'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.' [‎27r] (55/132)

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and that the latter had then written ap
proving ; there was, however no evidence of
either letter or reply.
40. In respect to the third German
claim, riz., that, in any case, the consent of
Esa or the other partners to the action taken
by Hassan was not necessary, as the latter was
managing partner on behalf of the others—
evidence produced by Major Cox disproved this,
and the argument put forward was further
weakened by the fact that the dragoman of the
German Consulate went to Bander Abbas on
25th November 1907, and, apparently without
success, tried to induce Nejef-bin-Ali, a claim
ant to a share in the concession, to sign a
document agreeing to the sub-contract.
41. It was pointed out that Mr.
Wonckhaus had endeavoured to strengthen
his case by securing an actual share in the
original concession. The purchase of this
share however did not in any way diminish
the Sheikh’s right to determine the lease,
as it was effected after the arrangements for
the cancellation of the lease had been made,
and was clearly a mere afterthought. It
afforded an argument in justification of the
Sheikh’s action, since, by its terms, the
German firm was admitted, without the
Sheikh’s consent, to a leasehold interest in
the island. This was contrary to the assur
ance given 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. by the
Sheikh, that he would allow no such thing
without the knowledge of the British Govern
ment, and it might have led to an infringe
ment of the Treaty of 1892.
42. On the 4th March, His Majesty’s
Secretary of State for India invited the
suggestions of the Government of India as
to the future working of the concession on
Abu Musa. 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. , who was consulted, replied
that, as he understood the position, no conces
sion now existed; and it seemed better, having
regard to German susceptibilities, that some
time should elapse before any fresh concession
were given. Major Cox recommended the
introduction to the Sheikh, as soon as circum
stances permitted, of a trustworthy British
subject or firm, who would manage the mining
and sales on his behalf on suitable terms
which the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. could negotiate; and the
Government of India, in replying to the
Secretary of State, endorsed this suggestion.
43. On the 21st March, the Political
Resident telegraphed that the German Consul
had informed him that, according to a com
munication received from Berlin, the consent
of His Majesty’s Government to the removal
of the accumulation of oxide {vide para. 11,
January 1908) covered all oxide already
excavated on the island. He therefore
asked Major Cox to arrange for the