Abstract: The volume contains correspondence to and from the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Trenchard Craven Fowle, Percy Gordon Loch), Political Agent at Bahrain (Percy Gordon Loch), and Political Agent at Kuwait (Harold Richard Patrick Dickson) regarding matters in Saudi Arabia and their affect, particularly on Kuwait and Bahrain. The main topic of discussion being a concession in Hasa, Saudi Arabia which was contested by the Standard Oil Company of California and the Iraq Petroleum Company, and was awarded to Standard Oil in July 1933.The correspondence, primarily between HM's Minister at Jedda (Sir Andrew Ryan) and the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir John Simon) includes details of the negotiations and translations of the concession agreement which was published in
Umm-al-Qurain July 1933. Also discussed are attempts to obtain information about the special agreement between Standard Oil and the Sa'udi Arab Government which was not published and which contained details of the exact values of the concession, the area covered by it, and a clause relating to the Kuwait-Najd neutral zone concession. Later correspondence also discusses the progress being made by Standard Oil in developing their concession.Other matters discussed in the file include:correspondence from the Political Agent at Kuwait regarding rumours that the Shaikh of Kuwait (Shaikh Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ) travelled to Najd to meet with Ibn Saud (‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd), King of Saudi Arabia, or one of his close advisers to discuss matters including a potential alleviation of the blockade on Kuwait and their joining forces in regards to the oil concession agreement in the neutral zone (ff 6-17);a memorandum written by the Petroleum Department about Petroleum in Arabia which covers the topics: Petroleum prospects in Arabia, interested or potentially interested companies, past concessions affecting Saudi Arabia, the present position. The memorandum includes brief summaries of all the key oil companies and interested parties in oil concessions in Arabia (ff 90-91);correspondence regarding the prohibition on private planes flying to Bahrain and a request by the Standard Oil Company of California to use Bahrain as their base of operations during their survey of Hasa which was denied, and the eventual decision to allow Standard Oil's aeroplane to land at Bahrain should there be a serious medical emergency involving either their staff or those of the Mesopotamia-Persia corporation (ff 112, 131-133, 155-156, 173-175);a record of an interview which Frederick Charles Starling of the Mines Department had with Edmund William Janson of the Eastern and General Syndicate Limited in which Eastern and General's interest in a possible concession in Asir was discussed along with their activities in regard to previous concessions (ff 147-149).A series of file notes which were maintained as a record of the correspondence in the volume can be found at folios 179-187.Physical description: Foliation: The main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover, and terminates at the inside back cover; these numbers arewritten 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 6-192; these numbers are also written in pencil, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence, but they are not circled.
Abstract: The volume concerns the Eastern boundary of Saudi Arabia with Qatar and Trucial Oman (also referred to as the Trucial Coast), and negotiations over the boundary between British officials and Ibn Saud (referred to also as Bin Saud) [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd, King of Saudi Arabia].The volume contains reports and correspondence, principally from the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; HM Minister, Jedda [Jeddah] (Sir Andrew Ryan); other Foreign Office officials; the Political Agent, Bahrain; Bertram Sydney Thomas; and officials of the India Office.The papers include: extracts prepared by the Political Resident, for the India Office, from a report by Bertram Thomas on the Trans-Oman air route reconnaissance of May-June 1927 (folios 8-21); papers on Anglo-Saudi relations and records of negotiations between HM Minister, Jeddah and the Deputy Saudi Arabian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Fuad Bey Hamza [Fu’ād Ḥamzah]), July-October 1934 (folios 37-60); further papers concerning Anglo-Saudi negotiations; papers prepared by the Political Resident (Lieutenant-Colonel Trenchard Craven William Fowle) concerning Ibn Saud and the Yemen campaign, November 1934 (folios 74-77); a letter from the Political Agent, Muscat (Major Claude Edward Urquhart Bremner), dated 23 October 1934, concerning the boundaries of Muscat Sultanate (folios 78-80); a Foreign Office note dated 19 December 1934 entitled 'South-Eastern Arabian frontier and United States Oil Concessions' (folios 122-124); papers relating to the Blue Line [a line drawn by British and Turkish officials in 1913 from the Gulf of Uqair to parallel 20 degrees North, in the Rub al-Khali]; and papers concerning tribal affairs (e.g. report by the Political Agent, Bahrain (Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Gordon Loch) entitled 'Tribal situation in the Hinterland of the Trucial Coast', folios 140-146).The date range gives the covering dates of the correspondence; the earliest document is an enclosure on folios 8-21 containing extracts from Bertram Thomas's report on the Trans-Oman air route reconnaissance of May-June 1927, and the last dated addition to the file is an entry in the notes dated 25 February 1935.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 221; 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 6-216; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in same position as the main sequence.
