Page 309 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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(ii) That a tariff of equitable valuation be framed for levy of 5 per cent.
duty.
(iii) That a provision be made for drawbacks.
606. The Government of India again addressed the Secretary of State on
the subject. But Lord Salisbury was of opinion that it would be better to aim
at the fulfilment of existing treaty conditions than at a revision, which would
give no adequate security for the due execution of the new terms, at any rate
until the question of consular jurisdiction was settled. His Lordship was at
the same time sensible of maintaining on every occasion the rights conceded by
the existing treaty. Mr. Taylour Thomson had recently vigorously remonstrated
against the imposition of the radhari tax on goods which had paid the 5 per cent.
import duty, and the India Office had suggested the institution of a fixed tariff
of valuation, a system of drawbacks and also of an official stamp, with the view
of freeing from further taxation articles already subjected to 5 per cent, import
duty (despatch from the Secretary of State, No. 104, dated 19th October 1876).
607. In regard to these proposals, Mr. Taylour Thomson anticipated many
difficulties in inducing the Persian Govern­
Political A., July 1877. Nos- **5*2i.
ment to adopt them. The radhari tax
was, it was contended by Persian Ministers, a tax not on merchandise, but on
beasts of burden carrying it, leviable from the muleteers.
The Persians were labouring under the idea that the treaty of Turkomanchai,
while favourable to foreign trade and merchants, had proved fatal to the manu-
facturing industry of the country, and in this opinion they were supported by
Dr. Tholozan, the Shah’s chief physician. The famine of 1871-72 and the failure
for several successive years of the silk crops in Ghilan had impoverished the
country, and the time was unpropitious for obtaining any concessions from the
Shah.
608. In 1876 complaints were received about the levy of gate duties at
Bushire on imported British merchandise
Political A., March 1877, No«. 10*27.
which had already paid 5 per cent. duty.
Radhari duty was still levied and strong remonstrances were made by the British
Minister to the Persian Government, with the result that orders were given for
the refund of the gate dues illegally levied.
609. In February 1877 a remittance of 118 krans was received by the
Resident from the British Minister in part
Political A., May 1877, Nos. 305*06.
liquidation of the gate duties illegally levied.
The Resident in reporting this fact to the Government of India added that the
exaction of these dues still continued, as well as rahdari duties on the road
between Bushire and Shiraz.
(lxxxix) Evasion of Customs duties in Persia. Right of Persians to act as Agents
for foreigners, 1876.
6to. In October 1874 Messrs. Gray, Paul & Co., merchants of Bushire,
brought to the notice of the Resident—
11 The large increase of merchandise imported here by Persian subjects, who succeed
in passing the same under foreign treaty stipulations, on the plea that the said merchan­
dise ostensibly belongs to Indian subjects in Bombay, thus evading the higher customs ...
on particular articles from them as subjects of the.Shah.”
As a remedy for this state of things they suggested that none but British
subjects, residing in the dominions of the Shah, should be considered entitled
to the benefit of treaty stipulations as regards customs dues.
611. Colonel Ross, the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, forwarded
Messrs. Gray, Paul and Co.’s letter to the
Political A., December 1874, No. 163.
Government of India, and enquired whether
Government would sanction his declining, as a rule, to recognise Persians as
agents for British subjects at Bushire.
612. The Government of India answered
Political A., December 1874, No. 165.
the Resident’s query in the negative.
“The Governor-General in Council,” it was said, “ob«erves that our commercial
relations with Persia are defined by the Treaty of 1857, in which no distinction is made
between the goods of resident or non-resident British merchants. If the goods are bond jidc
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