'File 14/115 VII Annex (B 9) Abu Musa oxide: collected background material on the case' [‎53r] (116/1904)

29
Sheikh Hamid-bin-Abdullah and Hashar-bin-Maktoom. At present the above Sheikhs
met at Shargah, and desire^ Salem to stand by the agreement and arrangement
effected by them between We and him. But he did not wish to do so, consequently
they have absolved themselves of all responsibility, and revoked their guarantee which
they had tended on our behalf, and the arrangements effected between us have been
dissolved.
At present you are aware that Salem resides at Abu Musa, which is an island
dependent on Shargah, and we cannot spare it to others. Perhaps Salem may create
some disturbance which may break the maritime peace. I beg therefore to request
that you will kindly warn Salem, and inform him that if he is desirous of living at
Abu Musa, he must do so with peace, giving you as a guarantee that nothing wrong
will be done by him which will disturb the maritime peace. But should he not
choose to do so, it will be your choice either to remove him from the island or leave
us to settle the matter between us; and we should not be called to answer in the
event of our attacking each other. I leave the matter to your disposal.
No. 4.
Sheikh Sagar-hin-Khalid t
(After compliments.) 14, 1884.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 2nd
February, 1884, per Mirza Abdul Kasim, and I understand its contents to the effect
that anyone attempting to break the maritime peace, whether he be Salem or any
other people, shall be duly impressed. There is no doubt about this. But according
to what 1 have already said, I beg to tell you that Bu Musa is our island and a
dependency of Shargah. If Salem wants to live in it and guarantees that he will not
commit anything which would interfere with my affairs or disturb the maritime
peace,' it matters notf-because I cannot dispense with the Island of Bu Musa, as it is
of great use to me. I beg therefore you will plainly write to me on the subject, and
inform your agent of the same.
No. 5.
Sheikh Sagar-bin-Khalid's Explanation
dated February 22, 1908,
In reference to the Island of Abu Musa, it is well known to everybody that it is
the property of the Sheikhs of the Jowasim of Oman, and on that point there is no
doubt. As to the residence of my uncle in it, the facts of the matter are as explained
below:—
From olden days, from the time of my ancestors Sheikh Sultan and others, it was
their habit in the days of spring, after a fall of rain and the sprouting of vegetation,
to send their live-stock to the Island of Abu Musa for grazing, and also a number of
our subjects from Shargah and Khan habitually sojourned on the island during the
winter for fishing purposes, and had houses and huts there. In the year 1300 Hijri
Sheikh Salirn, who was then ruling Chief of Shargah, after sending his live-stock there
as usual, went over to the island, and by the fate ordained by God the populace called
upon me to become their Ruler in place of Sheikh Salim, and I accepted their call
and occupied the post of the Sheikhdom. It was then open to me to expel Sheikh
Salim from Abu Musa Island, and I addressed the Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. on
the subject in letters which must be available on your records; the first was dated the
22nd Rabi-ul-Awal, 1301, and the second the 14th Babi II, 1301, but the Resident
pressed me to make a peaceable settlement so that there might be no cause for a
breach of the maritime peace. Accordingly we agreed that I would set apart for
Sheikh Salim a pension for his subsistence-—every year 600 dollars. That settlement
afterwards became void by my not being able to pay the amount fixed, and subse
quently a second agreement was come to between us under which I was to pay him
yearly 400 dollars and also the income derived from the Island of Sir Abu Nuair,
which was expected to approach 200 dollars. This agreement also became void, and
in the year 1306 we made a third agreement with Sheikh Salim by the mediation of
the Government Agent, and in view of the fact that up to this agreement no income
[1598 j - I