Abstract: The volume concerns negotiations between the British and Saudi Arabian governments over the settlement of the eastern and south-eastern frontiers of Saudi Arabia, the importance of which was enhanced by the presence of oil in the areas concerned.The principal correspondents are: HM Minister, Jedda [Jeddah] (Sir Andrew Ryan; Sir Reader William Bullard); the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (principally Lieutenant-Colonel Trenchard Craven William Fowle); the Political Agent, Bahrain (Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Gordon Loch; Captain Tom Hickinbotham); and officials of the India Office, the Government of India, and the Foreign Office.The papers cover: reports of negotiations between HM Minister, Jeddah and the King of Saudi Arabia, Ibn Saud (also referred to as Bin Saud) [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd], through his representatives Fuad Bey Hamza [Fu’ād Bey Hamza] and Shaikh Yusuf Yasin [Yūsuf Yāsīn]; the boundary with Qatar; the boundary with Abu Dhabi; the status of Khor al Odeid [Khawr al ‘Udayd] and Jabal Naksh (including two photographs of Jabal Naksh, folios 135-136); the supposed existence of an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Qatar prior to 1916, which is described by the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf as an 'entire fabrication' (folio 41); aerial reconnaissance in the area, including a survey of places in Qatar by George William Rendel of the Foreign Office; correspondence concerning the exact position of Sufuk (also referred to as Safq) wells in the territory of Abu Dhabi, February-April 1937 (folios 90-98, 138-143, 160-161); paper by HM Minister, Jeddah (Bullard) concerning 'Mr Philby's [Harry St John Bridger Philby] expedition to the south and question of southern frontier of Saudi Arabia'; February 1937 (folios 150-159); paper by the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Fowle) concerning 'Ibn Saud and the Arab States of the Persian Gulf', May 1937 (folios 199-206); and papers concerning the activities of the California Arabian Standard Oil Company (CASOC) at Qasr as Salwa, October-November 1937 (folios 216-231).The Arabic language content of the file is limited to approximately five folios, mostly correspondence (with English translations) from the Political Agent, Bahrain, to the rulers of Qatar and Abu Dhabi.The file also contains copies of earlier correspondence concerning the occupation of Khor al Odeid by Abu Dhabi, dated 1904-06 (folios 104-109).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 262; 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 4-256; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.
Abstract: The file comprises copies of four separate communications from the British Legation at Jedda, enclosing translated summaries and copies of the Treaty of Taif, agreed between the Saudi ruler ‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd (Ibn Sa‘ūd), and the Yemeni ruler Yaḥyā Muḥammad Ḥamīd al-Dīn, to end the 1934 territorial dispute between Saudi Arabia and Yemen.The first letter (folios 3-5), from Sir Andrew Ryan, Minister at the British Legation in Jedda, dated 27 June 1934, encloses an annotated summary of the Treaty (folios 6-11), concluded between the Saudi and Yemeni rulers on 6 Safar 1353 (equivalent to 20 May 1934). In his letter, Ryan makes comments on various aspects of the treaty, its wording, and Saudi-Yemeni relations.The second letter (folios 13-14), from Albert Spencer Calvert at the British Legation in Jedda to Sir John Simon, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, dated 30 July 1934, encloses a translated copy of the Treaty of Taif (15-27), a copy of an arbitration covenant between the Saudi Arab Kingdom and Kingdom of Yemen (folios 28-30), and copies of annexed, translated letters (folios 31-35).The third letter, sent by Chancery at the British Legation in Jedda to the Political Residency in the Persian Gulf, dated 11 September 1934 (folio 37), includes the text of an article to be inserted into the Treaty of Taif, which was missing from the earlier text. A copy of a further letter (folio 39), addressed to the Foreign Office from the British Legation at Jedda, explains the accidental omission.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 1-41; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence.
