Abstract: The file contains correspondence regarding measures under consideration by the British government for preventing encroachments by Japanese and other foreign vessels on Arab pearl fisheries in the Persian Gulf.The correspondence is between: J P Gibson of the India Office, and T V Brennan and Lacy Baggallay of the Foreign Office; and Gibson and the Office of the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf. The file also includes a copy of a letter from Sir Trenchard Fowle, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, to the Secretary to the Government of India, External Affairs Department, Simla.Physical description: Foliation: the main 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. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 2-18; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
Abstract: This volume contains correspondence on the disposal of river craft in Mesopotamia, exchanged between 9 May and 20 December 1919, after the conclusion of the First World War. It contains material relating to:The centralisation of the disposal of all small miscellaneous craft in the Ministry of Shipping, and the constitution of a Small Craft Disposals Department headed by Major Le MesurierThe appointment of the Shipping Controller as the Agent of the Disposal Board, and that of Colonel J MacGregor to represent the Ministry of Shipping in Mesopotamia in this connectionThe completion of the railway between Basra (also written as Busrah in this volume) and Baghdad, the availability of ‘a major portion’ of the Mesopotamian military fleet for disposal, and the effective monopoly established by Lord Inchcape [James Mackay, 1st Earl of Inchcape] through his posts as the Government Director of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, and as sole Agent of the Standard Oil Company in the Persian Gulf and Mesopotamia, while also trading through the Mesopotamian-Persian Trading CorporationThe agreement between the Shipping Controller and the Minister of Munitions for the latter to assume responsibility for the disposal of the surplus of small craft in MesopotamiaThe Ministry of Shipping’s general policy to release all vessels on full requisition and arrange with shipping firms to carry troops and supplies at contract ratesThe information from the ‘leading Mahometan [Muslim] merchant’ in Baghdad that he proposes to ‘form a company representing local Mahometan, Jewish and Christian commercial interests’ to run steamers on the Tigris, and requests facilities to purchase suitable boats and bargesThe submission by the Euphrates and Tigris Steam Navigation Company for the return of SS
Khalifah, and the suggestion that ‘no tonnage should be hired to others until vessels have been hired to them to replace tonnage of which they have been deprived owing to military operations’The fleet of vessels on the rivers Tigris and Karun, controlled by the Euphrates and Tigris Steam Navigation Company Limited, before and after the outbreak of the First World WarThe complaint of Lord Inchcape to Sir Thomas Holderness, Permanent Under-Secretary of State for India, about the perceived opposition from the India Office to the commercial activities of Lynch Brothers and Company in MesopotamiaThe hostility of local Mesopotamian merchants towards the Mesopotamia-Persia Trading Corporation (formerly Lynch Brothers and Company) and its commercial monopolyThe suggestion from Lord Inverforth [Andrew Weir, 1st Baron Inverforth], Minister of Munitions, to Lord Inchcape to purchase the Mesopotamian FleetThe suggestion by the former Minister of Munitions, Winston Churchill, of a conference between the Ministry of Munitions and the India Office for the disposal of small craft in MesopotamiaThe schemes outlined by Colonel W R Dockrill on how to commercialise the transportation of supplies, materiel and personnel for the Mesopotamian Army of OccupationThe involvement of the Mesopotamian Feet in supplying the Army of Occupation at Kut [Al-Kut], and transporting coal and oil fuel stores to Baghdad from Basrah [Basra]A possible meeting between Lord Inverforth, an India Office representative and the Director of MovementsThe offer made by Strick, Scott and Company to purchase steamers, barges, tugs, and oil tanks for the transportation and storage of oil in MesopotamiaThe Anglo-Persian Oil Company’s interest in the Government’s oil fleet and installations in Mesopotamia, and information on the numbers, location and capacity of the vesselsThe offer of Bird and Company, Calcutta [Kolkata], to purchase the motor launch
