1. 'B.11 668-II Sirri Island'

Description:

Abstract: This file contains correspondence mostly concerning the island of Sirri [Sirrī], as well as other Persian Gulf islands, including Tanb [Ṭanb] and Lesser Tanb, Farur [Farūr] and Lesser Farur, Dalmah [Dalmā], Halul island [Ḥālūl], Sir Abu Nu'ayr [Ṣīr Abū Nu‘ayr], and Sir Bani Yas [Ṣīr Banī Yās]. These papers contain details concerning the status of these islands, as well as geographical and topographical information, including details of mineral deposits.The correspondence in this file is between the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire; ‘Abd al-Laṭīf, Residency Agent at Sharjah; ‘Īsá bin ‘Abd al-Laṭīf, acting Residency Agent at Sharjah; Āghā Muḥammad Amīn Badr, Residency Agent at Lingah; Ṣaqr bin Khālid Āl Qāsimī, ruler of Sharjah; T J Malcolm, Bushire; and various British officials in the Foreign Department of the Government of India.There is a file index on folio 2. Subjects include: Muin's [Moin-ut-Tujjar] claims to Sirri (folios 103, 121); connection of Sirri question with that of fisheries (folio 15); Hajji Ali Akbar [Ḥājjī ‘Alī Akbār]'s attitude oxide at Sirri (folios 39-47, 79, 84, 124); Strick's enquiries on oxide at Sirri (folios 90-91); Abdullah bin Hassan Galadari [‘Abdullāh bin Ḥassan Jaladārī] (folio 55-56); German visits to Sirri (folio 73); status of Nabiyu Tanb island (folios 92, 100); status Farur and Nabiya Farur islands (folios 88, 100, 121); oxide on Dalmah island (folio 100); oxide on Sir Abu Nu'air island (folios 100, 130-131); oxide on Halul islands (folios 100, 115); manganese on Halul island (folios 130-131); Sir Bani Yas island (folios 130-131); note on Sirri island (folios 25-27); situation at Sirri Island in 1904 (folios 8-15); the Jowasimis [Āl Qawāsim] occupation of Sirri (folio 62).Physical description: Foliation: The main foliation sequence commences at the cover and terminates at the last folio; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. A second incomplete mixed foliation/pagination sequence runs in parallel between ff. 4-143; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio, along with the corresponding top left (sometimes) of the verso side. The file contains the following foliation amendments: 109, and 109A; 114, and 114A; 116, and 116A.

2. 'Red oxide on Abu Musa, 1898-1934'

Description:

Abstract: This memorandum was prepared by John Gilbert Laithwaite in May 1934 and comments on the history of the concession of red oxide on Abu Musa [Abū Mūsá]. The concession was granted in April 1898 by Sheikh Salim bin Sultan [Sālim bin Sulṭān Āl Qāsimī] while acting as Regent. On his return the ruling Sheikh, Sagar bin Khalid [Ṣaqr bin Khālid Āl Qasimī], saw nothing objectionable it. The concession was made to Hassan Samaiyah, his son Abdullah and Isa bin Adul Latif [‘Īsá bin ‘Abd al-Laṭīf], son of the Residency Agent at Sharjah. The concessionaires were described as British subjects and the interest in the concession of Herr Wonckhaus [Robert Wonckhaus] and Frank Clarke Strick is detailed. The memorandum also describes the claim of the Persian Government to Abu Musa and notes that the concession granted for five years to Frank Clarke Strick in January 1923 expired at the beginning of 1928 but there is nothing to show that any application was made for a renewal.Physical description: The main foliation sequence commences at the first folio and terminates at the last folio; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. A second parallel foliation sequence is also present between ff 2-6; these numbers are typed, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.

3. 'Report on Fars by Captain A T Wilson, Indian Political Department'

Description:

Abstract: This volume consists of a report on Fars (a province of Persia) was written by Captain Arnold Talbot Wilson, Deputy Civil Commissioner in the Indian Political Department (General Staff Branch), and was published in Simla at the Government Monotype Press. The volume is divided into subject sections.Within the report, there are genealogical trees for some tribes and families, including: the Kashkuli Khans (folio 41), the Qashqai Ilkhanis (folio 42) and the Hashimieh family of Shiraz (folio 51).Following the main report, there are two appendices: one relating to the approximate population of Fars and one relating to the mineral resources of Fars. The volume ends with an alphabetical index for the entire report and a map showing 'Routes in Persia'.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at a map, at the inside back cover, with 196; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Pagination: the volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

4. PZ 7629/1934 ‘Messrs Wonckhaus’s claim in respect of Abu Musa oxide’

Description:

Abstract: The file contains correspondence and other papers relating to the claim of Robert Wonkhaus and Company, Hamburg, for financial compensation for loss due to the interruption of their contract for purchasing red oxide at Abu Musa from a concessionaire, following the cancellation of the concession by the Shaikh of Shargah [Sharjah]. Negotiations had taken place with the company before the First World War, but the question of compensation due to them was left undecided by the outbreak of the War.It includes correspondence between M J Clauson, India Office and Gustav Zinnow, a partner in the company Robert Wonkhaus and Company, including a letter from Clauson to Zinnow of 30 September 1939, stating that he is directed to inform Zinnow that there is no prospect of HM Government or the Government of India being able to favourably consider Zinnow’s representations for compensation (folio 2). The file also includes correspondence between Clauson and Thompson, Quarrell and Company, Solicitors, and other related correspondence and papers, such as a statement on the case by Zinnow (folios 20 to 24).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 29; these numbers are written in pencil, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.

