Abstract: The file is concerned with an agreement between His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and Petroleum Development (Oman and Dhofar) Limited, which relates to the oil concession agreed between the company and the Sultan of Muscat and Oman, Sa‘īd ibn Taymūr Āl Bū Sa‘īd, in respect of the district of Dhofar. The agreement outlines the terms and conditions, laid down by the British Government, regulating the operation of the company in Dhofar.The agreement is signed by Leonard Day Wakely, Deputy Under-Secretary of State for India, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, in the presence of Sir Alexander Colin Burlington Symon, the Assistant Principal for the Political Department in the India Office. It is also sealed by the petroleum company.Physical description: The foliation sequence commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 2; 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 relates to the arbitration concerning Buraimi [Al Buraymī] and the common frontier between Abu Dhabi and Sa'ūdi Arabia. The main body of text is a publication, which is introduced as being a '[M]emorial submitted by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'. The memorial, which was submitted to the arbitration tribunal, begins with an introduction and a copy of the Arbitration Agreement, concluded at Jedda [Jeddah] on 30 July 1954 and titled as follows: 'Arbitration Agreement Between the Government of the United Kingdom (Acting on Behalf of the Ruler of Abu Dhabi and His Highness Sultan Said bin Taimur) and the Government of Saudi Arabia' (ff 8-10). The memorial itself is divided into two halves: vol I and vol II. Vol I (ff 10-83) provides an overview of the dispute, which is structured as follows:'Part I: The Nature of the Dispute Submitted to the Tribunal' (ff 10-14)'Part II: Topographical Description of the Two Areas in Dispute' (ff 14-17)'Part III: Historical Bases of the Claims of the Rulers of Abu Dhabi and the Sultan of Muscat to the Areas in Dispute' (ff 18-30)'Part IV: The Economy of the Disputed Areas' (ff 30-32)'Part V: The Tribes' (ff 33-39)'Part VI: The Exercise of Jurisdiction' (ff 40-44)'Part VII: Sa'ūdi Pretensions to an Ancestral Claim to Territories in Eastern Arabia' (ff 44-46)'Part VIII: Revival of the Sa'ūdi Dynasty After 1900, and the Subsequent Development of the Dispute' (ff 47-62)'Part IX: The Contentions of the Government of the United Kingdom in Regard to the Burden of Proof…' (ff 62-64)'Part X: The Contentions of the Government of the United Kingdom in Regard to the Factors Mentioned in Article IV of the Arbitration Agreement' (ff 65-83)'Part XI: Final Submissions of the Government of the United Kingdom Acting on Behalf of the Ruler of Abu Dhabi and His Highness the Sultān Sa‘īd bin Taymūr' (f 83v).Vol II of the memorial (ff 84-254) is formed of thirteen annexes, which include the following: copies of texts of relevant treaties and engagements; copies of British documents relating to the history of Abu Dhabi and of the Buraimi Zone; copies of correspondence and documents relating to the development of the dispute; information about Līwa and the Buraimi Oasis; evidence concerning the exercise of jurisdiction by the Ruler of Abu Dhabi over the coast of the disputed area and the adjacent islands; notes on various tribes based in the disputed area; genealogical tables of the Rulers of Abu Dhabi, Muscat and 'Omān, and Najd.The volume concludes with a series of maps (some of which are photocopies and are reduced in size), relating to the disputed area (ff 256-264). It should be noted that Map B is not present. However, included with the other maps is a gazetteer of place names (ff 265-268), in which each place name is given map co-ordinates, presumably referring to positions on the missing Map B. Written in pencil on the first page is the following note: 'Evaluates Map B'.In addition, a small sketch map of Arabia appears at the beginning of the volume (f 4).The Arabic material consists of some text in a couple of the maps found at the rear of the volume.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio, which is contained within a pouch attached to the inside back cover, with 268; 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.
Abstract: This printed memorandum was received from the Chief Political Officer, Basra, under Sir P Cox's letter (No 3) dated 18 August 1916 (see IOR/L/PS/10/426: 3744/16), and includes a report by Gertrude Lowthian Bell (signed G L B), originally published in the Arab Bulletin, concerning the rebellion against the Sultan of Muscat, Fayṣal bin Turkī Āl Bū Sa‘īd, and, subsequently after his death, his son, Taymūr bin Fayṣal Āl Bū Sa‘īd. Bell gives a description of the causes of the rebellion against the Sultan of Muscat, which, in her opinion, were 'partly due to old and deepseated matters of disagreement and partly to the reflex action of modern European politics'. She goes on to describe various events from May 1913 to July 1916, including: the fall of Nizwa [Nizwá] and Izki [Izkī]; the visit of the Viceroy to Muscat in February 1914; the death of Fayṣal; the religious character of the uprising ('Jihad'); and potential peace terms.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation sequence 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.