StrathnaverA request from the Anglo-Persian Oil Company to the Under-Secretary of State for India for barges and tugs to transport oil from Abadan to the vilayets of Baghdad and BasraThe agreement between the War Office, India Office and Foreign Office for the sale of the whole surplus of the Mesopotamian Fleet, including the portion already returned to India.The volume also includes a ‘General Statement on Mesopotamian Craft’, listing the different types of vessels, including hospital craft, tugs and steamers, and barges, up to 8 November 1919; ‘Minutes of an Inter-Departmental Meeting held at the India Office on Monday, 27 October 1919, to consider Colonel [Arnold Talbot] Wilson’s proposal regarding the disposal of the fleets and barges in Mesopotamia’ (ff 83-88); ‘A Memorandum by Sir Thomas Holderness [Permanent Under-Secretary of State for India] on the Disposal of the Mesopotamian Fleet’ (ff 113-116); ‘A Brief Report [by Major H G Chesney, Assistant Political Officer] on the Proceedings of the Meeting [of local merchants] called for [in Basra] on Friday, 18 July 1919’ (ff 129-132); and the record of an inter-departmental conference held at the India Office to discuss the question of the disposal of surplus rivercraft in Mesopotamia (f 185).Physical description: Foliation: The foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 275; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: This volume consists of two parts: Part 11 (IOR/L/PS/10/663/1) contains papers relating to the future administration of the lighting and buoying service in the Persian Gulf; Part 12 (IOR/L/PS/10/663/2) consists of papers relating to the provision of a despatch vessel for the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf.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 inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 558; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: This volume is composed of interdepartmental correspondence relating to the future administration of the lighting and buoying service in the Persian Gulf.The correspondence discusses the possibility of control of buoying and lighting in the Persian Gulf being transferred to the Government of Persia. At this time the service was being maintained by the Royal Indian Marine, with its financing being shared between the British Imperial Government (specifically the Foreign Office) and the Government of India. The correspondence includes the point of view of the Government of India on the suggestion that the Shatt-Al-Arab Conservancy board should also be responsible for lighting and buoying along the Gulf coast. Furthermore, it discusses the major point to be settled in the present negotiations with Persia during 1928-30, which is the international boundary in the Shatt-el-Arab, as defined in the Treaty of Erzurum of 1847, and the Persia-Turkish Frontier Delimitation Agreement of 1913. The correspondence then moves on to cover the organisation and discussion of the tripartite conference taking place in Iraq regarding the future administration of the lighting and buoying service on the coast of the Persian Gulf, with the participating countries being Iraq, Persia and Great Britain (with India).Notable correspondents include the following: the Viceroy of India; the Political Residency in the Persian Gulf; the High Commissioner Iraq; the Director of the Royal Indian Marine; officials of the India Office, the Foreign Office, the Admiralty, the Treasury, and the Government of India's Marine Department; the Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf; the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Navy, East India Section; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Iraq; the Government of Iraq; the Council of Ministers, Iraq; the Port Directorate in Basra.In addition to correspondence, the volume contains the following: minutes of an interdepartmental conference held at the India Office in 1931 (ff 26-28), copies of an India Office memorandum entitled 'Memorandum on the Lighting and Buoyage of the Persian Gulf', dated 1931 (ff 62-64).The volume includes a divider which gives the subject 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 inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 340; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The volume has one foliation anomaly, f 89a.
