Page 195 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

p

AND TIIE MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR TOE YEAR 1907-1000. 11

IIo continued that it was clear that an application of force would be necessary
to effect eviction and that, as an inconvenient conflict might easily result in
the process of it, lie would bo glad if Government would either effect the
necessary themselves, the concessionaire being a British subjeot, or failing that
would advise him how best to proceed. He was advised, as a necessary
preliminary, to issue to Uassan Samaiyeh a formal notice calling upon him to
remove himself and his workmen from the island within a stated time. This
notice was duly served on Hassan at Lingah by the Sheikh’s representative in
the presence of the Residency Agent, who received instructions to inform the
concessionaire simultaneously that the Sheikh’s action appeared to the British
Government to be justified, and that their support would be afforded to him
should the concessionaire fail to comply with the terms of the notice; further,
that on the oxpiry of 10 days from date a man-of-war would be sent to the
island to ascertain whether the removal had actually taken place. Lieutenant
0. H. Gabriel, Assistant Resident and Consul at Bunder Abba9, was deputed
to stand by in H.M.S. Lapwing to see that the eviction was carried out without
any contretmnps. Hardly had H.M.S. Lapwing left the anchorage when
Mr. Brown, the LingaU representative of Herr Wonckhau9, appeared off the
inland in a dhow flying the German flag, accompanied by Abdulla bin Hassan
and some 25 followers, and attempted to land; but having been prevented with
some resolution by the Sheikh of Shargah’s guard, who appear to have fired
some shots over the dhow when their shouts of warning were unheeded, the vessel
returned forthwith to Lingah, and from thence Mr. Brown loft by mail and
laid a sensational complaint before the German Consul at Bushire. The latter
forthwith proceeded to telegraph to his Minister in Tehran who in return
addressed himself to His Majesty’s Chargd d’Affaircs. Neverti eless, a few
days later, on the 19th November, Dr. Listemann attempted to enter
into direct communication with the Sheikh of Shargah and Sheikh Salim
bin Sultan, sending them each by the hand of his Dragoman an official
communication protesting at the Sheikh’s proceedings, challenging his right to
withdraw the concession, and threatening a heavy claim for damages if the
eoQcessionaires were not at once allowed to continue their operations. The
Sheikhs fortunately refused to give any reply to these missives (which they
sent in original to Bflshiro) and were authorised to ignore them and shortly
afterwards Dr. Listemann received instructions to address himself to the
Resident. Notwithstanding that he had been three years in the Persian Gulf
the German-Consul endeavoured to explain away his previous action by the
statement that he was not at the time aware that the Sheikh of Shargah enjoyed
British protection 1
In January 1908 a memorandum setting forth the German claim was
received by His Majesty’s Government and forwarded to Bushire for report.
The main arguments in their case were :—
(1) That the island of Abu Musa did not really belong to the Sheikh
of Shargah at all but to his uncle Sheikh Salim bin Sultan ; that
the latter had granted the concession in his own right and not on
behalf of the Ruling Sheikh; and that Sheikh Sagar had no
power to resume it.
(2) That Mcssis. Wonckhaus had acquired a specific interest in the
concession and in the mines through the purchase of the share
originally set apart for Sheikh Sagar, which had subsequently
passed by purchase first to Yusuf bin Abdulla, and then to
Hassan bin Samaiyeb.
(3) That it was not tiue that the deal with Messrs. Wonckhaus had
been carried out, as now asserted, against the will of any of the
concessionaires, who had in fact been kept fully informed of the
transaction and had consented to its terms.
Papers providing material for our rejoinder to the German arguments were
submitted to Government in March. In regard to tho salient points of their
arguments above mentioned;—
(1) Evidence from the Bushire records was furnished to prove that the
island was tho hereditary proporty of the Sheikhs of Shargah, and