Afghan Chevs

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

The National Archives, London, file on Afghan purchases mentions that in April 1939 a Mr S Ford, the GM representative (possibly from GM India) had told the presumably British agent in Kabul that negotiations regarding the sale of 500 lorries to the Afghan Motor Company were proceeding and that the deal was practically settled. All purchased were 3-ton Chevs at Indian Rs. 2500 each and would be resold by by the AMC at a profit of 10 to 15%. The first batch was due to arrive in Kabul in about 3 to 4 weeks from 7th April.

The Kabul Intelligence Survey lists imports into Afghanistan from 1934-5 and shows Bedford, Ford, Dodge and Chevrolet trucks with some cars, each year.

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

In February 1941 it was revealed that a new motor company [KABUL MOTOR SERVICE COMPANY] was being floated at Afghan Rs. 2 million, of which just 80,000 were available to the public. The Government were negotoiating with GM to supply 610 lorry chassis, costing ARs. 8 million, with delivery by end of May 1941.

Well, by July 1941 the Foreign Office, and Government of India, External Affairs, and Sec of State for India were dialoguing about the first 500 lorries and efforts were to be made through Washington (British Embassy) to persuade GM to presumably tell GM India to delay shipment and 'co-operate fully with us in this respect.' Phew!

To cut it short, in August 1941 it was further discussed that a Foreign Office telegram to Washington had stated that the GM rep. in Bombay had receeved a telegram from GM HQ that the business had been in touch with the NY Mission and Lord Halifax (Brit Ambassador then) with final agreement that for dipolatic reasons and because of a Commercial Treaty, GM should supply 670 plus 500 and stall regarding the second lot of 500. He had informed one of 'our officials in Bombay' that he was unable and '?unable' to ask the American factory (sic.) but in fact I should imagine Tarrytown or Flint, to withold shippng of ther next order opf 500 chassis 'now lying in NY by which we understand that first batch of 500m ,is meant'. Urgebt action was requested to be taken to, in effect, stall the first 500 in the same way as the second 500.

From memory the British in then end just took the production for the War Effort via GM India, and reimbursed for the cash paid in NY by the Afghan Purchasing Commission. However I shall leave that for another day!

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

A note that I found says that telegrams were intercepted by Censorship from Dagenham to Dearborn, dated October 1940. Dearborn (office of Edsel Ford) had stated that negotiations were proceeding to sell commercial lorries to the Afghan Government PC in NY and it was expected that 1000 would be sold in the first year, increasing to 3000 annually. The Afghan reps. in America had requested Fords to provide complete tools and fixtures for Kabul assembly of these vehicles, and Ford reps. were to be available in Afghanistan to train the personnel. Dagenham, in reply, had hoped that these negotiations would be successful.