Abstract: The volume discusses the ongoing negotiations in Constantinople between the Ottoman, British and Russian Governments through 1912 and 1913 regarding the Turco-Persian Frontier. Also discussed is the decision in July 1913 to establish a delimitation commission to which Albert Charles Wratislaw and Arnold Talbot Wilson are appointed as representatives of the British Government.Also discussed in the volume is the region of Kermanshah and in particular Qasr-i-Shirin [Qaşr-e Shīrīn], along with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company's concerns over the rights accorded to them in their 1901 concession should some of that territory be ceded to Turkey.Further discussion relates to the movements of Russian and Turkish troops near the frontier and the withdrawal of Turkish troops from certain places along the frontier.This volume is part two of two. 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 commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 334; 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. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
Abstract: The file comprises correspondence, memoranda, maps, and other papers relating to questions over the position of Saudi Arabia’s south-eastern frontier adjoining Qatar and the Trucial Coast shaikhdoms, notably Abu Dhabi. Negotiations over the frontier had long been deferred by British Government officials, as a result of the Ruler of Saudi Arabia ‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd’s [Ibn Saud] firm stance in negotiations before the Second World War. However, the need for a resolution became increasingly apparent as a result of ongoing oil exploration in Saudi Arabia by the Arabian American Oil Company (Aramco), and exploration in Qatar and Abu Dhabi by Petroleum Concessions Limited (PCL). The principal correspondents in the file include: representatives of the India Office, Foreign Office, Ministry of Fuel and Power; the British Legation at Jedda; the Political Agent at Bahrain; and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf.The file includes:correspondence, dating from 1944 and 1945, between British Government officials in the Persian Gulf, India Office and Foreign Office, discussing the previous difficulties encountered in negotiating Saudi Arabia’s south-eastern frontiers with Ibn Saud, and the agreement that further negotiations be left until after the event of Ibn Saud’s death (ff 2-29);correspondence from late 1945 through 1947, between Government officials on the possible establishment of a neutral zone between Aramco’s concession area in Saudi Arabia, and PCL’s concession area in Qatar. Also, there is some discussion of Aramco’s proposals to begin seabed exploration off the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia (ff 36-59);PCL’s request for permission to conduct seismic surveys at the southernmost limit of their concession area in Qatar (ff 76-95);reports of Aramco survey parties making incursions into PCL’s concession areas in Qatar and Abu Dhabi (ff 104-127);Government criticism of PCL’s delay in exploiting its concession areas in Qatar and Abu Dhabi (f 133);preparations in August 1949 for the reopening of frontier negotiations with the Saudi Government in Jedda. Papers include: a copy of a confidential memorandum with map, dated 2 February 1948, on the south-eastern frontier of Saudi Arabia, prepared by J E Cable of the Eastern Department of the Foreign Office (ff 164-169; copy also at ff 87-91); three further confidential memoranda with maps, prepared by the Eastern Department in 1940, outlining past and present negotiations on the position of the south-eastern frontiers of Saudi Arabia (ff 170-180, ff 181-185, ff 186-188); proposals to send representatives from Qatar and Abu Dhabi to the Jedda negotiations (ff 190-203).Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover and terminates at the inside back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. This file has the following foliation anomaly: 111A. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 4-203; these numbers are also written in pencil, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence, but they are not circled. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
Abstract: The file contains correspondence between the Political
Resident in the Persian Gulf (William Rupert Hay); the Political Agent at Kuwait (Gordon
Noel Jackson, Maurice O’Connor Tandy); the India Office (later the Commonwealth
Relations Office, Eion Pelly Donaldson, Adrian Harbottle Reed, Ralph Ingham Hallows);
the Foreign Office (Lancelot Frank Lee Pyman); the Ministry of Fuel and Power (William
Dunmore Monsell-Davies); His Majesty’s Minister at Jedda (Alan Charles Trott); the