Abstract: The volume contains miscellaneous political intelligence concerning the affairs of Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd, King of Saudi Arabia] (also referred to Bin Saud) and the Government of Saudi Arabia.The main correspondents are the Political Agent, Bahrain; HM Minister, Jeddah; the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; and officials of the Colonial Office, Foreign Office, and Government of India.The papers cover the following: the involvement of Ibn Saud in Bahrain affairs, e.g. January 1932 (folio 5); the movements of Ibn Saud, e.g. January 1932 (folio 6); the movements of Ibn Saud's sons, e.g. discussion of what recognition the British should give to Ibn Saud's son the Amir Faisal [Fayṣal bin ‘Abd al-‘Azīz Āl Sa‘ūd] when he passed through Bahrain in 1932 (folio 8); Ibn Saud's relations with the Qusaibi [al-Quṣaybī] family of merchants in Bahrain, June 1932 (folios 11-12); the revolt against Ibn Saud's rule in the Hejaz, July-August 1932 (folios 13-22); a rumour that Ibn Saud had suffered a defeat, December 1933 (folios 25-26); a proposed visit by Ibn Saud to Kuwait, January-February 1936 (folios 41-45); reports of unrest in Hasa [al-Aḥsā’] as a result of taxation, April 1936 (folios 50-52); a reported attempt on Ibn Saud's life, June 1936 (folios 53-65); the frontier with Trans-Jordan, May-July 1936 (folios 68-72); the response to a report of gunfire at Jubail [al-Jubayl], July-September 1936 (folios 73-80); the use of the title 'Amir' by the Saudi Government when referring to the Ruler of Bahrain, November-December 1936 (folios 81-96); customs duties in Saudi Arabia, January-November 1938 (folios 97-101); Ibn Saud's attitude toward Arab rulers in the Persian Gulf, and visit to Bahrain in May 1939, December 1938 - July 1939 (folios 102-183); the visit to India by Amir Saud, April-June 1940 (folios 196-220); reports of a plot against Ibn Saud, December1940 (folios 222-229); the dispatch of currency for the Saudi Arabian Government from HM Mint, Bombay, June-July 1941 (folios 233-251); the shipment of lubricating oil from Bahrain to Jeddah, at the urgent request of the Saudi Arabian Government, November 1942 - May 1943 (folios 252-268); and the visit of two of Ibn Saud's sons to India, June-September 1943 (folios 269-311).The Arabic language content of the volume consists of approximately ten folios of correspondence (with English translations), including five letters from Abdul Aziz al Qosaibi [‘Abd al-‘Azīz al-Quṣaybī] to the Political Agent, Bahrain.The date range gives the covering dates of the main items of correspondence; the last dated addition to the file is an entry in the notes on folio 335v dated 7 October 1943.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 338; 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 1-338; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in same position as the main sequence.
Abstract: Correspondence and other papers relating to the visits of foreign dignitaries (chiefly rulers from the shaikhdoms along the Arab coast of the Gulf) to Bahrain. The majority of the correspondence details the movements of these dignitaries, and their arrival in or departure from Bahrain, as reported by the Political Agent at Bahrain, other Political Agents in the Gulf, the Residency Agent at Sharjah, and officers on board Royal Navy vessels in the Gulf. The file also includes letters (in Arabic, most with English translations) from a number of Arab rulers, including the Ruler of Bahrain, Shaikh Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah.Visits to Bahrain covered by the file include:in 1932, the French Consul Georges Cassin. Cassin’s visiting card is affixed to the first page of file notes (f 63);in 1939, a visit by King Ibn Saoud [sic] of Saudi Arabia [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd (Ibn Sa‘ūd)]. A copy of a programme of events for Ibn Saud’s visit is included in the file (ff 48-49), as is a transcript of a speech by Ibn Saud’s secretary, Shaikh Yosouf Yasim (ff 45-46);a letter from Parker Thompson Hart, American Consul at Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, dated 28 July 1949, informing the Agency that regular visits to Bahrain by American consular officials are planned for the future (f 60).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 73; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located at the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Two additional foliation sequences are present in parallel between ff 2-72; these numbers are also written in pencil, but either are not circled, or are crossed through.
