1. 'Italian Proceedings on the African Coast of the Red Sea.'

Description:

Abstract: A paper written in continuation of a previous memorandum regarding the Italian Occupation of Assab Bay [IOR/L/PS/18/B22], which brings the story up to date.The first section describes the course of events at and around Assab from May 1880 to September 1881, including protests made by the Egyptian Government to the Italian Government at their purchase of the whole coastline around Assab Bay and the islands nearby, and an enquiry that followed the massacre of an Italian exploring party. This section concludes with two reports suggesting that, although the Italians had not made much progress at Assab Bay, they had shown their intention to get a foothold on the African continent.The second section reproduces correspondence between the British, Italian and Egyptian governments, and between the India Office and the Foreign Office from May 1880 to September 1881. The correspondence relates to the purchase of land at Assab Bay by the Rubattino Company; Italian Government denials that the territory would be used for military purposes; attempts made by the Italian Government to legitimise their occupation of the place by encouraging the British Government to accredit a British Agent there, both for commercial purposes and for the purpose of co-operation in the suppression of the slave trade; and a British Government proposal that the Italian Government enter into a formal convention about the matter with the Egyptian Government.The final section reproduces correspondence connected with a proposed disembarkation of Egyptian troops at Raheita to the south of Assab Bay; Egyptian appeals for a British warship to be sent to the area; Italian protestations that disembarkation at Raheita would constitute a provocation; and the British Government's re-affirmation that the sovereignty of the coastline at Raheita and Assab Bay belongs to the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and the Khedive of Egypt.The paper is written by Arthur William Moore.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at folio 25, and terminates at folio 40, as it is part of a larger 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 present in parallel; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

2. 'Italian proceedings on the African coast of the Red Sea'

Description:

Abstract: The document, written by Adolphus Warburton Moore, discusses the following: the actual course of events at Assab and in the neighbourhood since May 1880; correspondence which has passed in the same period between the British, Italian and Egyptian Governments, and between the Political and Secret Department and the Foreign Office; and the proposed disembarkation of Egyptian troops at Raheita.The situation in Assab was related to the Italian colonisation of the area during the period known as the 'Scramble for Africa'.Physical description: 16 folios

3. 'Egyptian Claims to Sovereignty over the Somali Coast.'

Description:

Abstract: A historical memorandum relating to Egyptian claims to sovereignty over the Somali coast, written by A W Moore, Assistant Secretary to the India Office, in two parts, submitted 26 February 1876 and 11 October 1879.The first part of the memorandum provides a historical narrative of events leading from the discovery in June 1870 of an Egyptian warship at Berbera on the Somali coast, with consequent suspicions that the Egyptian Government wished to occupy that place, up to the production of a draft Somali Coast Convention in 1876. The memorandum reproduces correspondence between the Resident at Aden, the Secretary of State for India, and the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in which the authors consider the impact of Egyptian and Turkish influence at Berbera on British trade interests at Aden; on the independence of local Somali tribes; and on British efforts to suppress the slave trade. The memorandum also includes the terms by which HM Government agree to recognise Egyptian sovereignty.Appendices to the first part of the memorandum reproduce several 'Treaty Relations with Tribes on the African Coast' and 'Geographical Notes'.The second part of the memorandum opens with an account of events which preceded the signing in 1877 of the Somali Coast Convention by the British Government and by the Egyptian Khedive, describing the Khedive's attempts to extend the limit of proposed Egyptian sovereignty as far south as the Juba River, and subsequent British threats to enter into agreements with Somali chiefs independently of the Khedive.The memorandum goes on to describe renewed discussions in connection with the procedure in Constantinople necessary to give validity to the Convention after it was signed by the Khedive, and reproduces a note issued by the Ottoman Porte, which asserts Turkish sovereignty over the territory covered by the Convention, but falls short of providing assurances against ceding any of that territory to other foreign powers.The memorandum closes with the reproduction of correspondence discussing the text of a proposed firman, to be issued by the Ottoman Porte, which would give validity to the Convention signed by the Khedive.Appendices to the second part of the memorandum reproduce the text of the 'Somali Coast Convention' and an 'Agreement in regard to the Island of Socotra'.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 31; 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 volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