Abstract: This file contains two primary types of correspondence. The first is letters between the British Political Agent in Muscat, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Charles Ross and the British Political Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire. The file also contains correspondence between the British Political Agent in Muscat and various Omani political and tribal authorities. The subject matter of the letters includes administration report and trade returns from 1877-1878, and the marriage of the Sultan's eldest son. However, the first half of the papers pertains to the attempt by the Sultan's brother, Sayyid Abdul Aziz, to organise a rebellion against his brother in Muscat among the tribes of the interior of Oman.All the letters received from Omani figures are included as both transcriptions made by Political Agency officials in Muscat and translations from the original Arabic. The original letters are not included.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 207; 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 file consists of exchanges to do with events and personalities in or around Gwadur [Gwadar] on the Makran Coast of Baluchistan. The file includes a list of important personalities in Oman, and the 1882 administration report and trade returns. The end of the file consists of an extensive biographical sketch of Sultan Sayyid Sa`id ibn Sultan by Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Barrett Miles.In between these items are letters on incidents of plunder and looting in Gwadur. They include subsequent applications to the Political Agency for countermeasures or compensation by British protected subjects and responses from the Sultan of Oman's governor (Wali) in Gwadur at the time, Sayyid bin Musallem.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 136; 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 file contains papers that discuss possible Turkish designs on Oman. It also includes the November 1885 administration report and trade returns from the Political Agent in Muscat to the Political Resident in Bushire; 1884-85 report on a visit by the Political Agent to Ras Fartak. However. The majority of the file's papers cover possible means of British support (including Naval action) to Sayyid Turki, the Sultan of Muscat and Oman against insurrection in 1885-1886.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 53; 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 2-52; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
Abstract: The volume contains a mix of inward and outward letters, received and sent from the Residency. Most of the letters are outward letters, sent by Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Ephraim Gerrish Stannus, Resident in the Persian Gulf, to various representatives of the Government of Bombay.The letters in the volume fall into three main categories:Reports on events in the Gulf, primarily concerning the hostilities being waged and peace deals brokered between the various tribes. Intelligence on the activities of Rahma bin Jaber [Raḥmah bin Jābir] appear extensively throughout the volume;The financial administration of the Residency, including such matters as disbursements and bills of exchange, which are sent onwards to the Accountant General in Bombay;Letters confirming the receipt of despatches, or covering notes forwarded with onward despatches, often sent between Basra or Tehran and Bombay.Physical description: 1 volume in one slipcaseFoliation: The foliation system starts on the first page of content and runs to the last page of content, using circled pencil numbers in the top-right corner of each recto. The front cover, front fly-leaf, rear fly-leaf and inside back cover are unfoliated.There is an earlier, possibly original pagination system that runs inconsistently throughout the volume, located in either the top-right or top-left of recto and some verso pages. The inconsistency of this pagination sequence is likely a result of the volume being comprised of three original volumes (each with their own pagination sequences) being merged into one volume.
Abstract: Report on Sur by Major Gerald Patrick Murphy, Political Agent of Muscat, dated 9 October 1928.It is divided into the following sections:I. – 'Geographical Description of Sur' – including an introduction to the tribes who inhabit it;II. – 'Historical Summary of the Bani Bu Ali' – including their origin, religion, engagements, expeditions, and feuds;III. – 'Historical Summary of the Jenebeh' – including their origin, feuds, criminal activities, and fines;IV. – 'The Slave Trade at Sur' – including British efforts in the suppression of the slave trade, treaties, a description of a captured slave vessel, and use the of the French flag as protection for slaving operations;V. – 'Summary of recent Events in Sur' – including the building of new forts, establishment of a new customs post, the question of the Sultan's authority, criminal activities, and customs dues;VI. – 'Review of the Situation at Sur' – including the policy pursued so far, request for assistance by the Sultan, the value of Sur in terms of prestige, and the form of assistance to be taken;appendix 1. – 'Early History of Sur';appendix 2. – 'Wrecks and Piracy'.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at f 84, and terminates at f 93, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
