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1. Persian Gulf Affairs
- Description:
- Abstract: This item consists of a despatch to the Secret Committee, 18 July 1839, from John Pollard Willoughby, Secretary to the Government, Bombay [Mumbai], containing a series of numbered enclosures. The despatch itself (not included) is numbered 1 and is followed by an abstract of contents, numbered 2. This is followed by despatches, numbered 3-8, from Captain Samuel Hennell, Political Resident, Persian Gulf, to Willoughby, with relevant enclosures.The papers chiefly relate to Hennell’s efforts to check the perceived extension of Egyptian influence on the Arabian coast of the Persian Gulf, particularly in the province of Oman, and to bring about the expulsion from Shargah [Sharjah] of Sued bin Mooktluk [Sa‘d bin Mutlaq al-Muṭayrī], the self-professed agent of Khorshid Pasha [Khūrshid Pasha], Commander of the Egyptian Forces in Nedgd [Najd, also known as Nejd].The majority of the item comprises Hennell’s report of his tour of the Arabian coast, in the Hugh Lindsay, providing details of his meetings with: Shaik Abdoollah bin Ahmed [Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Aḥmad Āl Khalīfah], Chief of Bahrein; [Bahrain] Shaik Kuleefa bin Shakboot [Shaikh Khalīfah bin Shakhbut Āl Nahyān] Chief of Aboothabee [Abu Dhabi], Chief of the Beniyas [Bani Yas]; Shaik Mukhtoom [Maktūm I bin Buṭṭī bin Suhayl Āl Maktūm] of Debaye [Dubai]; Abdoollah bin Rushid [Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Rāshid al-Mu’allā], Shaik of Amulgavin [Umm al-Qaywayn]; and Shaik Sultan bin Suggur [Shaikh Sulṭān I bin Ṣaqr al-Qāsimī], Chief of Rasel Khymah [Ra’s al-Khaymah, also spelled Rusil and Rasil Khymah in this item], Chief of the Joasmees [al-Qawāsim]. He also reports his communications with the chiefs of the Naeem [al-Na‘īm] tribe regarding their opposition to Sued bin Mootluk’s plans to capture the fort of Brymee [Al Buraymi].Hennell’s disussions with the Arab Maritime Chiefs cover: the reasons behind the Chief of Bahrein’s agreement recognising the superiority of Mahomed Ally [Muḥammad ‘Alī Pasha al-Mas‘ūd bin Āghā] Governor of Egypt; the extent of the communications of the chiefs with Sued bin Mootluk; on-going conflicts between the chiefs and their mutual accusations of collusion with bin Mootluk; Hennell’s extraction from the chiefs of declarations of loyalty to the British Government and opposition to the ‘aggressions’ of Khorshid Pasha and Mahomed Ally (copies enclosed with the report); the supply of ammunition and provisions to the chiefs of Brymee and promise to post a British Agent there; pressure on Sultan bin Suggur to effect the expulsion of Sued bin Mootluk from Shargah [Sharjah]. Hennell concludes his report by suggesting formal remonstrances be made by British Government representatives in Cairo, and that blockades and destruction of towns and vessels should be the threatened consequence of any maritime chief assisting Sued bin Mootluk.Also included in the item is: Hennell’s protest to Khorshid Pasha regarding Sued bin Mootluk’s claims to have taken over the government of Oman, against the apparent policy of Mahomed Ally; Hennell's request to Bombay for musket powder and lead; Hennell's report of his arrival in Muscat and discussions with the son and nephew of the Imam of Muscat in which he encourages Muscat to assist the Naeem against any attack by Sued bin Mootluk on Brymee; news of the removal of Mirza Assad as Govenor of Bushire [Bushehr] and his replacement by the authorities at Shiraz with Mirza Mahomed Houssein [Muḥammad Ḥusayn], the son-in-law of the Wuzier [Vizier] [of Shiraz?], Mirza Ahmed Khan [Mirza Aḥmad Khan].Physical description: 1 item (37 folios)
2. Sind Affairs: Matters Relating to Afghanistan, Kelat and Persia
- Description:
- Abstract: This item comprises enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee [Bombay Secret Letter], No. 2 dated 2 January 1857. The enclosures are dated 11-16 December 1856.The papers chiefly comprise two letters from Lieutenant-Colonel John Jacob, Acting Commissioner in Sind [Sindh], to Lord Elphinstone, Governor and President in Council, Bombay, forwarding the following documents:A copy of the report by Captain William Lockyer Merewether, Acting Political Superintendent on the Frontier of Upper Sind, concerning the convoy recently despatched carrying treasure (three lacs of rupees), arms and ammunition, destined for the Ameer Dost Mahomed Khan in Kandahar [Dūst Muḥammad Khān Bārakzāy]. The report details the journey of a party of the Sind Irregular Horse, under the command of Lieutenant W L Briggs, Acting Assistant Political Superintendent, including the escort provided by officers and men of the Khan of Kelat [Kalat] through Kelat territory and the Bolan Pass [also spelled Bolaan in this item] to Quetta [also spelled Quettah in this item] where Briggs transferred his consignment to a party of Dost Mahomed’s men (ff 34-38)A copy of a letter from Merewether who forwards intelligence he has received of: a Persian force assembled at Bunpoor [Bampur] on the frontier of Mekran [Makran]; news of Persian activities in Herat; and relations between the Khan of Kelat and Persia.Physical description: 1 item (16 folios)