Abstract: The volume contains monthly news summaries compiled by the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire. These were widely distributed to British ministers, senior officials and military officers in London, India and the Middle East.The copies of the news summaries in this volume were received by the India Office from the Colonial Office. The summaries are also referred to variously as the Persian Gulf news summaries, the Persian Gulf intelligence summaries and the Arab States monthly summaries.This volume contains fifty-six summaries. It begins with No. 1 of 1926, entitled
Summary of news from the Arab States for January 1926, dated 6 February 1926, and ends with No. 12 of 1930, entitled
Summary of the news from the Arab States for the month of December 1930, dated 25 January 1931.The news summaries use standard subject headings to report the latest developments in the Gulf region, starting with the movements of British officials and non-officials, Arab rulers and notables, followed by the movements of foreigners and the interests of foreign powers in the region. Other subjects regularly reported include aviation and the health of the Arab ports. These topics are followed by country profiles for Bahrein [Bahrain], Kuwait, Qatar, the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, the shaikhdoms of Trucial Oman and Bin Saud’s (popularly known as Ibn Saud) kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd.The country profiles report on the activities of rulers and tribes, foreign relations, local government, education, transport and communications, trade and commerce with particular emphasis on pearling and oil concessions, crime, riots and military expeditions.The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence (f 4).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 448; 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.
Abstract: Political Department Reports regarding Pelly's concerns over the conduct of Assistant Surgeon Dr William Henry Colvill.Colvill is accused of having assumed unauthorised responsibility for Pelly's duties during his absence in England and for giving secret and personal information to the Royal Geographical Society regarding Pelly's trip to Riyadh.Physical description: FoliationThe contents of this file have been foliated in the front top right corner of each folio with a pencil number enclosed in a circle.
Abstract: The fair copy of the diary is not complete and only covers the entries for 18-21st, 24th and 26th-27th February.The entries for each day give the distances travelled, how long each stage took, longitude & latitude co-ordinates for their destination each day, comments on the availability of water, descriptions of the landscapes, observations on people and tribes encountered on route and some rough estimations of the number of pilgrims that travel there from Busreh [Basra], Kowait [Kuwait], Lahsa and DamascusSee F126/57 for the complete journal containing more detailed descriptions for each day's entry.Physical description: Foliation: The file has been foliated in the top right fron corner of each folio with a number in pencil enclosed in a circle
Abstract: A copy of a letter from Henry Willock, HM Chargé d’Affaires in Persia [Iran], to Joseph Dart, Secretary to the Court of Directors of the East India Company, sent from Tabriz and dated 6 August 1820.The letter forwards Willock’s communications with the Supreme Government of India (IOR/L/PS/9/69/43), discusses a British offer of mediation to make Bahrein [Bahrain] tributary to Persia, and reports the occupation of Anjar [Hengām] island by British troops.Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)
Abstract: Copy of Dispatch No. 31 from HM Chargé d’Affaires to Persia [Iran], Henry Willock, in Tehran, to HM Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Viscount Castlereagh, of 26 December 1819. The letter concerns the British expedition to the Persian Gulph [Persian Gulf] against the Juwasemees [al-Qāsimī] at Ras-il-Khyma [Ra's al-Khaymah] and others accused of engaging in piracy by the British. The letter details the representations of the Governor of Bombay [Mumbai], Sir Evan Nepean, to the Prince of Shiraz, Hussein Ali Mirza [Husayn Ali Mirza Firmanfima], and Willock’s representations to the Court of the Shah of Persia, concerning the prospect of offensive operations against ports on the Persian coast also accused of piracy. The letter originally enclosed four letters:Copy of a letter from the Governor of Bombay, Sir Evan Nepean, to Willock, of 9 October 1819, enclosing two additional letters (not included this item, see IOR/L/PS/9/68/210, 211 and 213)Minutes of a meeting between Willock and Ministers of the Court of the Shah (not included in this item, see IOR/L/PS/9/68/212)Copy of an official note from Willock to the Persian Ministers (not included in this item, see IOR/L/PS/9/68/214)Copy of a letter from Willock to Major General Sir William Grant Keir (not included in this item, see IOR/L/PS/9/68/215).The letter was enclosed in Willock’s letter to the Secret Committee of the East India Company of 26 December 1819 (see IOR/L/PS/9/68/208), which was received on 20 April 1820.Physical description: 1 item (9 folios)
