File 4949/1912 Pt 5 Persian Gulf: Abu Musa oxide [‎20r] (39/592)

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This is my reply with regard to three points :—
Firstly, in regard to the mica agreement, I was fully aware of it, and Sheikh
Salim consulted me [about it] and it would not have been possible that the said
agreement could be issued without coming to my knowledge as ruling chief. But as I
informed you two years ago, I had left to Sheikh Salim all the income which he could
obtain from the aforesaid island, and consequently I did not trouble [myself] to object
to this [agreement]. At the same time, when I presented to you the said statement
regarding my relations with Sheikh Salim in respect of Bu Musa, the question of this
mica contract did not occur to my mind at all, for, as you must be aware, the mica
affair produced no result whatever. As regards the sum of 1,500 dollars, payable by
instalments, to Sheikh Salim, I have no information as to how many instalments were
•received by Sheikh Salim. I did not trouble to make enquiries about the instalments,
nor did I demand anything from Sheikh Salim on that account. It was my wish that
he should get something from it, and that he should not trouble me about his expenses.
Secondly, as regards the right to jetsam and flotsam on Bu Musa Island and all
the Islands of Kowasim, it is not open to doubt that it is due to the chief of the
Kowasim, but the usual custom on the Oman coast is that the inhabitants of the place
exact their rights on the scene of the wreck, and when the chief comes to know of it he
settles the matter according to his own opinion ; sometimes he takes his own share
r* from his subjects und sometimes he does not take from them. In the case of Bu Musa,
as I had left all the revenue to Sheikh Salim, I treated my right of jetsam and flotsam
as a part of the income to go to him and used to ask no questions about it.
1 hirdly, with regard to the rejected draft of the oxide agreement, I have now
noted its wording, but had neither seen nor heard of it before. The reason for its
rejection is obviously because Sheikh Salim could not write about Bu Musa in these
terms, namely, “So long as I, my children, and my brothers live, no one is entitled to
raise objection to it.” No doubt this was the cause of the draft being changed. This
is what was necessary to be stated, and salaams !
(L.S.) SAGAB-BIN-KHALED-BIN-SULTAN.
Appendix 6.
Form I.
Question put regarding the Jurisdiction and Ownership of Abu Musa Island, and the
manner of the exercise of the Eights of jetsam and flotsam on the Islands of
the ■Gulf.
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.
As you are familiar with the traditions of the past and the rights of the Arab
slieikbs in regard to the eoast and islands in the Gulf, what is your opinion on the
following points :—
1. Ihe islands of Bu Musa and Sir Bu Nuair, to the jurisdiction ©f which sheikh
do they belong and in which sheikh are the rights of ownership vested ?
2. The right to jetsam and flotsam in the islands, by whom is it exercised ?
Answer.
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.
Firstly, I am familiar with the matters about which you ask me. It is well
known amongst the Arabs of the Gulf that the islands of Bu Musa and Sir Bu Nuair
are islands belonging to the territories of the Jawasim of Oman and that their owner is
the ruling sheikh of the Jawasim who resides at Shargah and who is at present
Sagar-bin-Khaled-bin-Sultan.