Page 420 - PERSIAN 8 1931_1940_Neat

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The only real road in Bushire, i.e., that leading out of the town to­
wards Sabzabad was under repair at the end' of the year. The work is,
however, of a superficial nature and only about half a dozen men with a
hand-roller were employed on it. The road is already showing signs of
breaking up again.
There is still no internal air service connecting Bushirc with inland
towns such as Shiraz, Isfahan and Tehran.
Opium Shipments.—The following shipments took place in 1930; they
were all stated to be for legitimate consumption :—
January Nil
Fcbruury 200 cases to Dairen.
March . 100 London.
April . 100 Hamburg.
May 100 Macao.
Juno 100
July . 200 ii
July . 10 London.
August Nil
September , 200 Macao.
October 100 Marseilles.
November Nil
December 200 Macao.
December , 40 Marseilles.
Total . 1,350 cases.

The cases are of a standard weight of 160 lbs.
These shipments represent a decrease of about 50 per cent, compared
with 1935. Roughly three-quarters of them went to the Far East.. The
average price per case was £115.
The shrinkage in export appears to have been due to China preferring
to obtain her supplies from Turkey at lower prices than those quoted by
Iran. Nevertheless the statistics show that about 75 per cent, of a dimi­
nished export went to the Far East in 1936 as compared with 1935 when
the total shipments for legitimate consumption were 2658 cases of which
only 500 cases or about 20 per cent, went to the Far East. It is estimated
that there were about 850 cases of opium in stock in Bushire at the end
of the year awaiting buyers.
Rumours were current during the year that the Government were going
to reduce or abolish altogether the export tax (£25 per case) in order to en­
courage exports. If the Government considered the question at all they
apparently thought better of it because nothing had been done about the tax
by the end of the year.
So far as is known there were no shipments for illegitimate consump­
tion during the period under review.
Attitude of local population.—The local population remains quite pas­
sive in spite of their hard lot and there is no sign of unrest anywhere. Dis­
content is widespread but it has not assumed a vocal form. The people
seem to be too steeped in oriental fatalism to exert themselves to bring
about an improvement in their conditions of life. Even if they could
temporarily throw off their inertia and organise a series of protests the
ringleaders would be speedily “liquidated” by the authorities who would
not brook any such manifestations of popular discontent. This being so it
is extremely unlikely that such discontent will show itself in the form of
riots or street demonstrations unless the people are goaded into action by
the authorities. How far the screw would have to be applied to produce
such action is impossible to forecast.
(Signed) FRANK H. TODD,
11th March 1937. His Majesty's Vice-Consul.