"ملف رقم II/١٢ مذكرات معلومات من إدارة الخارجية بخصوص شؤون بلاد فارس والساحل العربي من الخليج الفارسي. يناير "٠٩ --" [ظ‎‎٦‎٥] (١٧٨/١٣٠)

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Dutch concessionaire, Sir G. Barclay did not
think it would be very difficult to induce the
Sheikh to admit the required amount of Dutch
capital under British auspices.
The Political Resident reported on the
24th June to His Majesty’s Legation that, with
the Sheikh’s co-operation, Lieutenant Wilson
had made a preliminary reconnaissance and
had furnished a full report of the Kerkha
project, that the Sheikh was greatly attracted
by the prospect of a simple and* profitable
scheme, and that he had invited Lieutenant
Wilson to undertake a preliminary survey of
the work with a view to framing a scheme and
estimates during the present summer, at the end
of which he said he would ask Government for
the loan of an engineer to examine sites for a
dam and to estimate the cost. As the Sheikh
is evidently in a favourable mood, the Political
Resident hoped advantage would be taken of
it, and requested permission to send a copy of
the report to Sir William Wilcocks at Bagh
dad and ask him to advise as to what might
usefully be done for the present as regards
preliminary work, and what arrangements he
would suggest during the winter months.
13. In connection with the loan of
German competition £1,000 taken by the
at Mohammerah. Sheikh of Moham-
merah from Messrs. Wonckhaus (vide para
graph 12 of the Memorandum for May), Hajji
Rais says that Wonckhaus and Company have
repeatedly intimated their readiness to lend '
money to the Sheikh. On receiving the
loan he now asks for, the Sheikh under
takes immediately to liquidate this debt and in
the future altogether to avoid such trans
actions. The Political Resident impressed
upon the Sheikh that it was impossible to
dissociate himself from the proceedings of
Hajji Rais, his factotum^ and explained
to him in clear terms that, if he desired to
retain the confidence of the British Govern
ment, he must endeavour to resist undesirable
foreign influence both in his own interests
and ours. The Sheikh said that in this matter
he wished entirely to follow our advice. The
Political Resident also discussed the subject
with Hajji Rais. The latter requested that it
might be remembered that he was first of all a
trader, and, like other traders, his object was
money-making, but he realised that he and
the Slieikh were so closely connected in their
general relations that it was inevitable that
the latter should be associated with his own
dealings, and he expressed his readiness to
take such line of conduct as we might decide
to be most conducive to our own interests and
those of the Sheikh.
He assured the Political Resident, as
regards the wharf which had lately been built