This file contains reports and correspondence relating to the mining of iron ore on the island of Abu Musa and Hassan Samayeh's involvements with the Germans. The correspondents include the Political Resident Persian Gulf (Major Percy Cox), Residency Agent Sharjah; Lieutenant-Commander W. Hose, H.M.S.
Redbreast, Bushire; H. Listermann, Consul for the Imperial German Government; Sheikh Sagar bin Khalid, Chief of Sharjah; Foreign Office, Government of India.Topics include:The erection of the Qawasim flag on Abu Musa.Views of the Foreign Office on Abu Musa.German Consul talks with Shaikh of Sharjah about the Wonckhaus company.Informing the German Consul that the Trucial chiefs are under British protection.Provision of guards for Abu Musa.Complaint of Nejef bin Ali against Hassan bin Samaiyeh.Persian claim to the islandThe Trucial chiefs were warned not to grant concessions without consulting the Resident.Wonckhaus agent prevented from landing at Abu Musa and to be allowed to remove all oxide already accumulated.There are many letters in Arabic including letters in Arabic from the German Consul to the Sheikh of Sharjah with translations. Also a hand written letter in English from the German Consul in Bushire to the Political Resident; and a Persian newspaper,
Nedai-e-Watan.1 volume (255 folios)The papers are arranged chronologically from the front to the rear of the file.There are two foliation sequences. The first foliation sequence which should be used for referencing, begins on the first folio of writing, on number 1. After number 3 there is a blank folio, which is not numbered. The sequence then resumes on the next folio, on number 4 and runs through to number 255, which is the last folio of writing. This sequence is written in pencil, in the top right corner of each folio.The second foliation sequence begins on the third folio of writing and runs from number 1 through to number 248A, ending on the last folio of writing. The second sequence is written in blue crayon, in the top right corner of each folio.
Correspondence and other papers relating to the Persian Government’s annulment of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC) concession in December 1932, and the ensuing diplomatic crisis between the two countries. The papers include: diplomatic exchanges between the British and Persian Governments and APOC, as reported by HM’s Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary in Tehran, Reginald Hervey Hoare; correspondence between the Foreign Office and India Office; parliamentary notices reporting questions on the crisis raised in the House of Commons; the response of the British press to the annulment, with a large number of newspaper cuttings from British newspapers (chiefly
The Times,
The Daily Herald,
The Morning Post); the British Government’s referral of the dispute to the Council of the League of Nations; the British Government’s despatch of Royal Naval vessels to Abadan; papers from the Council of the League of Nations reporting on negotiations towards a settlement, including notes, session minutes, and correspondence from the Czech representative to the League, Edvard Beneš, who acted as mediator between the two parties; the settlement of the dispute, culminating in a new agreement between the Persian Government and APOC, dated 29 April 1933 (ff 26-35).The volume includes numerous items in French (Persian Government correspondence and some press cuttings from the Persian Press) and a single item in German (a transcript of an article originally appearing the
Deutsche Bergwerks Zeitung).1 volume (541 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 537; 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 leading and ending flyleaves. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.A number of pages have been bound into the volume upside down (ff 345-358).
