'14/115 II B. 5. Abu Musa. Abu Musa oxide contracts and concession. Hassan Samaiyeh's dealings with the Germans.' [‎60r] (125/467)

No. 456, dated Bushire, the 28lh February (received 12th March) 1907 (Confidential).
From—M ajor P. Z. Cox, C.I.E., Political Kesident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
I have the honour to reply to Foreign Department letter No. 496, dated
11 tli February 1907, on the s-ubject of the Abu Musa Red Oxide Concession.
The comnmnication reached Bushire after my departure on tour, but the
promptness of my Assistants in telegraphing the purport of it to me
Hecjam enabled me to deal with it when visiting tbe Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. on other
business.
2. I submit copies of the correspondence marginally noted, from which it
(1) Esa tin Abdul Latif to sheikh of shargah, will be seen that on ascertaining the terms
dated sth Moh«rram 1325. of the contract neither the partner Esa
( 2) Shtdkh of Sha'gah to Hassan bin Ali Sam. bi Abdul Latif nor Sheikh Sagar bin
ai yeh, dated 9th Moharrum 1325. "t , TT ,, , mt J? , ,
(3) Sheikh of Shargah to Eesident, dated 9th Kbcilid of fellRrgdll ZilG Willing tilclt 16
Mohanum 1325. agreement with Herr Wonckhaus should
stand ; and that the Sheikh has furthermore, in view of Hassan Ali Sam-
aiyeh's unauthorised action, decided for reasons of prudence to withdraw the
concession from tbe three concessionaires, and desires to make fresh
provision for the working of the red oxide mines under the advice of the
.Government of India. I beg to be favoured with the views or wishes of
Crovernment on this subject at an early date.
3. It is probable that Messrs. R 0. Strick and Company would be glad, to
obtain facilities for exporting the red oxide of Abu Musa and their acquisi
tion of a footing there would no doubt strengthen their hands in dealing with
the Moin -et-Tujjar in connection with the Hormuz mines. They would pre
sumably wish under ordinary circumstances to negotiate through their agents
at Bushire, Messrs. Malcolm and Company, but the form and conditions to be
adopted in any agreement entered into by them or a n y other British Birm
and the lines on which we are to proceed are questions of manifest importance
in the present case having regard to the possible contingency of the Germau
Foreign Office interesting themselves in Herr Wonckhaus' venture; and for
this reason, and in view of tbe committal of his interests to us on the part of
Sheikh Sagar, it is clearly advisable that we should take steps to make sure
that any arrangement now brought about will effectively safeguard for the
future the interests both of the Sheikh of Shargah and of British Trade. _ How
this end can best be achieved is a question for the consideration of
Government,
4. The letter (enclosure 2) from the Sheikh of Shargah to Hassan bin
Ali Samaiyeh was given by tbe former to Bsa bin Abdul Latif for delivery to
him and has been sent by Esa with a private note to his friend, the Besidency
Agent at Lingab, asking him to deliver it to Hassan Ali and take his receipt
for it.
I shall receive in due course a separate report of the fact of its reaching
its destination, and have tbe honour to request the advice of the Government of
India as to whether in view of Sheikh Sagar's intimation to me in his letter of
9th Moharrum (21st Eebruary), I should then take any official steps through
the Besidency Agent at Lingab, to let Ha.ji Hassan know that the Sheikh has
apprised me of his decision, or to assure myself that he takes action on it.
Eor the present, until I receive further instructions, I shall let matters
rest where they are.
5. It will be noted that the Sheikh of Shargah in his letter to Hassan
Samaiyeh informs him of the annulment of the contract from date of receipt
of his communication; but it may of course be taken for granted that
practically speaking there will be nothing to prevent Haji Hassan from
disposing of what red oxide he may have on hand or from letting
Mr. Wonckhaus ship it, until Government have had an opportunity of
intimating their views on this point or until a new concessionaire appears on
the scene. There need be no question therefore of immediate hardship or
of the parties being unable to avail themselves of red oxide already mined
or paid for.