Abstract: Fortnightly reports (as opposed to weekly reports, as stated on its cover) from the Political Agency in Kuwait. The reports are signed by the Political Agent (Major James Carmichael More; Major Cyril Charles Johnson Barrett; Lieutenant-Colonel Harold Richard Patrick Dickson), or, in his absence, the Agency’s head clerk. The reports, which are broadly consistent in their content and arrangement from one fortnight to the next, contain information on:the arrival and departure of steamships and aircraft;British interests, such as the movements of the Political Agent, activities of Eastern & General Syndicate Limited in Kuwait, including the drilling of water wells, Royal Air Force (RAF) activity;foreign interests, reporting the activities and movements of foreigners at Kuwait, including doctors and other representatives of the American Mission;local interests, including the activities of the Ruler of Kuwait (Shaikh Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ), activity and success of the pearling season, locust plagues (sometimes referred to as ‘dibbas’), establishment of the municipality of Kuwait, and municipal works;paper currency and rates of exchange;meteorological data (maximum temperatures during summer, rainfall during winter);rates of exchange for various commodities in the bazaars.Frequently coming under the headings of foreign interests or desert news, are reports of disturbances, raids, and clashes around Kuwait’s borders with Nejd and Iraq, between Bedouin tribes and families associated with the Ikhwan (also spelt Akhwan in the file), and those allied to the King of Nejd [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd, referred to throughout the file as Ibn Sa’ud]. These include intelligence reports, received by the Political Agency, on the following events:the movements and activities of Faisal ad-Dawish [Fayṣal al-Duwaysh];in January 1928, the bombing of raiders by the RAF (ff 107-108);in late 1928, a conference between Ikhwan leaders and Ibn Sa’ud, which took place in Riyadh;on 29 March 1929, a battle at Sibilah [Az Zulfi], between forces allied to Ibn Sa’ud and the Ikhwan (f 189);on 5 October 1929, a battle between the Ikhwan and the Awazim [Al-Awazem] tribe (ff 244-246;in January 1930, meetings between Ibn Sa’ud, the Political Resident (Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Vincent Biscoe) and Ikhwan leaders, and the surrender of Ikhwan leaders, including Faisal ad-Dawish (ff 268-273);in February 1930, Ibn Sa’ud’s conference with King Faisul [Fayṣal al-Awwal ibn al-Ḥusayn ibn ‘Alī al-Hāshimī] of Iraq (ff 286-287).Physical description: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 383; 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 3-382; these numbers are also written in pencil, are circled, but have been struck through. A third foliation system is also present in parallel between ff 4-187; these numbers are written in a combination of coloured crayon and pencil, but are not circled.
Abstract: Correspondence and papers concerning negotiations finalising trade,
Bon Voisinageand extradition treaties between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, in an effort to lift the trade blockade, imposed upon Kuwait at the orders of the of King of Saudi Arabia, ‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd (Ibn Sa‘ūd). The volume is a direct chronological continuation of ‘1/1 Volume V Koweit Saudi Relations’ (IOR/R/15/5/113), and includes:Multiple drafts in both Arabic and English of a trade agreement, and
Bon Voisinageand extradition treaties between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.Correspondence amongst British officials regarding the finalisation of the wording of the various agreements and treaties, including modifications demanded by the Ruler of Kuwait and Saudi Government.Discussion amongst British officials of changes in Ibn Saud’s attitude towards the Rulers of Kuwait and Bahrain, and Ibn Saud’s response to the development of closer ties between Kuwait and Iraq.The volume’s principal correspondents are: the Kuwait Political Agent (Captain Gerald Simpson DeGaury; Major Arnold Crawshaw Galloway); the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Lieutenant-Colonel Trenchard William Craven Fowle); the British Government’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (Reader William Bullard); the Ruler of Kuwait (Shaikh Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ); India Office representatives in London (Roland Tennyson Peel; John Percival Gibson); Foreign Office representatives in London (Lacy Baggallay); the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 246; 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 first and last leading and ending flyleaves.An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 4-243; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
Abstract: Correspondence and papers concerning negotiations finalising and ratifying trade, ‘Friendship and Neighbourly Relations’ (referred to in previous correspondence on the subject as
