'File 14/115 VII Annex (B 9) Abu Musa oxide: collected background material on the case' [‎191r] (392/1904)

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Appendix 2g.
Letter from Hassan Sa Latif.
(After compliments.) Moharrum, 1325 8, 1907).
Your letter dated Zilhijjeh 1324 reached me in due course, and I was glad to
receive it and understand its contents. You particularly wrote about the deed of
contract which I executed with Wonckhaus, the German, for the sale of oxide from
A.bu Musa Island. You said that your son Esa did not agree to the execution of
document of such a nature, and complained that I did not consult you, although it
was necessary that no partner entered into transactions without the knowledge of the
other partners ; that I had so entered into transactions without consultation ; and that,
as Esa feared that complications would result owing to the 'entry of foreigners into
the matter, the nullification of the contract was better than its acceptance. I under
stood it all.
Oh I my brother, at the tune I executed the deed of agreement I communicated
to you the details of it, copied in Arabic alongside the English without addition or
omission, and you came to know of it and approved it, and wrote to me in reply that
it was all right. Similarly you asked me for a copy of the deed, and I sent it you, and
you acknowledged its receipt and approved of it. It is now a matter of eight months.
How can I cancel it ? You, by the grace of God, are a wise man, and if you suggest
complications. Remember, the German has no connection with the leasehold of the
mines; he has no concern except to take from us the oxide itself, nothing further,
for a stated period. There is no harm in thi?. The object is to effect sales and the
stuff be sold whether to him or to any one else. You are aware that he took some
from us last year, and we saw nothing objectionable in his deal with us ; and, as you
know, we have spent a considerable sum of money in expenses in this connection. If
we do not sell the stuff how are we to get back our own ? Please God, the matter will
end satisfactorily!
Salaams to Esa and the brothers.
Appendix 27.
Esa-hin-Abdul Latif to Sagar-h in-Kal id.
(After compliments.) 1325 20, 1907).
I HAVE to communicate with your honour with reference to the lease which I and
two partners acquired from the Government of Shargah relating to the extraction of red
oxide from your island of Abu Musa. As your honour is aware, the document of lease
was drawn up in the names of three persons, namely, your humble servant Esa-bin-
Abdul Latif, Haji Hassan-bin-Ali Samaiyeh, and Abdul!a-bin-Hassan Samaiyeh.
1 have come to know that on the 1st June, 1906 (8th Rabi-ul-Thani, 1324), the
said Haji Hassan entered into a contract with a European merchant named Wonckhaus,
without consulting me, and that according to the terms of the document he bound him
self and his partners in giving an absolute monopoly for the. extraction of the red oxide
for a period of four years. And the said Haji Hassan executed this agreement and
bound himself without consulting me previous to the drawing of the deed of contract.
The details of the said deed have only now reached me, and I do not agree to the terms
of this contract. Accordingly I forward to your honour a copy of the deed of contract
for you to examine ; kindly look into it. 1 beg from your honour assistance in taking
the necessary steps for the cancellation and annulment of this contract, for I arn
altogether unwilling to agree to this lease. Previous to this I have written to Haji
Hassan Samaiyeh expressing my disagreement to this contract, but he has sent me n®
answer. Finally, I am obliged to call your attention to the deed of contract, the
beginning of which is as follows :—
" Contract between Haji Hassan-bin-Ali Samaiyeh, of Lingah, owner and holder of
the Abu Musa Concession, and M. Robert Wonckhaus, of Lingah.'
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