File 1421/1908 Pt 3 'Persia: oil; negotiations between the Shaikh of Mohammerah and the Anglo-Persian Oil Co.' [‎361v] (288/338)

t he receipt by the bank of the money being accepted as the full receipt of the Sheikh
himself.
“ 11 . The syndicate bind themselves to employ as guards and watchmen on l>^
those who may be recommended as reliable by the Sheikh or his representatives in th'^, -
various districts, but only so long as his support ot their authority over them, and his
assistance in the detection of thieves, and his punishment of them, when detected, be
real and effectual. t
“ 12 . The payment to the guards and watchmen engaged from the Sheikh s men
will be by the hands of the syndicate and on the following scale :
** Fifty krans per month of the Christian calendar and without food, and tins will
take place fifteen days subsequent to the end of the month during which it were
earned.
“ 13. In the event of a watchman, or any employe, leaving without giving due
notice of one month, it is the rule of the syndicate that fifteen days pay be forfeited,
and, without exception, all native employes are engaged on these terms.
“ 14. The syndicate reserve to themselves the right to punish the watchmen
by inflicting fines to the extent of half-month’s pay as a maximum, and, in the event of
their behaviour warranting a heavier punishment, they will be handed over to the
representative of the Sheikh in the nearest place, who, instructed by the -Sheikh in the
sense of paragraph 6 above, will do his best to uphold the authority of the syndicate
among their watchmen and the respect of their property^ among the people of the
district, so avoiding unnecessary trouble to both parties of this agreement. . .
“ 15. This agreement is to be considered as in force from the date on which it is
signed, from which date the syndicate become liable for the above-named rental.
s • G. B. E.
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Mr. Campbell to Mr. Hamilton.
Dear Mr. Hamilton, Bussorah, November 27, 1908.
I HAVE selected two excellent sites for refineries on Abadm Island, one about
15 miles from Fao telegraph station, at the entrance to the river, and the other about
.29 miles from Fao and 11 from Mohammerah. .
There appears to be sufficient desert at either place to put down all the refining
plant in the world. In my opinion, the land is very suitable for our purpose, and, as
there is a deep channel about half-a-mile broad at both points, steamers will be moored
right alongside. Steamers landing plant will be able to do so within a few hundred
yards of the sites. Steamers must not, however, draw over 18 feet, on^ account of the
bar outside Fao. Those arriving about that draught are lightened outside the bar, and
loading is completed there on departure.
From enquiries made here and on board the mail steamer, I find that 18 feet
is the “safe” draught, though when I came up in the “ Dwaika, drawing 16 feet, she
had to scrape through the bar (which is soft and harmless as far as the ship is
concerned) with only 14 feet of water. Then a “ shammal ” was blowing (a shammal is
a strong north-westerly gale), and it appears that the wind has a great influence on the
tidal rise of this river. A nor’-wester blows the water out and a southerly wind blows
it in, so that, during the latter state of weather, ships have been known to get out
drawing 21 feet. For regular traffic 18 feet should not be exceeded. The tidal rise is^
only 8—10 feet. The water was quite sweet at the time I tried it, and the amount of
salt it contained exceedingly small. I am told that it remains so at all seasons.
I enclose a rough tracing off the Admiralty chart you gave me in Glasgow
showing sites selected. You will obtain a copy of the Busra Diver^ anchorage chart
to place this over. I have left a copy of this tracing with Mr. Mackie, to whom you
gave me a letter of introduction, and who has put me up comfortably, provided launches,
&c., and accompanied me over the ground. He know ? s the spots, and will point them
out when asked to do so. . .
These two sites are, as far as I can see, perfect for our purpose, and seeing the size
of refinery in your mind, I suggest that you obtain not less than 500 acres having^ a
river frontage of 1,500 yards. If, however, the ground is cheap enough, I should advise
you to take up as much as you can get for the moneys y T ou vush to lay out.