'File 14/115 IX B 25 Abu Musa Red Oxide.' [‎118r] (252/471)

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Extract from a letter, dated 14th November 1924, from Messrs.
F. C. Strick & Co., Ltd., London, to the Secretary to the
Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . (File 76/5).
We "beg to refer to your letter of 2nd September,
addressed to our Basra friends, more especially to the
second paragraph thereof, which relates to Abu Musa.
It is correct that Mr. Habakkuk has left the
Island; in fact, he arrived at Bandar Abbas on 10th June
last year, having been on the Island since March 8th, and,
since his departure, no further exploratory work has been
conducted, the reason being that, after a very thonough
investigation, our Engineer came to the conclusion that the
Oxide obtainable on the Island was in no way to be compared
wit h^ that m i ned at O rm uz^
We have disposed of approximately 20 tons only,
as a trial lot, out of the 6/800 tons which has been mined,
and this small parcel cost us over £.2. per ton to bring it
to Bunder Abbas for shipment. We do not see the remotest
prospect of disposing of any appreciable further quantity, and
have reluctantly come to the conclusion that, while Ormuz
Oxide is obtainable, the market for Abu Musa Oxide is practic-
-ally nil. The difficulties of shipment and labour are
so great that it is not feasible to send steam^ers to the
Island, and the expense of transport to Bandar Abbas is
prohibitive as indicated above.
We have already spent over £.2100 in exploratory
work, but, although it will turn out a serious loss for us,
we need scarcely state that we shall carry out the terms of
the concession granted to us by the Sheikh of Shargah.