’s representative to Sur on 17th
February, and, on 25th of that month, the same sloop conveyed the Political
Agent and 11 is Highness the Sultan to Gw'adur and back for the settlement of
local affairs.
On 30th June II.M.S. “ Fowey”, whilst cn route to Bombay transported the
Political Agent to Khor Jarama to meet a flying boat at that point.
The visit of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla of the Mediterranean Fleet to Muscat
during October, on their return from a friendly visit to the Arab Sheikhs ot the
Trucical Coast, had an appreciable and most beneficial effect locally.
(B) Royal Air Force.—During the year under report considerable pro-
gross Jms been made in consolidating the Muscat-Dhofar link of the Basrah-
Aden route.
The construction of a petrol store at Khor Jarama. surveyed in mid-June,
was completed by the end of July without incident and with the active co~
operation of the State.
It is hoped in the near future to establish forced landing grounds tor aero-
planes and further refuelling points on this line but refuelling P0,,‘s
Flying Boats of the Royal Air Force now exist at Muscat, Khoi Jtuan.*
Mflsirah fsl.ai.id, Murbat and SalalaJi (Dhofar)-.