'File 14/115 VII Annex (B 9) Abu Musa oxide: collected background material on the case' [‎298r] (622/1904)

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til© will end pleasure of Sheikh Sagar. In the ca»® of the
Oxide Concession the position would be that galla gave the
concession after obtaining the concurrence of hlaself as
Regent and subject to Sheikh Sagar*e oonfimation. In the
case of "Mica • Oonoession he gave it after consulting
Sheikh Sagar ^/ho was hiraself preeeht.
As regards Sheikh Sagar's letter of 11th October lone to
the British Resident. His statement that 3alim granted the
Concession "as Regent" would still stand so far as it went?
and the motive of its assertion is quite an intelligent one
and quite different to the far-fetlfohed one that the tieraan
Rejoinder saeks to put on it. They say that being under the
mistaken belief that he was prohibited by the Treaty of
from entering into such transaction with any on© but a Brit
ish subject, and Hakhoda All being a Persian subject, he was
anxious to persuade Oolonel Keeball that Rakhoda All was not
a Concessionaire at all and that if there had been any fault
it was Salin*s and not his. The only basis for this view
is a garbled version of a remark said to have been dropped
by Sheikh Sagar, and there is no real foundation for the
hypothesis at all.
To go back to the letter itself and Colonel Keaball*® let
ter to which it is a reply. I would explain that business
with the Truclal Chiefs is carried on almost entirely
through the Heeidenoy Agent. Direct letters between the
Hesident and the Sheikhs are of coraparatively rare occurence,
and when they are necessary the Resident 's letters are always
sent to the Agent under flying seal Letters which could be freely opened before reaching their destination. (or accompanied by a copy
for the Agent 's record) for delivery. Eiailarly the Sheikh 's
reply addressed to the Resident direct is gfcven to the Agent
to close and forward. So Sheikh would think of answering a
letter of the nature of this one (Oolonel Keffiball's) without
consulting the Agent before replying. In this particular
case too. Sheikh Sagar knew that the Agent himself was per
sonally and financially interested and consulted hin fully
as