'File 14/115 VII Annex (B 9) Abu Musa oxide: collected background material on the case' [‎477r] (980/1904)

7.
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heaps Ox oxide* At each pjbaoe (X y) there are apparently about
8000 to 3000 tone, accumulated as far a® one can estimate without
experiment# The quality at Y is not good and was not approved
by i easra •onokhaus# but the probability is that it is surrepti
tiously used for adulteration where possible. It is the localities
X & only which are concerned with the present dispute.
From X to the seashore at the distance is about 1^ miles,
the ground perfectly flat and the going good; but in order to
iacilitate the work of the transport carts employed a hard track
of rammed oxide hes been made#
I have not modified Commander Philbrick* s figures estimating
the content of the several heaps at as he measured them system-
atioally, but except by actual weighment of some of the oxide, it
is impossible to gauge it accurately and I think the present
figures will prove to be too lafge.
6# ?/hlle at Ling eh I was careful not to enter into discussion
with Hassan Camaiyoh or to treat him in a way which might give
the German firm cause to think that I had been putting pressure
on him, but I asked him to give me a copy of his transfer deed
with Lir® iirown, dated 10th October, and also inquired whether he
had received his moiety according to the terms of his agreement
for the oxide now to be shipped. He would not give a direct
answer on this point saying that he had received large sums from
Messrs Wonckhaus entered in a running account and he could not
say how he stood without going into that account fully.
It seems to me pronable that the line he will take in
order to justify his conduct of the concession vis a vis his
former co-sharers and to play into Wonokhaus hands will be to
endeavour to show (with Messrs Wonckhaus' assistance), that the
firm ha® advanced him in cash more than the value of the oxide
hitherto received; that he is still indebted to them and has
nothing to divide, but that on the contrary the Gorman firm have
claims on all the oxide in the island.
F or this reason it seems important that we should get pooses-
aion of his account books without delay.