20 goods in 1916, taking 25 per mille in that year, 35 per mille in 1917, and 21 per mille in 1918. Palestine appeared for the first time with 9 per mille in 1918.

At the outbreak of' war the export of all foodstuffs was prohibited. This prohibition was gradually modified when it was found what commodities could be spared after the needs oi the country had been met. A nuinber of other articles were, however, gradually added to the list of goods of which the export was prohibited except under licence. During the latter part of the war a system of rationing was introduced for certain articles which were demanded by Palestine, the Hedjaz, Malta, Cyprus, and other Mediterranean islands.

Imfort Trade in 1919.

The value of the goods imported into Egypt during 1919, excluding tobacco, was £E. 44,838,973 against £E. 48,054,377 in 1918; but the imports during the last quarter of the year were considerably in excess of those during the corresponding months of 1918.

The following are the chief articles which show an increase in value as compared with 1918. It will be observed that they also show an increase in quantity Potatoe.s— 1918.. 1919.. Flour— 1918'.. 1919.. Oranges and lemons-1918.. 1919.. Coffee— 1918.. 1919.. Common soap— 1918.. 1919..

Kerosene— 1918.. 1919.. Chemical manure— 1918.. 1919..

Timber— 1918..

• 1919..

Kilog.

13-1,835 4,435,620 14,863,737 21,881,850 6,900,959 16,583,919 7,118,437 7,278,992 4,199,432 6,594,836 Metric tons.

76,854 122,399 3,071 57,719 Cubic metres.

5,219 52,770 £13.

3,484 107,789 601,745 779,505 97,384 194,433 597,668 811,351 305,364 524,029 817,612 1,710,897 87,261 1,425,742 106,279 490,921 Wrought iron and steel and machines of all sorts also show an increase. The increase in oranges and lemons is due to greater facilities of transport between Egypt and Palestine. In 1918 this trade was carried on entirely by land, but sea trading was resumed in 1919, and there is every reason to expect that the whole of the fruit trade with Palestine will in the future, as in the past, be borne by sea.

The timber trade is still far below normal. The quantity of tobacco imported rose from 7,020,589 kilog. in 1918 to 8,350,214 kilog. in 1919.

There are decreases in the values of the following imported articles Cheese— 1918.. 1919.. Sugar— 1918.. 1919.. Tea— 1918.. 1919..

Benzine— 1918.. 1919..

Writing and printing paper 1918.. 1919..

Kilog. 1,267,145 81,409 18,463,304 12,507,486 2,840,478 1,002,784 Metric tons.

75,121 22,305 Kilog. 4,713,398 3,331,886 £E. 149,142 21,155 760,176 494,819 373,478 128,413 1,802,896 536,463 478,136 231,746 House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.