3. Coll 20/39 'Muscat: Tours of Political Agent; General Situation in Oman; Including assistance to Sultan of Muscat - RAF support'
- Description:
- Abstract: Correspondence, notes, and minutes relating to the situation in the interior of Oman. The papers cover the following matters:the Sultan's ambition to assert his authority over the tribes of the interior of Oman due to the Imam's ill healththe question of what military (arms and personnel) support the British should provide for the Sultan, including the appointment of a Military Adviser and a cash subsidythe financial responsibility for such supportthe question of whether to provide Royal Air Force (RAF) support to the Sultanthe question of securing the co-operation of the tribes of the interior for the development of oil resources in the region.Principal correspondents include officials at the Political Residency in the Persian Gulf, India Office, Government of India (External Affairs Department), Admiralty, War Office, Treasury, Ministry of Fuel and Power (Petroleum Department), Foreign Office, and Air Ministry.Also contained in the file are the following reports:'Report on a Visit to Sur in August 1940' by Tom Hickinbotham, Political Agent at Muscat, with a letter to the Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf regarding fresh water sources in the area, dated 27 August 1940 (folios 137-140)Report on a trip to Jabal Akhdhar by Arnold Crawshaw Galloway, Political Agent at Muscat, dated 18 March 1945 (folios 131-34, with sketch map on folio 127).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 140; 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.
4. File 2006/1917 'ARABIA: ARAB CONFEDERACY'
- Description:
- Abstract: The volume comprises correspondence, telegrams, summaries, reports, notes and other papers concerning the support given by Britain to the tribes of South Arabia [present-day Yemen] in 1917, chiefly in relation to Britain’s principal wartime aim of ousting the Turks [Ottoman Empire] from the region and securing the Aden Protectorate.The papers notably cover:British relations with Saiyid Muhammad bin Ali bin Muhammad bin Ahmed bin Idris, the Idrisi [Sayyid Muhammad ibn ‘Alī al-Idrīsī, ruler of the Idrisid Emirate of Asir], including the 1915 agreement with the Idrisi in return for his attacking the Turks; financial assistance (subsidy) for arms, ammunition, hirelings and transport; the Idrisi’s recruitment of Hashid wa Bakil (also spelled Bakill and Bekil in this volume) and British doubts about the loyalty of these ‘mercenary’ (f 259) tribesmen; British concerns over the Idrisi’s effectiveness against the Turks and his predominating enmity towards Imam Yahia bin Mohamed Hamid-ud-Din of Yemen [Yaḥyá Muḥammad Ḥamīd al-Dīn, also referred to as 'Imam Yahya' in this volume]British policy towards the 'Arab Confederacy' of tribes formed around May 1917 (also referred to as the 'Yemen Confederacy' in this volume), including concerns over its potential effectiveness and lack of concrete victories against the Turks; and meetings with various Arab tribal chiefs explaining their intentions or applying for assistance from BritainBritish relations with the ‘neutral’ Imam Yahya, including a concurrently open-door and non-committal policy; avoidance of decisions or actions that could cause the Imam to stop ‘sitting on the fence’ and ally with the Turks; the Imam’s approach to the British in July 1917 offering support in exchange for territory, the removal of the Idrisi, and a position as sole leader in Yemen (the British politely declined the offer)Division of opinion between the Political Resident in Aden, and the First Assistant Resident in Aden and Government of India, regarding the risks in either supporting or not supporting the Arab Confederacy; the viability and true aims of the Confederacy; and whether or not it was likely the Confederacy would to turn to Italy if Britain prolonged delaying assistance.The principal correspondents are: Major-General James Marshall Stewart, Political Resident, Aden; Lieutenant-Colonel Harold Fenton Jacob, First Assistant Resident, Aden; Saiyid Muhammad bin Ali bin Muhammad bin Ahmed bin Idris, the Idrisi [Sayyid Muhammad ibn ‘Alī al-Idrīsī, ruler of the Idrisid Emirate of Asir]; Imam Yahia bin Mohamed Hamid Ud-Din of Yemen [Yaḥyá Muḥammad Ḥamīd al-Dīn] (also referred to in this volume as Saiyid Yehia bin Mohamed Hamid-ad-Din, Al Mutawakil, the Commander of the Faithful, and as Imam Yahia of San’a / Sana’a [Sanaa] and 'Imam Yahya'); senior officials of the Government of India at Simla [Shimla]; Secretaries of State and diplomats of the Foreign Office and the India Office in London; General Sir Reginald Wingate, British High Commissioner in Egypt; Ronald William Graham, Foreign Office diplomat. Also included are translations and summaries of numerous communications from and between various chiefs of Arab tribes in Yemen.The enclosures date from 1917 but some include content (mainly printed documents) dating from 1916.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 first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 295; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Multiple intermittent additional mixed foliation/pagination sequences are also present. A previous foliation sequence in part of the volume, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.