'File 14/115 VII Annex (B 9) Abu Musa oxide: collected background material on the case' [‎47v] (105/1904)

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(Inolosure 13.)
Ilassan-beri'Ali Semey to Seyer-ben-Khalet.
(After compliments.) , r(
Your favour of this montli's date received and contents noted. luegarumg tne
letter, in which Abdul Latif agrees to the contract with the Germans, and at the same
time warns us against giving a leasehold or something similar yes, I have not actea
cdnfrffrt to that letter, and the Germans have nothing to do with the leaseho.u ot that
island; I have only sold oxide of iron. When Abdul Latif received answer to his letter
it proved to him that I had not acted wrongly. I had only sold oxide of iron. W e are
responsible for nothing else but the sale of oxide of iron to the Germans. 1 ou say that
I bad stated that I ain the owner of tbe island ; how could I make such an assertion, as
I have taken in lease only (he mine of oxide of iron, which is in the Island ot Abu Musa,
from Sheikh Salem-ben-Sultan, and pay a certain sum as rent to Sheikh Salem every
year according to the leasehold. But your statement that I had written that 1 am the
leaseholder, it is right, and sale and management are in my hands. T he partners Jcnow
well, that from the beginning of the Concession the sale, expenditure, management, and
requirements have been.duly looked after by me, and from the date of the contract the
entire management has been in my hands and none of the partners have interfered, nor
had they any right to do so unless I had acted contrary to law. I quite admit .hat i
am a British subject khy abiding and do not deserve this unjustifiable interference, and
V you know that Germans have no other claim but the purchase of oxide for a certain
I period • and you are well aware that large amounts of our money have been invested m
I the oxide mines. If we do not obtain sales, how are we to repay the Germans and
others? So much was necessary. Compliments to all.
made with B. Wonckhaus, the German, asserting tnat it was uiuu« wituuut u. s
Sheikh Seger also drops a hint that he wishes to withdraw the leasehold for the oxide ot
iron mines in Abu Musa which we leased from Sheikh Salem-ben-Sultan
We bein"- British subjects, and seeing that the letter ot Sheikh seger has no
meaning! we thought it necessary to inform you of this before they misrepresent the
matt W^hoW the original leasehold from the Sheikh Salem-ben-Sultan of 1315, to be
continued for any period we desire; attested by your agent, Abdul Latif, we accepted
Sheikh Seger as a partner with the knowledge and evidence of Abdul Latit, _
We made known our contract with the Germans and its conditions in Arabic and
En-lish to Abdul Latif. Then we received a letter from your agent, dated the
21st Rebic-el-Tham, 1324, regarding the contract with the Germans ; m that letter lie
expresses his acceptance and gladness. We beg to inclose the copy of that letter. Also
Isa was informed and agreed in the question ; the letter ot Sheikh Seger shows that he
intends to stop the work and make us suffer a loss, for which reason we inclose copy ot
his letter before a dispute arises. You are our protectors, and it was necessaiy torus to
inform you, because all our transactions and contracts were made with the knowledge
and approval of Isa and Abdul Latif, and the original leasehold with their signatures
are in our possession, if Abdul Latif had not approved he would have stopped me m
the letter of the 21st Rebic-el-Thani, and I have only treated with the Germans with
his approval, and in our contract with the Germans we have sold oxide only—a mer-
r • /ft 1 1 ^ jr%. ■**** Ar\ 4"
(Inclosure 14.)
Hassan-ben-Ali Semey and Co. to the Consul-General in Bushire.
chandize is for everybody, the Germans and others.
(Signed) BASS.
HASSAN-BEN-ALI SEMEY and C o.