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'File B/3 Sponge and Pearl Concessions' [21v] (42/62)
The record is made up of 1 file (29 folios). It was created in 26 Nov 1905-9 Jan 1918. It was written in English and Arabic. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
possibly will come people seeking their own profit and from this profit will I
arrive loss to us and to our people and advising us not to agree to them before
asking for his (Resident's) opinion. I am exceeding grateful to the beloved
of all (Resident) and as is known to Your Honour I do not seek profit without
your consultation in every circumstance and I will do nought except it agree
with your view and the view of the Precious Government. In the expectation
from your Honour that you will re-assure him (Resident) and present my
thanks to him and may you be preserved.
Translation of a letter, dated 29th Julj 1911, from Shaikh Isa bin Ali al Khalifah , Chief
of Bahrain, to Colonel P. Z. Cox, C.S.I., C.I.E.,
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.
.
After compliments. —Your honoured letter No. 161, dated the 23^1 Rajab
1329 = 2Uth July 1911, has been received and we were highly pleased, as it gave
us the news of your well being; and all what you had stated was noted by your
friend. With regard to your warning us that we should not bind ourselves to
any foreigner whomsoever by giving any concession connected with the fishing
of shells and pearls in the fisheries on which I possess right, your friend begs to
emphasise to Your Honour that it was not in our mind to grant any concession
or agreement in connection with this matter and your friend thanks Your
Honour for this friendly favour, for, as Your Honour states, the matter is not
useful for our interests. No doubt your friend confides and believes in the
goodness of your sincere advices and will cordially maintain towards you these
laudable sentiments.
This is what was necessary to be stated and may you always remain
preserved.
Translation of a letter, dated 19th August 1911, from Shvikh Tahvoon-bin-Za.eed , Chief
of Abu Thabi, to Colonel P. Z. Cox, C.S .I., C.I.E.,
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.
After compliments. —I beg to enquire after your health. The news of our
part is good and the movements are tranquil and nothing has transpired except
what is pleasant to the mind.
Your esteemed letter dated the 23rd Rajab has been received through
Khan Bahadur Abdul Latif, British Agent, and I was pleased for it as it
gave us the good news of your welfare. All what you had stated and hinted
were understood by your friend.
As regards what you had hinted that we undoubtedly remembered the
warning issued to us by you through Khan Bahadur Abdul Latif that we
should not bind ourselves; this has been duly understood by us and, God
willing, no opposition will be seen on our part. You had also stated about
the Greek merchant who had travelled in the Gulf years ago (and pointed out)
that he should not obtain from us an entry in any of the mines (pearl beds)
which belong to us. It is obvious and certain that we have no object in
matters which have not been regulated by custom from the first and which
have not been habitual to those who were before us. As you know, the soul
will not tolerate such (a matter) and you should have no doubt (about this).
Please note this and do not discontinue your good news from us for ever and
whatever you may require will be satisfied as eoon as it is intimated. May you
ever remain preserved.
Translation of a letter, dated 19fch August 1911, from Shaikh Saggar bin Khalid , Chief of
SLargah, to Colonel P. Z. Cox, C.S .I., C.I.E.,
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.
.
After compliments and enquiries after your health.
Our condition is satisfactory and no news has transpired that may be
represented to you except what is good and pleasant to the mind.
Your esteemed letter dated the 23rd Rajab has been received by us and
what you had stated was duly understood especially your giving (us) advice.
About this item
- Content
The file’s letters, memoranda and other papers relate to attempts by foreign and British commercial concerns to obtain concessions in the Gulf for sponge fishing and the fishing and export of pearls. The principle correspondents in the file are 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. and the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in Bahrain, both posts being held by a number of incumbents throughout the period covered by the file.
The file covers three periods:
1. Correspondence from November to December 1905, relating to reports that a Levantine Greek named Michel Hatinglou is in the Gulf, seeking to arrange concessions with the region’s rulers for sponge fishing. A memorandum, undated and unsigned, reports that M. Hatinglou has signed a concession with the Persian Government to fish for sponges along the Persian coast between Fao [Al-Fāw] and Gwādar, and is seeking a similar concession in Muscat (folios 3-4). The correspondence also makes reference to the presence of a Russian consular agent in the Gulf (folio 5).
2. Correspondence from May to August 1911 relating first to Gray Paul & Company’s arrangement with Ullmann & Co. of Hatton Garden to enter the pearl buying business in Bahrain, and to news that representatives of the French company Rosenthal & Company, have been making enquiries into seeking concessions for pearl fishing in the Gulf. In a letter to the ruler of Bahrain, Shaikh ‘Īsá bin ‘Alī Āl Khalīfah, 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. (Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Zachariah Cox) warned that it would be disadvantageous to the Shaikh’s interests to grant any concessions to foreigners, and that the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. should be consulted in all such matters (folios 10-11). In his reply to Cox’s letter, Shaikh ‘Īsá acceded to the request, while suggesting implicitly that neither would he consider concessions to British companies (Arabic on folio 15, printed English on folio 21).
3. Correspondence from May to August 1917, relating first to reports that a Russian is on his way to Bahrain to purchase pearls on behalf of Moussaieff Brothers in Paris (folio 23), and second to reports that a company from the United States is seeking to take over the entire pearl buying business in the Gulf by offering prices of five to ten per cent above its competitors. In a letter dated 17 August 1917, the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in Bahrain reported to the Deputy 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. that the American company’s plan was to ship the finest pearls to the States, medium quality pearls to Europe, and the lowest quality pearls to India and the East (folio 24).
- Extent and format
- 1 file (29 folios)
- Arrangement
The contents of the file are arranged in approximate chronological order, starting from the earliest items at the front of the file, to the latest at the rear.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The file is foliated from the front cover to the inside back cover, using circled pencil numbers located in the top-right corner of each recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. . On those pages which are Arabic letters, the folio number is located in the top-right corner of the verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. . An earlier foliation system, using uncircled pencil numbers in the top-right corner of each recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. , runs throughout most of the volume. Folio 26 is a fold-out.
Condition: There is some insect damage to folios in the file, in the form of small holes in the paper. This damage is not sufficient to affect the legibility of the text.
- Written in
- English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
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'File B/3 Sponge and Pearl Concessions' [21v] (42/62), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/14, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023400707.0x00002b> [accessed 23 February 2025]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/2/14
- Title
- 'File B/3 Sponge and Pearl Concessions'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:30v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence