ملف رقم ١٤٢١ لسنة ١٩٠٨، جزء ٣، "بلاد فارس: النفط؛ مفاوضات بين شيخ المحمرة وشركة النفط الأنجلو-فارسية" [ظ‎‎٢‎٩‎٤] (٣٣٨/١٥٤)

I am sending copies and translations of the farmans and of this letter simultaneously
to His Majesty’s Foreign Office and the Government of India for information.
I have, &c.
P. Z. COX, Lieuteriant-Colonel, British Resident in
the Persian Gulf, and His Britannic Majesty's 0
Consul-General for Pars, dec.
Enclosure 3 in No. 1.
Farman, dated Shawal, 1320 (January 1903), for Territory at Mohammerah,
Jazirat-ul-Khazra (AbtfTan Island), Bahmanshir, and Karun.
THAT as regards the Government lands at Mohammerah, Jazirat-ul-Khazra,
Bahmanshir and Karun, where the Arabs and the tribes and tribesmen of his Excel
lency Sheikh Khazal Khan Moez-es-Sultaneh Sardar-i-Arfaa, have from the time of
their forefathers and grandfathers up to now, grown date-palms and trees, and con
structed buildings and (as they) have used efficient endeavours and ample exertions in
reviving and causing the said lands and localities to flourish, and left no means unused
in performing the services of the Government—which may endure for ever—therefore,
in order to bestow kingly graces and royal favours, we have, in this auspicious year
Pars Eel, left and granted all the said localities and lands as perpetual property to the
Sardar-i-Arfaa and his Arabs and tribes, so that they may pay the Highest Government
every year the usual annual revenue, and the present and future governors of Arabistan
will have no right to demand a single cent in addition to the usual annual revenue.
And we also leave and grant to the Sardar-i-Arfaa himself all the lands which are barren
and without date-palms and trees up to now, as perpetual property, so that he may
give them to his tribe and tribesmen who should grow date-palms and trees (thereon),
and do the needful towards rendering the place populous ; and the Highest Government
will have no right to take possession of, and to interfere with, those properties. Should
any of the said lands be ever required for the Government, they should pay reasonable
price to the Sardar-i-Arfaa, and then take possession thereof. In like manner the
Sardar-i-Arfaa with the Arabs of his tribe and tribesmen, have no right to sell or
transfer their properties, trees, date-palms, and lands to foreign subjects. They should
occupy themselves with the utmost zeal in causing the places to flourish, and are
permitted and empowered to exercise in the said lands and properties the possessory
rights of ownership of every kind.
It is hereby ordered that the respected Mostowfis (Government secretaries) should
register and record a copy of this august Farman, and consider it their duty to do so.
Dated the month of Shavval Pars Eel, 1320 (January 1903).
(Seal of Mozaffar-ed-Din Shah.)
Seals on the reverse :
Atabeg-i-Azam.
Mushir-ed-Dowleh.
Vazir-i-Daftar.
Enclosure 4 in No. 1.
Instructions to His Highness Salar-ed-Dowleh respecting Farman for Territory at
Mohammerah, Jazirut-ul-Khazra (Abadan Island), Bahmanshir, and Karun.
Salar-ed-Dowleh,
IN accordance with the Royal Farman which you will have the honour to peruse,
the Government lands at Mohammerah, Jazirat-ul-Khazra, Bahmanshir, and Karun, on
which, from ancient times up to now, the Arabs and the tribe and the tribesmen of
Sheikh Khazal Khan Moez-es-Sultaneh Sardar-i-Arfaa have grown date-palms and
trees, and constructed buildings, and which they have first caused to flourish, have
been left and granted to him by us as perpetual property in this auspicious year
Pars Eel, so that he may pay every year the usual annual revenue of those places to the
governors of Arabistan without a single additional cent, and he is permitted and
empowered to dispose of those lands and localities the possessory rights of ownership of
every kind.
You, my noble son, should give effect to the purport and sense of the Royal