Shaikh of Kuwait (Shaikh Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ) and various oil companies in relation
to the auction process instituted by the Shaikh of Kuwait for his share in the
Kuwait-Saudi Arabia Neutral Zone oil concession.The companies which expressed an interest in bidding for the
Kuwait neutral zone concession included Petroleum Concessions Limited, the Burmah Oil
Company, the Eastern Gulf Company, the Amerada Petroleum Company, the American
Independent Petroleum Corporation, the Superior Oil Company of California and the
Canadian Eagle Oil Company. However owing to the Shaikh's requirement that
financial backing and resources to undertake exploitation of an oil concession are
proven by each potential bidder only four companies were permitted to continue and
submit final bids on 1 June 1948 – Petroleum Concessions Limited, the Burmah Oil
Company, the Eastern Gulf Company and the American Independent Petroleum
Corporation.Other matters discussed in the file include:the question of the political agreement between His
Majesty’s Government and successful Oil Company and discussing whether such an
agreement could be made with an American Company and also what changes and special
requirements would have to be made owing to the concession only being for the Shaikh
of Kuwait’s share of the neutral zone.a visit paid by the Shaikh of Kuwait to Ibn Saud (‘Abd
al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd)and the question of whether or not
the neutral zone was discussed by them.debate around the possibility of a geographic division
of the neutral zone in order to make administration of the zone easier, and the
conclusion that negotiations for such a division could take years and would not
perhaps be in the best interests of the Oil Companies exploiting an oil concession
there.a hydrographic survey of the coast-line of the neutral
zone to locate a suitable landing site for heavy equipment.a new air service instituted by Iraq Airways in 1947
that would fly from Basra to Kuwait and Bahrain.A series of file notes which were maintained as a record of
the correspondence in the volume can be found at folios 272-299.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for
referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the back cover with
302; 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 2-99 and ff 113-300; these numbers are also written in pencil,
but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.
Abstract: The volume contains correspondence between the Political Agent at Bahrain and the Political Resident at Bushire, the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC) representatives and the India Office in London, regarding the political situation in Qatar, the southern boundary of Qatar and the Oil Concession.The volume also contains 'Note on conversation on 15 December 1933 with Mr G.W. Rendel, Foreign Office, on future policy in regard to Qatar.' (folios 68-78), draft 'Qatar Concession', 11 December 1933 (folios 102-110) and 'Mr. Williamson's Political Note on Qatar', with genealogical tree of the Al Thani family, 15 January 1934 (folios 125-135).There are two maps within the volume: a blueprint on folio 148, 'Geological Sketch Map of Qatar Peninsula', produced during a geological survey of Qatar, showing villages, deserted buildings, water wells, roads and routes and a 'Sketch Map of Qatar Peninsula' (folio 285).Physical description: The foliation is written in pencil and can be found in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The numbering begins on the title page with 1;1A; 1B and ends on the inside of the back cover, on number 308. There is another foliation sequence, which is incomplete.
Abstract: The volume contains correspondence between the Political Agent at Bahrain and the Political Resident at Bushire, the India Office in London, the Shaikh of Qatar, ‘Abdullāh bin Jāsim Āl Thānī, and the Foreign Office in regard to the southern borders of Qatar, the Qatar oil concession and the relations of the Shaikhdom with ‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd (Ibn Sa‘ūd), King of Saudi Arabia. There is also correspondence regarding an air reconnaissance of Qatar to be carried out via RAF flying boats, which took place on 9 May 1934, including reports of the reconnaissance (folios 147-154).Some of the documents in the volume are marked as secret or confidential.Physical description: The main foliation is written in pencil, circled, and can be found in the top right corner of the recto of each folio.The numbering begins on the title page, on number 1, and ends on the inside of the back cover, on number 207.There is another foliation sequence, incomplete.
