'File 14/115 VII Annex (B 9) Abu Musa oxide: collected background material on the case' [‎21v] (53/1904)

36
A nnex (14).
Note, for iheinformation of Government,
whose opinions, as ''leading merchants",
(i) Hamd-ibn-Khalifa (German Annex 19).
An obscure and insignificant person of Bahrain origin. Was formerly a petty
merchant but went bankrupt, and afterwards endeavoured to make a Irving' as a
newswnter, by writing gossip to various native notables in the Gulf and getting
occasional presents from them for his trouble. Used to receive help from Hasan
Samaiyeh and died insolvent. Was in Hasan Samaiyeh's pocket and his opinion
not of the slightest value in any case. "
(H) Abdurrahman-ibn-Muhammad-ibn-Kazim (Annex 20).
A xer.-iian ot Rastaic. Well known as a v i inveterateintrisjuer,and especiallv
hostile to the British Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. at Lingah and to British interests generally, owing
to the j.act that the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. nas been obliged from time to time to make serious
complaints against him. He was for some years Consular Agent for France at
Lingah, but in 190/ ne was proceeded against by the customs for smuggling a
large quantity of tobacco; and in January 1909 Abdurrahman having circulated
a silly story to the effect that the T* rench were going to seize the port of Kung near
Lingah, His Majesty s Minister on receiving the report communicated it to'bis
French colleague, who must also have ^received it from the French Consul at
Bushire, and replied that he had already had occasion to complain of Abdurrah
man, and a little later gave him his dismissal.
I have quite recently had to complain against him under the Hague Award
in the French Flag arbitration, for unlawfully flying a French flag, he having got
himself registered at Muscat. I attach a copy of a letter which 1 addressed to
His Britannic Majesty's Minister regard! g him on the 16th November 1907
(Annex 15).
(m) Abdulla Muhammad Hasan at Khadja (German Annex 21).
The German Memorandum says of this individual that he is " a man, who on
account of his experience and reputation is a tccognized arbitrator in commercial
matters, who^e opinion is asked for by Persians an'i Arabians of the Persian and
Arabian coasts, as far as Bahrain and to whose decisions they willingly submit.
This description is greatly overdrawn. Abdulla Khadja is a Persian subject
and a merchant of Lingah. An old man of 80 or 85. He is the father and
supporter of one Muhammad Abdulla Khadja in regard to whom, among others. I
addressed the Government of India in my letter No. 1559, dated the 4th July 1909,
of which 1 append an extract. In spite of the action taken against him, Muhammad
Abdulla has not ceased to intrigue by using the sp irious seal and endeavouring
to fly a Turkish flag. He has been able specifically to give us trouble by attempt
ing to treat Arab visitors from Muscat, Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. , Bahrain and Koweit as Turk
ish subjects and thrust upon them Turkish passports or and it has only been
by the vigilance of oar Agent at Lingah and continual pressure on the local Persian
authorities by the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. that Mahammad Abdulla has been prevented from
achieving much practical success. Naturally _ the family bear us ill-will and
their testimony in a matter like this is objectionable.
(iv) Abdalmuhsin ibn-Ahmed-ibn-Mushari (Annex 22), vide also Annex 16.
A petty trader of Bahrain origin residing in Lingah. His grandfather settled
in Kais Island and dealt in pearls. Abdalmuhsin's father was one of the several
brothers and had practically nothing. Abdalmuhsin only inherited a dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. which
he sold for about 8,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. to realize capital for his sustenance. He is a man
of straw, who on his last visit to Bombay is Sdid to have had to borrow lis. 100 to
pav his way back. He ekes out a livelihood through the kindness of one or two
friends, of whom Hasan Samaiyeh is one. They give him a litle money where
with to speculate on their behalf in pearls. If he makes a profit he gets a share;
if he makes a loss it falls on them (see also Item 36).