IOR/L/PS/12/3785

The file contains reports on Japanese trade with the Persian Gulf, in the light of a marked increase in Japanese trading activities in the region. The file contains information relating to Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Oman, and the Trucial Coast.

The file consists of correspondence from the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Trenchard Craven William Fowle), and other British officials; reports from the Department of Overseas Trade; and extracts from the intelligence summaries and diaries of British agencies and consulates around the Persian Gulf.

The papers cover: reports of enquiries from representatives of Japanese firms into trading conditions in various parts of the Gulf (e.g. Kuwait, folio 89); British resistance to increased Japanese commercial penetration in the Gulf (folio 112); increased Japanese exports of piece-goods and cement (e.g. folio 106); trade between Japan and Iraq (e.g. folio 97); counterfeit goods (folio 46); effect of cheap imported rice (e.g. folio 42); the introduction of Japanese steamer services (e.g. folio 40); summarised cargo manifests of Japanese vessels; import of 'Japanese' tea (folio 24); and possible export of salt from Iran to Japan (folio 12);

The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.