4. Political No. 88 of 1873, Suggesting that the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Should be Moved to Obtain from the Egyptian Government an Explanation as to Monsieur Munzinger’s Ill-treatment of Walkayatee Biru, Employed to Convey a Letter and Gifts from Queen Victoria to Prince Kassai of Tigre

Description:

Abstract: This item consists of copies of a Political Despatch from the Government of India Foreign Department to the Secretary of State for India, dated 16 June 1873 and received by the India Office Secret Department 15 July 1873, suggesting that the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs should be moved to obtain from the Egyptian Government an explanation as to Monsieur Munzinger’s ill-treatment of Walkayatee Biru, employed to convey a letter and gifts from Queen Victoria to Prince Kassai of Tigre.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 195, and terminates at f 196a, 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. The sequence contains two foliation anomalies: f 195a, and f 196a.

5. Coll 6/25 'Hejaz: Relations with Egypt.'

Description:

Abstract: This file primarily concerns relations between the Government of the Hejaz (later Saudi Arabia) and the Government of Egypt. Most of the correspondence is between the High Commissioner at Egypt (George Ambrose Lloyd, Sir Percy Loraine, and Miles Wedderburn Lampson successively) and various Foreign Office officials. Other correspondents include the British Agent and Consul at Jedda (Hugh Stonehewer Bird), His Majesty's Chargé d’Affaires to Jedda (Cecil Gervase Hope Gill), His Majesty's Minister at Jedda (Sir Andrew Ryan, succeeded by Sir Reader William Bullard), and Colonial Office and India Office officials.Matters discussed in the correspondence include the following:Ibn Saud's [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd's] wish to appoint a representative from the Hejaz in Egypt.Details of two Egyptian missions to the Hejaz during June-July 1928.Discussion as to whether King Fuad of Egypt should be pressed by the British Government to recognise Ibn Saud as King of the Hejaz.The progress of treaty negotiations between Saudi Arabia and Egypt during April-May 1932, and the signing of a treaty of friendship on 7 May 1936, confirming Egypt's recognition of Saudi Arabia.British concerns regarding how a newly formed bloc of independent Arab powers might influence the nationalist aspirations of countries such as Syria and Palestine.In addition to correspondence the file includes a copy of a decree of promulgation for the aforementioned treaty, together with a copy of the treaty itself. The French material in the file consists of several items of correspondence, newspaper extracts, and the decree and treaty mentioned above.The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 129; 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 5-127; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

6. Coll 6/49 'Railways and Communications: Proposed Jedda-Mecca Railway. Motor Transport Arrangements.'

Description:

Abstract: This file concerns the progress of schemes relating to the improvement of transport and communications in Saudi Arabia.The file largely consists of copies of correspondence received by the Foreign Office from His Majesty's Minister at Jedda (Sir Andrew Ryan, succeeded by Sir Reader William Bullard) and His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires to Jedda (Cecil Gervase Hope Gill, and in later correspondence, Alan Charles Trott), which includes discussion of the following:Details of a failed concession for a Mecca-Jedda railway, granted by the Government of Saudi Arabia in 1933 to an Indian doctor and businessman named Saiyid Abdul Khadir Jeelani, who is reportedly unable to obtain financial support for the scheme.Difficulties regarding motor transport arrangements in Saudi Arabia during the pilgrimage season, following the creation of a motor transport monopoly in Saudi Arabia in 1936.Details of an agreement, dated 5 October 1939, between the Saudi Arabian and Egyptian Governments, primarily relating to construction and repair work on the road between Jedda and Arafat, and on certain parts of the Medina-Mecca road (the agreement also concerns the provision of water and electricity in Saudi Arabia).The file's other principal correspondents are the Foreign Secretary to the Government of India, the Chief Secretary of the Government of Madras, and various correspondents from the Foreign Office.In addition to correspondence, the file includes a copy of the scheme for the construction of a Jedda-Mecca railway and a copy of the aforementioned agreement between the Government of Saudi Arabia and the Government of Egypt.The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence (folio 2).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 110; 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 2-110; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.