5. File 3615/1913 Pt 2-3 'Persian Gulf - Lease of Islands (& Muin ut Tujjar's Concession). Persian Gulf Islands as to occupation in case of war with Persia'

Description:

Abstract: The volume contains parts 2 and 3 of the subject ‘Persian Gulf: Moin-ut-Tujjar’s concessions’. Part 2 (IOR/L/PS/10/409/1) concerns the lease of islands in the Persian Gulf and Part 3 (IOR/L/PS/10/409/2) concerns British occupation of the islands in the Persian Gulf in case of war with Persia. The date range gives the covering dates of all the documents in the volume; the minute and reference papers of the Political and Secret Department of the India Office in London, which enclose these documents, are dated 1914 to 1918.Each part includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 188; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.

6. File 161/1908 Pt 2 'Persian Gulf:- Abu Musa Oxide'

Description:

Abstract: The volume concerns the export of red oxide mined on the island of Abu Musa [Abū Mūsá].The main correspondents are senior officials of the Foreign Office and the India Office; the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Major Percy Zachariah Cox); and the Viceroy.The papers cover: contractual arrangements for the removal of red oxide from the island by the German firm Robert Wönckhaus & Company; diplomatic contacts concerning the issue between the British and German governments; the question of the ownership of Abu Musa; and the interest of British firms such as Frank C Strick and Company in the export of red oxide from the island.The volume also contains copies of earlier correspondence and agreements dated 1884-1908.The French language content of the volume consists of five folios of diplomatic correspondence between British and German officials.Each part includes a divider, which gives the subject and part numbers, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 195; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located at the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the two leading and ending flyleaves.

7. File 161/1908 Pt 3 'Persian Gulf:- Abu Musa oxide'

Description:

Abstract: The volume concerns the export of red oxide mined on the island of Abu Musa [Abū Mūsá].The main correspondents are senior officials of the Foreign Office and the India Office; the First Assistant Resident in charge of the Political Residency (Major Arthur Prescott Trevor); the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Zachariah Cox); the Viceroy; and German Government officials.The papers cover the progress of diplomatic negotiations between the British and German governments over contractual rights to remove red oxide from the island by the German firm Robert Wönckhaus & Company.The volume also contains copies of earlier correspondence and agreements dated 1899-1909.The French language content of the volume consists of approximately fifty folios of diplomatic correspondence between British and German officials.The Arabic language content of the volume consists of citations of Arabic words (with English transliterations) in several letters, in which the precise meaning of the Arabic terms is discussed.Each part includes a divider, which gives the subject and part numbers, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 476; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers; nor does it include the two leading and ending flyleaves. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 454-476; these numbers are also written in pencil and circled, but are crossed through.

8. File 161/1908 Pt 1 'Persian Gulf:- Abu Musa Oxide.'

Description:

Abstract: The volume concerns the disputed concession for the mining of red oxide on the island of Abu Musa [Abū Mūsá].The main correspondents are senior officials of the Foreign Office and the India Office; the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Major Percy Zachariah Cox); and the Viceroy. The papers cover discussion of territorial rights over the island; the claims of the German firm Robert Wönckhaus & Company to be allowed to mine red oxide there; representations on behalf of Robert Wönckhaus & Company from the German Government; claims for profits from the concession; reported German attempts to obtain Turkish intervention in the question, March 1908; and Foreign Office agreement that Wönckhaus should be allowed to fulfil their contracts, May 1908.There are also copies of papers (folios 89-226) documenting the history of mining rights on the island, dated 1883-1907, including correspondence from two of the holders of the mining concession, Haji Hassan bin Ali Samaiyeh and Esa bin Abdul Latif [‘Īsá bin ‘Abd al-Laṭīf], son of the Residency Agent, Shargah [Sharjah]; Shaikh Salim bin Sultan [Sālim bin Sulṭān Āl Qāsimī], the owner of the mines; Shaikh Sagar bin Khalid [Ṣaqr bin Khālid Āl Qasimī], Ruler of Sharjah; and Abdul Latif, the Residency Agent, Sharjah. These are accompanied by copies of agreements; and witness statements concerning the turning away of a German dhow from Abu Musa on 23 October 1907. The correspondence is in the form of English translations, followed in most cases by copies of the Arabic originals.There is a small amount (under five folios) of diplomatic correspondence in French.Each part includes a divider, which gives the subject and part numbers, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 377; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is present between ff 202-377 and is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out. The front and back covers, along with the leading and ending flyleaves, have not been foliated.

9. File 3615/1913 Pt 1 'Persian Gulf: Moin-ut-Tujjar's concessions'

Description:

Abstract: The volume contains correspondence relating to the grant of mineral concessions by the Persian Government to the Persian merchant Haji Agha Mohammed Moin-ut-Tojar Dehdashty (referred to as Muin-ut-Tujjar), and the award of export sales contracts for the mined Hormuz oxide to the two rival British companies Frank C Strick Company Limited of London and Messrs Ellinger and Company of Manchester. The main correspondents are British officials in the Foreign Office and India Office in London, the British Minister at Tehran, the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire and the Viceroy of India. Their correspondence includes English translations of Muin-ut-Tujjar’s concessions of 1904 and 1913 to mine red oxide, salt and sulphur in the Persian Gulf islands of Hormuz, Kishm, Larak, Henjam and the ports of Bostaneh and Bander Khamir. There are also letters and telegrams between Frank C Strick & Company Limited and their agent in Teheran, together with a copy in English of their export sales contract with the Persian Government for Hormuz red oxide. There is a small amount of correspondence in French, mainly between Belgian civil servants employed in Persian Customs administration in Teheran and the port of Bunder Abbas.The file includes a divider which gives the subject and part number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 290; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.