Abstract: Correspondence regarding accusations that Dr Colvill assumed Pelly's duties and pursued lines of policy without Pelly's permission to do so, and corresponded with government under these assumptions without producing proof of his right to do so.The letter gives details of Pelly's previous experiences of permitting Dr Colvill to undertake Pelly's duties during periods of absence, highlighting the problems caused during these absences and his reasons for naming his uncovenanted assistant alongside Dr Colvill during his most recent absence in an attempt to mitigate potential problems.A true copy of Pelly's letter to Colvill regarding his name having been put forward to act for him during his absence is also enclosed with the letter.Physical description: 5 folios
Abstract: This part of the volume consists of a copy of an enclosure to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 131 of 1842, dated 1 November 1842. The enclosure is numbered 1 and is dated 31 October 1842. There is no abstract of contents.The enclosure consists of a letter from the Superintendent of the Indian Navy, Captain Robert Oliver, to the President and Governor in Council, Bombay, Sir George Arthur. The letter reports the arrival at Bombay [Mumbai] from the Persian Gulf of the Honourable Company’s steam frigate
Semiramis, with the iron steam vessels
Euphrates,
Assyriaand
Nimrodin tow, and encloses a copy of the report of the proceedings of the Commander of the
Semiramis.There is a note on folio 332A, dated 22 October 1906, stating that enclosures to Bombay Secret Letter No. 130, dated 1 November 1842, are missing.Physical description: 1 item (4 folios)
Abstract: Journal of the East India Company ships
Mary, Hartand
Hopewellby Peter Andrews, covering a voyage from Cape Bona Esperance [Cape of Good Hope, also written in the journal as Cape Bone Sperance] to Surratt [Surat] and back to England between 20 July 1627 and 12 January 1629 [New Style date 12 January 1630] (Captain Malim,
Hopewell; Captain John Hall,
Mary, Captains Bartholomew Goodall and Richard Swanley,
Hart).Peter Andrews changed ship twice during this voyage: he was on board the
Marybetween 20 July 1627 and 5 July 1628 (folios 11-28), the
Hartbetween 6 July 1628 and 7 October 1629 (folios 28-44) and the
Hopewellbetween 9 October 1629 and 12 January 1630 (folios 44-47). The journal consists of mostly daily entries of information on the following: navigation; winds; weather; contact with other East India Company ships, contact with Portuguese ffriggatt [frigates] and ships; descriptions of the coasts seen during the ships' course; commodities carried; and other observations.The dates of the entries (where indicated) are in the Old Style (i.e. the Julian calendar).Inscription: 'A journal kept by me Peter Andrewes m[as]ters maite off the Mairy and then m[as]ter off the Hart till the discease off Capt: Andrew Eyers and then by consultation m[as]ter off the Hopewell ffrom the Island of S Hellena to England' (folio 10); 'By me Peter Andrew m[as]ter off the Hopewell
'(folio 47).The ship's route includes the following destinations (dates given are approximately those of arrival): Cape Bona Esperance, July 1627 (folio 11); Mohillia [Moheli], 10 September 1627 (folio 15); Daman, 27 November 1627 (folio 19); Swally [Suvali], 13 January 1627 [New Style date 13 January 1628] (folio 20); Surratt, 18 January (folio 20); Dabull [Dabhol], 28 January (folio 20); Gundevee [Gandavi], January (folio 20); Surratt, February (folio 22); Goa, April 1628 (folio 23); Cocheene [Kochi], 15 April 1628 (folio 24); Mauritius, 30 May 1628 (folio 28); Augusteene Baye [Saint Augustine Bay], 5 July 1628 (folio 28); Mossanbique [Mozambique], 21 July 1628 (folio 29); Mohillia, 20 August 1628 (folio 30); Persia, January 1628 [New Style date January 1629] (folio 34); Mauritius, 26 July 1629; St Hellena [Saint Helena], October 1629 (folio 44); Plimoth [Plymouth], 18 December 1629; the Downs, 10 January 1629 [New Style date 10 January 1630].Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 87; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The volume includes a sequence of blank pages, ff 48-85, which have not been digitised.Pagination: the file also contains an original pagination sequence.