Correspondence exchanged between the German Consulate at Buschär [Bushire] (Helmuth Listemann) and others: the Lingah [Bandar-e Lengeh] representative of the German firm Robert Wönckhaus and Company (Herr H Rosenfeld; Herr Krumpeter); the British Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Percy Zachariah Cox); German Government officials at the Auswärtiges Amt (Foreign Office) in Berlin; the German Embassy in London.The correspondence refers to a dispute relating to concession rights for the mining and shipment of red oxide at Abū Mūsá, originally awarded to a number of Arab merchants by Shaikh Sālim bin Sulṭān Āl Qāsimī of Sharjah in 1898, and part of which was subsequently acquired by Wönckhaus and Company in 1906. The dispute was sparked by the Ruler of Sharjah, Shaikh Ṣaqr bin Khālid Āl Qāsimī’s cancellation of the concession in 1907, and subsequent claims by Wönckhaus and Company and the German Government, over financial losses arising from the cancellation of the concession.The majority of the file’s correspondence is in German. Letters exchanged between the German Consul at Bushire and the British Political Resident are in French. In most cases, German correspondence is preceded by undated pencil notes written in English, giving a précis of the letter that follows.1 file (402 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.The subject 4949 (Abu Musa oxide) consists of six volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/318-323. The volumes are divided into six parts, with each part comprising one volume. Part 6 (IOR/L/PS/10/323) is missing.Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 403; these numbers are printed, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Correspondence exchanged between the German Consulate at Buschär [Bushire] (Helmuth Listemann) and others: the Lingah [Bandar-e Lengeh] representative of the German firm Robert Wönckhaus and Company (Herr H Rosenfeld; Herr Krumpeter); the British Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Zachariah Cox); German Government officials at the Auswärtiges Amt (Foreign Office) in Berlin, the German Chargé d’Affaires in Tehran (Hartmann Oswald Heinrich Ferdinand Freiherr von Richthofen).The correspondence refers to a dispute over a concession for the mining and shipment of red oxide at Abū Mūsá, originally awarded to Arab merchants by Shaikh Sālim bin Sulṭān Āl Qāsimī of Sharjah in 1898, and part of which was subsequently acquired by Wönckhaus and Company in 1906. The dispute was sparked by the Ruler of Sharjah, Shaikh Ṣaqr bin Khālid Āl Qāsimī’s cancellation of the concession in 1907, and subsequent claims by Wönckhaus and Company and the German Government, over financial losses arising from the cancellation of the concession.Amongst the papers are copies of correspondence, agreements and other papers dating between 1892 and 1907, relating to the original contract to mine red oxide at Abū Mūsá. Many of these agreements are in Arabic, with most accompanied by English translations.The majority of the file’s correspondence is in German. Official letters exchanged between the German Consul at Bushire and the British Political Resident are in French.1 file (263 folios)The file’s contents are arranged in approximate chronological order, from the earliest item at the front to the latest at the end.The subject 4949 (Abu Musa oxide) consists of six volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/318-323. The volumes are divided into six parts, with each part comprising one volume. Part 6 (IOR/L/PS/10/323) is missing.Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 263; these numbers are printed, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
The file is a direct chronological continuation of File 4949/1912 Pt 4 ‘Abu Musa – Angelegenheit. 1907.’ (IOR/L/PS/10/321), containing correspondence exchanged between the German Consulate at Buschär [Bushire] (Helmuth Listemann; Wilhelm Wassmuss) and others: the British Government; the Lingah [Bandar-e Lengeh] representative of the German firm Robert Wönckhaus and Company (Herr H Rosenfeld; Herr Krumpeter); the British Political Residency in the Persian Gulf (Major Arthur Prescott Trevor; Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Zachariah Cox); the German Imperial Government.The correspondence refers to a dispute over a concession for the mining and shipment of red oxide at Abū Mūsá, originally awarded to Arab merchants by Shaikh Sālim bin Sulṭān Āl Qāsimī of Sharjah in 1898, and part of which was subsequently acquired by Wönckhaus and Company in 1906. The dispute was sparked by the Ruler of Sharjah, Shaikh Ṣaqr bin Khālid Āl Qāsimī’s cancellation of the concession in 1907, and subsequent claims by Wönckhaus and Company and the German Government, over financial losses arising from the cancellation of the concession.The majority of the file’s correspondence is in German. Official letters exchanged between the German Consul at Bushire and the British Political Resident are in French.1 file (296 folios)The file’s contents are arranged in approximate chronological order, from the earliest item at the front to the latest at the end.The subject 4949 (Abu Musa oxide) consists of six volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/318-323. The volumes are divided into six parts, with each part comprising one volume. Part 6 (IOR/L/PS/10/323) is missing.Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 296; these numbers are written in pencil, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 1-296; these numbers are printed.