Abstract: A printed report, written by a Committee formed by Louis Mallet, Henry Cadogan Rothery and William Henry Wylde, 8 December 1876.The Committee was nominated by H M's Treasury, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State for India, to determine whether the Imperial Government had to contribute to the payment of an annual subsidy to the Sultan of Muscat (as compensation for the abandonment of his claims upon Zanzibar) and of the expenses of the Agency and Consulate at Zanzibar, which had been paid by the India Office since 1870.The committee acknowledges that in 1873 it was agreed that these payments should be divided between Imperial and Indian Government, hence the Imperial Government had to compensate the India Office for the payments made in the years 1873-1877.The report includes a summary of payments made to the Sultan of Muscat between May 1873 and February 1877, expenses for the British Agency and Consulate General at Zanzibar for the period 1872-1877, and a proposed budget estimate for the future, to be equally divided between Imperial and Indian Government.Two declarations follow the report, from two comissioners in disagreement with the report.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation for this description commences at f 92 and terminates at f 97, 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 ff 5 and ff 168; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the lower right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
Abstract: A printed memorandum, written by Adolphus Warburton Moore, Assistant Secretary of the Political and Secret Department of the India Office, 27 September 1876.The memorandum discusses the views of Henry Cadogan Rothery on whether the Imperial Government had to contribute to the payment of an annual subsidy to the Sultan of Muscat (as compensation for the abandonment of his claims upon Zanzibar) and of the expenses of the Agency and Consulate at Zanzibar, made by the India Office from 1870. Rothery writes that, because the Agent at Zanzibar was also acting as Judge of the Vice Admiralty Court in the Trial of the Slave Trade cases, it was the duty of the Imperial Government to contribute towards these expences.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation for this description commences at f 98 and terminates at f 101, 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 f 5 and f 168; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the lower right corner of the recto side of each folio. Pagination: The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
Abstract: The volume contains correspondence between the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Trenchard Craven Fowle), the Political Agent at Bahrain (Percy Gordon Loch), the Political Agent at Muscat (Ralph Ponsonby Watts), the India Office (Maurice Clauson), Petroleum Concessions Limited (Major Frank Holmes, John Skliros, Stephen Hemsley Longrigg) and the Standard Oil Company of California (Hamilton R Ballantyne) regarding Petroleum Concessions Limited’s interest in an oil concession in Muscat and their intention of opening negotiations with the Sultan of Muscat and Oman (Sayyid Sa‘īd bin Taymūr Āl Bū Sa‘īd) which were delayed owing to the Sultan extending his stay in the interior of his country near Dhofar [Zufār].Included in the file are copies in Arabic and English of the proposed concession agreement for Muscat and Oman, including correspondence regarding possible amendments to the agreement and copies of the various drafts which can be found at folios 5-20, 28-40, 109-124, 136-139, 144-159 and 195-210.Also discussed is correspondence between the Sultan of Muscat and the Standard Oil Company of California, including samples of oil seepages found near Dhofar which were sent to the company for assessment but were not found to contain crude oil.Also discussed are the concerns of British authorities at Standard Oil’s attempts to acquire concessions in the Persian Gulf and conversations between the Company’s representative in London and the India Office at which the Company were made aware that Petroleum Concessions Limited had been given first right of negotiation in that area.Other matters of interest within the file include:concerns over possible reactions by the Bani Bu Ali [Banī Bū ‘Alī] tribe to any negotiations for, or grant of, an oil concession in Muscat, which would cover the Sur district where they held power;discussion regarding the difficulty of defining the boundaries for the Imamate of Oman;a visit paid by Major Holmes to Cairo and the British authorities in the Persian Gulf interest in knowing who he had met and what he had discussed whilst there;correspondence regarding Count Byron de Prorok and his wife Alice who had travelled from Aden to Muscat and Bahrain with the intention of searching for antiquities and archaeological sites in the region, and Tullio Pastori who was visiting Muscat and Bandar Abbas [Bandar-e ʻAbbās] to recruit labour for an Italian road construction project in Eritrea; and British officials suspicions that their visits to the area were on behalf of an Italian Oil concern, which were concluded to be unfounded.A series of file notes which were maintained as a record of the correspondence in the volume can be found at folios 227-236.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 21-226; 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 contains copies of letters sent out from the Residency, Bushire (with copies of enclosures where applicable). The correspondence is general, covering all aspects of the Residency's administrative functions.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation system in use commences at 1 on the second folio after the front cover, and continues through to 133 on the last folio before the back cover. The sequence appears written in pencil, enclosed in a circle, in the top right hand corner of the recto page of each folio. Foliation anomaly: folios 58, 58A. In addition there is an original pagination system, starting at 1 (folio 1r) and continuing through to 267 (folio 133r). The pagination sequence is written in ink (apart from the last number, which is in pencil) and appears in the top left hand corner of each page.