'File 14/115 VII Annex (B 9) Abu Musa oxide: collected background material on the case' [‎189r] (388/1904)

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Appendix 21.
Affidavit ofNejcf-hin-Nakhoda March 19, 1910.
Nejef-bin-Haji Nakhogla Ali states on solemn affirmation ;—
JL solemnly declare the following to be the facts regarding my interviews with
Mr. J nomas Brown, of Messrs. V/onckhaus and Co., and, if necessary, I am prepared to
confirm this statement by oath on the Koran before a mujtehed.
I have had several conversations about the Abu Musa case with parties interested.
The first was wnen Abdu!' ali -bm - H assan Samieh came to see me accompanied by Mirza
Hussein Grermani. fhey came to Bunder Aobas and stayed in the house of Haji
Amin-ut 1 ujjar. Abdullah, on landing from the ship, came to my house and asked rue
to come over and have a talk about the matter at Haji Amin's house. I went over to
Haji Amin's house, and there Mirza Hussein, Abdullah, and Haji Ali " Germani " were
piesent. Abdullah asked me to give him a paper stating that 1 handed over my share
of the concession on Abu Musa to Abdullah-bin-Hassan. The paper was to be given a
date prior to the date of the contract between Messrs. Wonckhaus and Hassan. He
also asKed me to give him another paper saying that I was quite satisfied with the
contract. 1 refused, saying that 1 would not do anything of the sort unless they
settled up my account with David Sassoon, that is, my father's, on account of oxide,
carpets, &c. I said if they did not give me back the carpets they should pay me
20,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. and settle my account, and then I would give them the paper. However,
they did not give me the money, and I mentioned the matter to the British consulate.
These two persons came to Bunder Abbas not long after the British consul, Lieutenant
Gabriel, returned there from a trip he made to Shargah, &c. Some months later
Mr. Brown came to Bunder Abbas. The exact date can be ascertained from the consul.
Bunder Abbas, as I reported the matter to him at the time, but it was just about two
years ayo. Mr. Brown had two interviews with me, once at the house of Jamshidian's
agent and once at the custom-house. At the first interview Agha Ghulam Ali
Khorassani was present, at the second Mr. Moses Khan, the customs director. Agha
Ghulam Ali is agent of Messrs. Wonckhaus and Co. Mr. Brown had a long talk wuth
me. Before beginning to talk about Abu Musa he dismissed two Hindoos, Gulshan and
Asanand Ghulab. Mr. Brown asked me why I had not signed the paper shown me by
Abdullah and Mirza Hussein. I said there appeared to be no advantage for me in
doing so, and therefore 1 hadn't. Mr. Brown said he had bought the share in the oxide
company belonging to Sheikh Sagar for 250 reals. 1 replied that Sheikh Sagar had
never made anything out of the business, and so would sell cheap. Mr. Brown said he
wanted to buy my share, and said that he would settle up all my accounts with Hassan-
bin-Ali and Abdullah. I never offered to seil my share to Mr. Brown. In fact, as I
reported to the consulate at the time, Mr. Brown offered to buy my share. I would
swear to this on the Koran. This took place in the presence of Agha Ghulam Ali
Khorassani. At the second interview, and after Mr. Moses Khan tried to persuade me
to_ go to Lingah to settle with Mr. Brown, he continued to endeavour to make me do
this for a long time, and, on my refusing, he got annoyed with me, and worried me
to such an extent that I finally had to resign my post as Hamal Bashi at
Bunder Abbas.
(Mark of Nejef-bin-Haji Nakhoda Ali.)
Declared and signed before me this 19th day of March, 1910.
A. P. Trevor, Captain,
First Assistant
Nejef admitted and affirmed on oath what is recorded before the humblest Khalaf-
bin-Yusuf A1 Osfoor.*
Dated the 28th Rabi II, 1329.
* Chief Shia Priest of Mohammerah.
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