Abstract: Papers concerning relations between Saudi Arabia and Iraq, and proposals in 1940 to fix the Saudi-Iraq border, including:The British Minister in Saudi Arabia Reader Bullard’s views, dated 27 April 1939, on Saudi Arabia’s status in the event of war, including any risks posed towards the country by Italy or Iraq (ff 3-4).A copy of an agreement defining the procedure to be followed by the Commission appointed to demarcate the frontier between Iraq and Arab-Saudiya [Saudi Arabia], dated 1940 (ff 10-12), and an explanatory note on certain articles in the draft Iraqi-Saudiya Frontier Demarcation Agreement (ff 13-14).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 20; these numbers are written in pencil, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The volume primarily consists of correspondence between the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Trenchard Craven Fowle, Percy Gordon Loch); Political Agent at Bahrain (Tom Hickinbotham); the Residency Agent at Sharjah (Khan Sahib Abd ‘al-Razzaq) the India Office (John Charles Walton, Maurice Clauson) and Petroleum Concessions Limited (Frank Holmes, Basil Henry Lermitte, Stephen Hemsley Longrigg, Frederick Lewisohn); the main subject of discussion is the negotiations between the Shaikh Sultan bin Saqar [Sulṭān bin Saqr Āl Qasimī], Ruler of Sharjah and Major Frank Holmes, negotiator for Petroleum Concessions Limited.The correspondence discusses the negotiations for a commercial concession in Sharjah, which are concluded in the beginning of July 1937 with the Shaikh agreeing to sign the concession; and his subsequent concern over the Political Agreement and Exchange of Notes relating to the concession agreement.Also discussed in connection with concession agreements is a letter drafted by the India Office which contained an ultimatum to be used should any Shaikh appear to be holding out in negotiations with Petroleum Concessions Limited (PCL) with the intention of opening negotiations instead with the Standard Oil Company of California. The ultimatum stated that should the Shaikh in question not wish to give his concession to PCL, he would not be permitted to negotiate with or grant a concession to, any other company. The ultimatum was issued to the Shaikh’s of Sharjah, Ras al Khaimah and Umm al Qaiwain.Further correspondence relates to PCL’s interest in exploring the territory west of the Oman mountain range and the subsequent discussion regarding which rulers claimed responsibility over the territory, whether they had actual authority there or whether it was in the hands of local shaikhs, and how PCL should approach exploring there in those circumstances.The correspondence includes a detailed assessment by the Political Agent at Bahrain, Tom Hickinbotham, of the areas in question and outlines what he knows of the areas of the tribes that claimed ownership including the Beni Kitab [Beni Qitab] (also given as Beni Chittab); Naim [Āl Na‘īm], Bu Shamis [Āl Bū Shāmis] and Duroor [Al-Durur] as well as outlining where he believed the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi and Sultan of Muscat’s areas of authority to be. The correspondence concludes by recommending that the Company be persuaded to delay their explorations into this territory until the following year in order to permit the Political Agent and Residency Agent to spend the winter visiting and exploring these areas in order to ascertain a more accurate knowledge of the situation.Other matters discussed in the volume include:an invitation from the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi to Petroleum Concessions Limited to open concession negotiations with him and the company’s wish for Khan Sahib Yusuf Kanoo to accompany their negotiator (Basil Henry Lermitte) to Abu Dhabi;copy of the Debai [Dubai] Commercial agreement (folios 53-70) signed by Major Frank Holmes (PCL), Tom Hickinbotham (Political Agent at Bahrain) and Shaikh Saʻīd bin Maktūm Āl Maktūm (Shaikh of Dubai).the Political Agreement for the Trucial states which both the India Office and Petroleum Concessions Limited wished to amend, and subsequent negotiations to achieve this. A copy of the redrafted agreement can be found at folios 103-109.a visit by Frank Holmes to the Shaikh of Ras al Khaimah (Shaikh Sulṭān bin Sālim Āl Qasimī) for the purpose of opening concession negotiations, which was unsuccessful, and concerns that the Shaikh would attempt to negotiate with the Standard Oil Company despite being informed by the British Government that such negotiations would not be permitted.Petroleum Concessions Limited’s intention to employ Haji ‘Abdullah Williamson to work for them in the Persian Gulf as his employment with the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company had ended and their concern that they would not be able to do so owing to the circular issued by the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf preventing Williamson from visiting the Arab Coast. Also included is discussion of the decision by the India Office and Political Resident in the Persian Gulf to make the company aware of the evidence they had in support of Williamson’s actions on the Trucial Coast in which he was seen to be working against the interest of his employers (PCL) and of the Shaikh of Dubai.Correspondence with the Trucial Coast Shaikhs is in English and Arabic; letters from the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company contain Persian and English letterheads.A series of file notes which were maintained as a record of the correspondence in the volume can be found at folios 191-196.Physical description: Foliation: The main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover, and terminates at the inside back cover; 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 5-190; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
