'File 14/115 VII Annex (B 9) Abu Musa oxide: collected background material on the case' [‎140r] (290/1904)

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A nnex (11).
N ote hy Khan Bahadur Abdul LaHf, giving
the oxide concession and explaining
{Bated 25th
TV ith reference to the translation which you have shown to me of what purports
to be rejected preliminary draft, dated 6th April 1898, of the oxide concession
executed on the 10th April 1898,1 beg to make the following observations :—
I note that the document purports to be signed by Hasan bin Ahmed and {U)
Ali Ahmed Saleh.
The Hasan bin Ahmed mentioned was a retainer of Shaikh Salim. Ali Ahmed
Saleh is the man whose identity you know as Nakhuda Ali. I had nothing to do
with the writing or drafting of this document.
I remember that I had been absent on duty at Bushire during the spring of the
year in question and it was on my return to Shargah that the project for an oxide
concession was discussed. The draft had been drawn up by Abdullah bin Hasan
Samaiyeh and it was he who showed it to me. At the same time he and Nakhuda Ali,
who was also there, asked me to let my son Isa come into the concern as they needed
some one on the spot at Shargah in order to keep in touch with Shaikhs Sagar and
Salim. I agreed, but pointed out that the terms of the proposed concession as at
present drafted were quite impossible, and that neither Shaikh Sagar would confirm
it nor would the Government approve it. What I especially objected to was (1) the
sentence in which Shaikh Salim is made to say " so long as I, my children and my
brothers live, no one will be entitled to raise objection to it" and (2) the inclusion
of Nakhuda Ali as a signatory on the document.
With regard to (1), I would explain that Salim was an old man of 70, who
might be expected to die at any time, and I was taking into account the fact that if
he died, we should thenceforth have to deal with Shaikh Sagar.
As regards (2) I thought the inclusion of Nakhuda Ali was inexpedient, as I had
just been visiting Bushire and knew him to be in very bad odour with the Eesidency
in connection with his Bushire affairs and he was also at loggerheads with the well-
known Moin-et-Tujjar of Tehran, holder of the Hormuz Concession, and I feared the
latter would be likely to give us trouble if he came to know that Nakhuda Ali was
a partner in a rival oxide enterprise. I also omitted the 20 years time limit, as I saw
no object in inserting any fixed period of time.
(Sd.) ABDUL LATIF BIN ABDURRAHMAN.
C205 FD