'File No. II/9 Foreign Dept Memoranda of Information re. affairs in Persian Gulf, Maskat & Arabian Shore of the Persian Gulf. Nov '07 - Dec '08.' [‎22r] (45/132)

I
to live on the island with a guard and represent
the Sheikh’s interests. The Government of
India might privately supply the funds for
the guard, but they hesitated to suggest any
movement at present which might throw
doubt upon the correct nature of their pro
ceedings, and though they thought that some
thing might be made of Esa, the partner not
concerned in the monopoly granted to Messrs.
Wonckhaus, they would prefer to leave matters
as they were until things settled down, only
taking measures by the deputation of a gun
boat to secure that forcible possession of the
island was not taken either by the Persian
Government or Messrs. Wonckhaus, or the
concessionaires. In view of the position of the
island and the recent stranding of steamer
“ Bulimba” there, it might be as well for the
Government of India to place a lighthouse on
the island later on. This would probably
be sufficient to protect the interests of the
British Government and the Sheikh. The
Government of India were still of opinion that
w r hen the incident was closed arrangements
should be made to sell the ore freely and
without special monopoly or concession to
anyone.
From a sketch of the case given verbally
to Mr. Marling by the German Chargd
d’Affaires, the former was of opinion that
Major Cox had a very complete answer.
f J he German Charge d’Affaires stated that he
had informed his Consul at Bushire in Nov
ember that the Sheikh of Sharga was under
British protection and instructed him to act
accordingly, but it appeared that the Consul
had deliberately ignored the British protec
torate over the Sheikh.
On the 10th January, the Secretary of
State for India telegraphed that it would be
desirable that some official should visit Abu
Musa to ensure that, without trouble or
conflict with the Sheikh or his men, all proper
facilities were given to Messrs. Wonckhaus
for removing the accumulation of oxide
already mined from the island. The Sheikh
was duly warned and the German Consul
promised to give early intimation as soon as
it was desired to send a ship for the purpose.
12. As it was considered advisable that
Inspection of the the . meteorological
Meteorological stations stations in the Persian
in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . ^ Gulf should be inspect _
ed for the comparison of instruments and