Abstract: The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, and notes, relating to the demarcation of the boundary between Koweit [Kuwait] and Qatif region [Al-Qaṭīf] in the period 1905-1914. Places discussed include: Ras Mishab [Mishʻāb, Ra's al-], Musallamiya [Musallamiya Island], Odeid, Wahran, Hafar [Hafar Al Batin], and Umm Kasr [Umm Qaṣr].The discussion in the volume relates to the places which could demarcate the boundary and the allegiance and authority which the Ruler of Kuwait held in these places. Also included (folio 33) in the volume is a copy of the 'Draft Agreement Between the British Government and Shaikh Abdullah bin Thani, Shaikh of Qatar.'The principal correspondents in the volume include: the Political Agent at Kuwait, Stuart George Knox; the Political Agent at Bahrain, Francis Beville Prideaux; the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Percy Zachariah Cox; the Secretary of India in the Foreign Department, Simla, Sir Hugh McMahon.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 38; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Additional foliation sequences are present in parallel between ff 3-8 and ff 2-37; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
Abstract: The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, and notes relating to ownership of Bubiyan Island [Jazīrat Būbiyān] and Warba Island [Jazīrat Warbah]. The discussion in the volume relates to:a military post on Bubiyan Island;proposal to include right of pre-emption of Warba in 1907 Agreement;evidence of Kuwaiti ownership of Warba and Bubiyan. The evidence was acquired by conducting a survey (ff 26-45) with various questions.Principal correspondents include: the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Percy Zachariah Cox; the Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department; First Assistant Resident, Bushire; the Secretary of State for India; the Viceroy, Simla; the Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 46; 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 16-28; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. A previous foliation sequence, which is present between ff 4-436 and is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.Pagination: the volume also contains a hand written pagination sequence.
Abstract: Correspondence between the Political Agent at Kuwait (Gordon Noel Jackson), the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Lieutenant-Colonel William Rupert Hay), and other British Government officials, concerning the status of Gurain [Al Qurayn], located in the neutral zone between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Queries relating to a need to fix the boundary between the two countries were prompted by the Kuwait Oil Company’s plans to explore the area around Gurain.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 24; 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 2-23; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
Abstract: The map sheet is one of four maps, numbered 1 to 4, included in IOR/L/PS/20/C204. In the body of the report it is entitled ‘Mosul Area’.It shows the boundaries of northern Iraq, centred on the area around the city of Mosul, and including the western border of Persia [Iran], southern border of Turkey, and eastern border of Syria. The double dotted line shows the boundary between Iraq and Syria; the dashed line shows the boundary between Turkey and Syria; the single dotted line shows the boundary between Iraq and Persia; and the thick black line shows the ‘Brussels Boundary’, the border between Iraq and Turkey agreed under League of Nations supervision by the Turkish, Iraqi, and British governments.The map portrays: the course of rivers, including islands located in the rivers; key geological landmarks such as passes; roads; and tracks.Imprint ‘Drawn and Printed at the War Office April, 1927’.Physical description: Materials: printed on paperDimensions: 631 x 450mm, on sheet 680 x 531mm
Abstract: This item consists of copies of correspondence, minutes, and consultations cited in, or enclosed with, political letters from the Government of Bombay. These political letters appear in IOR/F/4/2416/130506. It is the sixth in a series of twenty-eight items on the Persian Gulf.The correspondents are: the Government of Bombay; the Government of India; Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Hennell, Resident in the Persian Gulf; Commodore John Patterson Porter, Commanding the Indian Naval Squadron, Persian Gulf; and Lieutenant-Colonel William Fenwick Williams, HM Commissioner for settling the boundaries between Turkey [Ottoman Empire] and Persia [Iran].The item concerns Lieutenant-Colonel Williams’s request for HC Ship
Cliveto remain for an extended period at Mohumrah [Khorramshahr, also rendered as Mahumrah and Mahumerah in the item], and Hennell’s decision to despatch HC brig
Euphratesto Mohumrah to replace the
Clive.The item contains a table of contents (f 499), and the title page (f 498) contains the following references: ‘Dft. No. 424 of 1851’, Collection No. 1, Vol. 6’, and ‘Examiner’s Office’.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with f 498 and terminates at f 504, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the bottom right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: the item also contains an original pagination sequence.