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CHAPTER IV.

ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE KERMAN AND BANDAR ABBAS
CONSULATES FOR THE YEAR 1940.
A.—KERMAN.

I.—II. M.’s CONSULATE.
Personnel.—Major G. A. Falconer I. P. S. held charge throughout the year
except for a period of leave from 9th October to 23rd November when Mr. C. R.
Latimer, Vice-Consul, Bushire, held acting charge.
Tours.—H. M.’s Consul returned from Bandar Abbas on the 2nd February.
He also proceeded to Tehran in the second half of April.
His Majesty's Birthday.—Owing to the war the usual reception was not held :
but the Farmandar and other foreign residents made customary calls.
Consular Statistics (1940)—
British Subjects registered 24
Passports issued 12
Passports renewed .. 7
Visas granted 1
Births registered 1
Documents legalised or attested 5
Fees levied £14-7-G
II.—VISITORS.
The Rt. Revd. W. J. Thompson, Bishop in Iran, visited Kerman for a fortnight
in June.
III.—BRITISH INTERESTS,
Trade (via Bandar Abbas) United Kingdom.—The war considerably curtailed
commercial activities with Iran. The ban on carpets into England (formerly the
principal item of export from Iran) mainly accounts for the reduction. Figures for
the trade year ending 22nd March 1940 show exports to the United Kingdom a
amounting to Rials, 9,104,300 (£50,912)—carpets, wool, red oxide, while those for
the next six months are down to Rials 422,000 (£2,344)—gum and red oxide. Im­
ports from the United Kingdom for the same periods were Rials 1,048,000 (£5,820)
and Rials 145,100 (£800) respectively.
India.—On the other hand trade with India has been favourably maintained.
Exports to Imports from
Year ending 22nd March 1940 Rials 2,535,900 (£14,088) Rials 2,816,500 (£15,647)
1st 6 months current year .. Rials 477,550 (£2,053) Rials 1,190,700 (£6,615)
The principal exports to India are gum, nuts and dried fruits; imports from
India are chiefly various spices and tea. Iranians prefer Indian tea to either China
or Iran products. About 85 per cent, of the tea consumed in this province is In­
dian. A small quantity of Indian piece goods also found their way to Kerman
during the year. They are preferred to Gorman goods but do not yet compete with
the Japanese which, though inferior in quality, arc cheaper and have more attractive
designs.
There is a steady demand for British pedal cycles which at present can only be
met with difficulty by the United Kingdom. Indian enterprise would probably
find a ready market for machines of the British “ Hercules ” standard and price.
Anglo-Iranian Oil Co.—The Company maintained a central agency at Kerman
throughout the year with sub-agencies at Bandar Abbas, Rafsinjan, Sirjan and
Bam.