File 4949/1912 Pt 5 Persian Gulf: Abu Musa oxide [‎13v] (26/592)

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It may be that Hassan and Abdullah now con-- p. 17,'
sider it advisable to deny that they considered
Nejef a partner, but their letters written at the
time (Appendices 18 and 19) show clearly that
they did so consider him. The letters of Hassan,
in particular, which are set out in Appendix 18,
are conclusive on the point. Particular atten
tion is also called to the letter dated the
24th December, 1907, from Malcolm, annexed in
Appendix 20, which shows that at that time
both Malcolm and AbduTih recognised Nejef as a
partner.
If ^sejef was not and never had been a partner,
the suggestion that he on several occasions p. 17.
expressed his approval of Hassan’s proceedings
is meaningless; there would be no possible
reason for; his expressing an opinion on - the
matter if it did not concern him.
Nejef is asserted to have expressed his approval p- 17.
to Abdullah, in the presence of the German
dragoman in November 1907. No authority is
g n en for this statement. Abdullah’s motives for
attributing such a statement to Nejef are obvious,
and His Majesty’s Government have explained
already that they are unable to attach any weight
to statements made by the ex-dragoman Mirza
Hussein, who, as the German Government are no '
doubt aware, has now been denounced by the
Persian Government, prosecuted by the Customs
and Messrs. Wonckhaus for dishonesty, and dis
missed from his post in the German consulate.
Nejef has sworn an affidavit (Appendix 21) in
which he denies having made the statement
attributed to, him, and his account is corrob
orated by the letter written shortly afterwards
by Malcolm, which is set out in Appendix 20,
and also by Nejef s petition to Lieutenant Gabriel
dated the 16th February, 1908 (First British
Memorandum,.Appendix 18). These documents •
also show plainly that Nejef was recognised as a
partner.
With regard to the statement said to have been pp. 17, 50,
made by Nejef to Brown (an employd of Wdnck- 51,
haus and Co.) in March 1908, to the effect that
he approved of the contract with Wonckhaus,
the story is incredible, in view of the fact that a
month before Nejef had sent in a formal petition
to the British vice-consul at Bunder Abbas (First
British Memorandum, Appendix 18) stating that
he “did not in any way agree to this contract
made by Hassan.” Nejef s account of the inter-
i
*