This part contains drafts and counter-drafts of the Anglo-German Convention regarding the Bagdad Railway [Baghdad] and cognate matters, and of the proposed Agreement between the Bagdad Railway Company and the Ottoman Government. These are written in English, German and French, and found at folios 149, 160, 167, 178-179, 201-203, 217-223, 225-230, 235-240, 247, 257-269, and 281-284.The file also contains correspondence between the Foreign Office, the India Office Political Department, the German Ambassador to London (Karl Max Fürst von Lichnowsky), the Councillor of the German Embassy (Richard von Kühlmann), and the Ottoman Finance Minister (Mehmed Cavid Bey). The correspondence concerns negotiations over the following points:the construction and naming of the line;options for British capital investment in the Bagdad Railway Company;options for British representation on the Railway Board;oversight of the project, the safeguarding of commercial interests, and arrangements for arbitration proceedings;shares in the River Navigation Company;navigation of the Shatt el Arab [Shatt al Arab];the formation of a Shatt el Arab Conservancy Commission;the potential impact on the Anatolian Railway, and the prospects of the Smyrna-Aidin Railway Company;and German wishes that no railway should be in direct competition with the Bagdad line from the western terminus at Konia [Konya] to the eastern terminus at Basra.1 item (142 folios)
This part contains drafts and counter-drafts of the various agreements relating to the proposed construction of the Bagdad Railway [Baghdad Railway], comprising the following documents written in English, German and French:the Anglo-German Convention;an agreement between the Bagdad Railway Company and James Lyle Mackay, first Baron Inchcape;an agreement between the first Baron Inchcape and the Société Impériale Ottomane du Chemin de Fer de Bagdad;an agreement between the Ottoman Railway Company (the 'English Company') and the Anatolian Railway Company and Bagdad Railway Company (the 'German Companies').Folio 85 is a map, titled 'Sketch Map to Shew Approximately Railways and Railway Projects and Navigation Concessions in Asiatic Turkey', displaying the routes of existing and proposed railways and river navigation.The file also contains correspondence thereon between the India Office Political Department, the Foreign Office, the British Ambassador to Berlin (Sir William Edward Goschen), and the Imperial German Ambassador to London (Karl Max Fürst von Lichnowsky). The correspondence concerns the following: negotiations over the wording of the draft agreements; arrangements to limit competing lines between Konia [Konya] and Basra; the appointment of potential British Directors to represent shareholders on the Board of the Bagdad Railway Company; and disagreements between Deutsche Bank [the financiers] and Hakki Pasha over the area to be covered by the Smyrna-Aidin line. A number of India Office and Foreign Office minutes, providing details of meetings with German and Ottoman officials, are also found within the file.In addition, the file contains correspondence between the Foreign Office and the firm Boulton Brothers and Company, who enquired into the terms of the Bagdad Railway, with a view to participating as a financial backer.1 item (142 folios)
The volume contains drafts and counter-drafts of the Anglo-German Convention on the Bagdad Railway, plus agreements involving the Bagdad Railway Company, the Ottoman Railway Company, the Anatolian Railway Company, and the Ottoman Government. There is also correspondence regarding the negotiations, conducted between the following: the India Office Political Department; the Foreign Office; the British Ambassador to Berlin (Sir William Edward Goschen); the Imperial German Ambassador to London (Karl Max Fürst von Lichnowsky); the Councillor at the German Embassy (Richard von Kühlmann); and the Ottoman Finance Minister (Mehmed Cavid Bey).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. These are placed at the end of the correspondence.1 volume (285 folios)The papers are arranged in rough chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.The subject 4044 (Baghdad Railway Negotiations) consists of 1 volume, IOR/L/PS/10/415. The volume is divided into 2 parts.Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 287; 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 also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.