Page 393 - PERSIAN 8 1931_1940_Neat

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As previously the chief place as an importer of piece-goods is held by
Japan who continues to strengthen her position in this respect. The cheap­
ness and, on the whole, serviceable qualities of Japanese goods exactly
fill the wants of the poverty stricken inhabitants of the country.
Exports to Germany which had fallen in the preceding year to Its.
1,82,030 increased to Its. 2,35,132 during the year 1034-35.
The introduction by the German Government of the “barter” system
to regulate imports into that country caused a serious cheek to the export *<i
one of the chief products of Muscat—dried fish of which Germany has for
some time been the largest purchaser. The chief local merchants engaged
in this industry who had already despatched several large consignments to
Germany, with the object of getting the goods accepted, endeavoured to
arrange with some Persian firms to undertake to import German goods into
Persia to the value of the dried fish shipped. In spite of the offer of a
substantial commission the efiort was unsuccessful and at the close of the
year 1035 some 140,000 rupees worth of dried fish was lying in Customs
warehouses in Germany unreleased.
0. (A) Royal Navy.—(1) Visits of II. M. Ships and Royal Air Force
Air craft to Muscat are detailed in Appendix “A” to this report.
(2) In April the Sultan accorded permission for the use of the small
island of Jazirat-al-Ghanum (I>hor Quwai) for recreational purposes for
personnel of Ii. M. Ships in the Gulf.
The island which is totally unhabitated has a sheltered deep water
anchorage at Khor Quwai. It is proposed to erect some small huts for ac­
commodation on shore and a canteen but at the close of the year no building
operations had been started.
(B) Royal Air Force.—No changes took place in the establishment of the
Royal Air Force in Muscat where a Rest House and Wireless Station,
which is in direct touch with Shaiba (Basra) and Ilinaidi (Baghdad), is
maintained in charge of three operators.
A considerably greater number of visits to Muscat territory were made
bv the Royal Air Force in 1935 than last year.
The existing landing ground at Masirah .Island was found to be un­
suitable particularly for heavy machines and the Sultan’s permission was
therefore sought and obtained to use another piece of ground a few miles to
the south. A permanent petrol store is being erected on the new site.
7. Aviation.—The annual special authorisation for aircraft to land in
and fly over Muscat and Oman required by the Civil Air Agreement entered
into between His Majesty’s Government and the Sultan in 1934, was renewed
on 1st January.
The civil aerodrome at Gwadur was regularly used throughout the year
by the bi-weekly East and West service maintained by the Imperial Airways.
A few machines of the Royal Air Force on occasional flights carried out
between Iraq and India landed at Gwadur for refuelling.
The emergency landing groupd at Shinas was not used by any Imperial
Airways machines but a few Royal Air Force aeroplanes landed there for
inspection purposes in the course of routine flights down the Arab side of the
8. Foreiqn Interests.—(a) The French Consulate remained closed
throughout tne year.
The French Sloop “Bougainville” with.Rear Admiral Rivet, Command­
ing the French Naval Forces at Beyrout visited Muscat on 8th February.
Customary calls were exchanged between the Admiral, the Political Agent
and the Sultan respectively.
(b) American interests remained in the hands of the Political Agent
during the year.
A Norwegian Ship the “Stella Polaris”, chartered by an American
concern for a luxury world cruise, arrived in. Muscat on 5th April. An
invitation to visit the ship was sent to the Political Agent and the Sultan.