Abstract: The first part of the file (folios 1 to 2) consists of a chronological table of 'principal events' which took place in Afghanistan, Burma, China, Turkestan, and Persia between June 1885 and December 1887. Each entry includes a brief description and the date. In addition, it also indicates who was the Secretary of State for India and who was the Viceroy of India during the event in question. This list is dated 1 January 1888.The second part of the file (folios 3 to 5) consists of a copy of letter from Sir Arthur Hirtzel to Mr Parker dated 26 February 1913. It concerns a compromise that might be reached with the Ottoman Empire over the status of Koweit [Kuwait]. It also includes copies of the following enclosures:1. a proposed statement defining the territorial limits to which the British will guarantee the autonomy of the Sheikh of Koweit;2. extract of a letter from Major Stuart George Knox, Political Agent, Kuwait, dated 23 May 1908. It concerns the suzerainty of Anta'a;3. extracts from Major Knox's report on his trip to Anta'a, which claims that the local population views the Sheikh of Koweit as their legitimate ruler;4. extract of a letter from Captain William Henry Irvine Shakespear, Political Agent, Koweit, dated 23 March 1910. It conveys some of his opinions concerning the territorial extent of Koweit;5. extract from Captain Shakespear's diary dated 25 February 1910.Also included in the second part is a map (folio 4) showing the limits of Koweit and adjacent territory, which includes south eastern Iraq, south western Persia, and a significant part of the Persian Gulf.Physical description: Foliation: the 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.Pagination: the file consists of two parts and each has an original printed pagination sequence.
Abstract: This printed memorandum is a report by Colonel Robert Edward Hamilton, Political Agent at Kuwait, received through the Arab Bureau, Iraq Section, concerning ‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd. The report, based on conversations the author had in Riyadh in November 1917, is split into five sections concerning Ibn Sa‘ūd's title, his relations with the tribes (including the Ajman), the question of the capture of Hail [Ḥā’il], his attitude towards King Husain [Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī], King of the Hijaz, and Ibn Sa‘ūd's desiderata.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation for this description commences at folio 72, and terminates at folio 74, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between folios 11-158; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence.
Abstract: Fortnightly reports (as opposed to weekly reports, as stated on its cover) from the Political Agency in Kuwait. The reports are signed by the Political Agent (Major James Carmichael More; Major Cyril Charles Johnson Barrett; Lieutenant-Colonel Harold Richard Patrick Dickson), or, in his absence, the Agency’s head clerk. The reports, which are broadly consistent in their content and arrangement from one fortnight to the next, contain information on:the arrival and departure of steamships and aircraft;British interests, such as the movements of the Political Agent, activities of Eastern & General Syndicate Limited in Kuwait, including the drilling of water wells, Royal Air Force (RAF) activity;foreign interests, reporting the activities and movements of foreigners at Kuwait, including doctors and other representatives of the American Mission;local interests, including the activities of the Ruler of Kuwait (Shaikh Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ), activity and success of the pearling season, locust plagues (sometimes referred to as ‘dibbas’), establishment of the municipality of Kuwait, and municipal works;paper currency and rates of exchange;meteorological data (maximum temperatures during summer, rainfall during winter);rates of exchange for various commodities in the bazaars.Frequently coming under the headings of foreign interests or desert news, are reports of disturbances, raids, and clashes around Kuwait’s borders with Nejd and Iraq, between Bedouin tribes and families associated with the Ikhwan (also spelt Akhwan in the file), and those allied to the King of Nejd [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd, referred to throughout the file as Ibn Sa’ud]. These include intelligence reports, received by the Political Agency, on the following events:the movements and activities of Faisal ad-Dawish [Fayṣal al-Duwaysh];in January 1928, the bombing of raiders by the RAF (ff 107-108);in late 1928, a conference between Ikhwan leaders and Ibn Sa’ud, which took place in Riyadh;on 29 March 1929, a battle at Sibilah [Az Zulfi], between forces allied to Ibn Sa’ud and the Ikhwan (f 189);on 5 October 1929, a battle between the Ikhwan and the Awazim [Al-Awazem] tribe (ff 244-246;in January 1930, meetings between Ibn Sa’ud, the Political Resident (Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Vincent Biscoe) and Ikhwan leaders, and the surrender of Ikhwan leaders, including Faisal ad-Dawish (ff 268-273);in February 1930, Ibn Sa’ud’s conference with King Faisul [Fayṣal al-Awwal ibn al-Ḥusayn ibn ‘Alī al-Hāshimī] of Iraq (ff 286-287).Physical description: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 383; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 3-382; these numbers are also written in pencil, are circled, but have been struck through. A third foliation system is also present in parallel between ff 4-187; these numbers are written in a combination of coloured crayon and pencil, but are not circled.
Abstract: The file contains a report of a visit of Tom Hickinbotham, Political Agent at Kuwait, to Riyadh, occurred between 24 and 27 May 1942. The report is forwarded by the Political Residency at Bushire to the Secretary of State for India.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 19; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: Part 7 primarily concerns relations between Bin Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] and King Hussein of Hedjaz [Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī, King of Hejaz].It includes discussion as to whether Britain should provide Bin Saud with military assistance to enable him to take decisive action against Bin Rashid (also referred to as Ibn Rashid) [Saʿūd bin ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz Āl Rashīd, Emir of Ha'il]. The policy advocated by the Government of India is that Bin Saud should be 'kept in play' by gifts of money but that arms and military instructors should be supplied sparingly. Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Zachariah Cox and Harry St John Bridger Philby, on the other hand, favour an offensive against Hail [Ha'il] by Bin Saud, with British assistance. Also included are the following:a memorandum from the War Cabinet's Middle East Committee, on the position of Bin Rashid in relation to other Arab rulers;a note entitled 'Relations With Ibn Sa'ud', prepared by the Arab Bureau's Irak [Iraq] section, which provides a British perspective on Britain's relations with Bin Saud from 1899 onwards;notes on conversations held between Colonel Cyril Edward Wilson and Major Kinahan Cornwallis of the Arab Bureau, and Emir Abdulla [ʿAbdullāh bin al-Ḥusayn], son of King Hussein, during December 1917;a copy of a report by David George Hogarth on his interviews with King Hussein at Jeddah;a memorandum from the Political Agent at Kuwait, Colonel Robert Edward Archibald Hamilton, which is primarily concerned with relations between Kuwait and Riyadh;notes by Hamilton on Bin Saud, based on conversations with the latter at Riyadh in November 1917;correspondence between British officials regarding King Hussein's attempt to reoccupy Khurma and its impact on his relations with Bin Saud.This item features the following principal correspondents:Viceroy of India [Frederic John Napier Thesiger];Secretary to the India Office's Political Department (John Evelyn Shuckburgh);High Commissioner, Egypt (General Sir Francis Reginald Wingate);War Office;Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Zachariah Cox;Secretary of State for India [Edwin Samuel Montagu];Foreign Office;King Hussein;Bin Saud.Physical description: 1 item (206 folios)