'File 14/115 VII Annex (B 9) Abu Musa oxide: collected background material on the case' [‎163v] (337/1904)

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Majesty's .Resident, with the object of strengthen-'
ing the case, deliberately induced the two sheikhs
to make statements which he and they knew to
be untrue. His Majesty's Government cannot
discuss such a suggestion, and will only express
regret that it should have been made.
4. This point will be discussed later.
His Majesty's Government also produced, as
further evidence of Sheikh Sagar's ownership of
the island, two letters written by him in 1884 to
the British resident (First British Memorandum,
Appendices 3 and 4). It cannot of course be
disputed that these letters were written long
before the question of title had arisen, but the
German Government deny that they can be relied
on as evidence of Sagar's ownership.
His Majesty's Government are unable to accept
the German Government's account of the circum
stances under which these letters were written.
Tnese circumstances have been explained above.
At the time of Salim's deposition Sagar had all the
tribesmen at his back, while Salim had no follow
ing at all; the only question was whether Sagar
should forcibly remove Salim from the island,
which course would involve a breach of the mari
time truce. Sagar informed the British Resident
on the 17th May, 188-3, that he proposed to adopt
this course, and was informed in reply that in
order to avoid a breach of the truce he ought to
arrange a peaceable settlement (First British
Memorandum, Appendix G). This was accord-
ingly done; but had not Sagar been anxious to
comply with tire wishes of the British Resident
there can be no doubt that Salim would have been
forcibly and permanently removed from the island,
in which case no question as to his title to it
could ever have arisen. As it was, however, an
agreement was arrived at, and Salim, who at the
time of his deposition Was at Abu Musa, was
permitted by his successor to reside there. The
agreement, however, did not work satisfactorily.
Under these circumstances Sagar writes to the
British resident to the effect that three courses are
open: (a) that Salim should give a guarantee that he
will do nothing to disturb the maritime truce ;
that the British Government should remove him
from the island ; (c) that the British Government
should stand aside while Sagar dealt with Salim
as he thought fit. In both letters he states