Page 101 - Arabian Studies (II)

The Powers and Mineral Concessions in the IdrTsTImamate of \A sir 91

concession could be settled in favour of one or other of the two
British companies. It was not until the 12th October that London
sanctioned the supply of ammunition to the Anglo-Saxon Petroleum
Co., provided it did not exceed half a million rounds. The Colonial
Office stressed that by such action the British Government did not
recognise the claims of the Company. Four days later the Resident
had not supplied the ammunition to Cooper who was still in Aden
with Sayyid Mustafa for the two could not agree over a method of
payment.83 Delivery of the ammunition was dependent upon the
IdrTsT settling ‘with the Company direct about the cost’. However, on
the 22nd October an agreement was concluded between Sayyid
Mustafa and Cooper.84
Much later in a bid to obtain support from the tribesmen against
Sayyid Hasan, Sayyid Mustafa wrote to the tribes explaining the
better deal he had made with Cooper compared with that which
Sayyid Hasan had signed with Craufurd. Sayyid Mustafa claimed
Craufurd had taken the opportunity of his (Mustafa’s) absence in
Egypt to get a concession from Sayyid Hasan. But, knowing the
concession to be harmful, he worked ‘day and night’ to come to a
satisfactory agreement with Cooper to obtain a better agreement.
Sayyid Hasan’s terms would have won for the IdrTsT state a paltry
Rupees 10,000 annually and gave Craufurd the right to occupy all
IdrTsT territory for eight years and to enter any ‘private place’.
Sayyid Mustafa told the tribesmen that the contract he had won
from Cooper gave the IdrTsT state £5000 per annum with a further
£3000 p.a. for protection. Moreover Cooper’s company paid £3000
before beginning any work. Sayyid Mustafa then asked what would
have been the value of a fifth of the production to a State with
neither refinery nor tankers: the Company agreed to pay 10 piastres
for every ton which would produce a minimum of £20,000 per
annum. Hasan’s agreement provided for the provision of ammunition
at £17 per case whereas Sayyid Mustafa had reached an agreement by
which ammunition was furnished at HVi per case, 8 S In the
meantime Craufurd had agreed to return the ammunition intact, but
at the same time he protested against the activities of the Shell
Group against whom he asked for protection.8 6
Anglo-Saxon then sent Martin to Aden to settle the difference
between them and Sayyid Mustafa and agreement was reached on 31
October 1926 and accordingly the Resident lent Martin 100 cases of
ammunition. Meanwhile Craufurd was unable to ship back to Aden
the 100 cases he had borrowed from the Resident as the IdrTsT had
detained the cases. In consequence the Resident agreed to transfer
the loan of the 100 cases in JTzan from Craufurd to Martin.8 7 By the