Bon Voisinage) and extradition treaties between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The volume is a direct chronological continuation of ‘1/1 Volume VI Kuwait Saudi Relations’ (IOR/R/15/5/114) and includes:Draft copies of the agreements, in both Arabic and English.Correspondence concerning the removal of article 7 of the Friendship and Neighbourly Relations agreement, relating to the nationality of tribes covered by the agreement, and subsequent efforts to draw up a list of tribes of Saudi and Kuwait nationality, to be added to the agreement in the form of a letter.The King of Saudi Arabia Ibn Saud’s [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] intention, articulated to the British Government in April 1940, to establish a customs post at Wafra [Al Wafrah], in the neutral zone between Kuwait and Saudi territory, and the Ruler of Kuwait’s [Shaikh Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ] opposition to the plan.Correspondence concerning final acceptance of the agreements in March 1942 (f 245) and arrangements for their signing and ratification in April 1942.A press communiqué dated 4 June 1942, announcing the signing of the agreements and their handover to the Ruler of Kuwait (f 264), and a further communiqué dated 5 May 1943, announcing the ratification of the agreements (f 277).The volume’s principal correspondents are: the Kuwait Political Agent (Major Arnold Crawshaw Galloway; Lieutenant-Colonel Harold Richard Patrick Dickson; Major Tom Hickinbotham); the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Geoffrey Prior); the British Government’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (Reader William Bullard; Hugh Stonehewer Bird); the Ruler of Kuwait (Shaikh Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ).Physical description: Foliation: this file consists of two physical volumes. The foliation sequence commences at the front cover of volume one (ff 1-166) and terminates at the inside back cover of volume two (ff 167-295); 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 2-294; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
Abstract: Papers relating to the reported murder of Ibn Hithlain [Nāyif bin Ḥithlayn] of the ’Ajmān tribe, and Ibn Lami of the Mutair [Muṭayr] tribe, and others, at the orders of the King of Saudi Arabia Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd (Ibn Sa‘ūd)], at Hoffuf [Al Hufūf]. The file includes:Extracts from the Kuwait Intelligence Summaries for August 1933, October 1933, and November 1934, reporting the abductions and rumours of murders.A letter from the British Minister at Jedda, Andrew Ryan, to Sir John Simon, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, dated 25 January 1934, concerning the veracity of reports of the murders, discussion with Ibn Saud’s adviser Faud Bey Hamza, and his reluctance to call Ibn Saud to account over the matter.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 13; 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 3-11; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
Abstract: Correspondence concerning a visit made by Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] to Kuwait, for discussions with the Ruler of Kuwait (Shaikh Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ) in January 1936. Papers cover:Initial rumours, surfacing in early January 1936, of Ibn Saud’s intention to visit Kuwait, and British officials’ attempts to ascertain concrete facts of any such visit, and whether it was to be of a political or personal nature.A report of the visit, prepared by the Political Agent at Kuwait (Captain Gerard Simpson DeGaury), dated 7 February 1936 (ff 41-43).Two telegrams at the end of the file (ff 57-58) relate to a visit by Ibn Saud (referred to as the Amir Saud) to Kuwait in 1940.The file’s principal correspondents are: the Political Agent at Kuwait (Lieutenant-Colonel Harold Richard Patrick Dickson; DeGaury); the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Gordon Loch).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 61; 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 3-60; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
Abstract: The volume concerns British Government policy towards Qatar in the light of the bid by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC) to obtain a concession from the Shaikh of Qatar (Abdullah bin Qasim al Thani [‘Abdullāh bin Jāsim Āl Thānī]) to produce oil in the country. The British Government were keen that the concession should be obtained by a British company (APOC) and not by the Americans (Standard Oil Company of California). The oil concession was granted to APOC in 1935.The papers include: discussion of policy by various British Government departments and officials (notably the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Trenchard Craven William Fowle; the Government of India, Foreign and Political Department; and the Foreign Office); the security of Qatar against raids from the Arabian interior; relations between Qatar and Ibn Saud [Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd, King of Saudi Arabia]; the decision of the British Government to offer military protection to Qatar in exchange for the granting of the oil concession to APOC (including discussions by the Committee of Imperial Defence, and its Standing Official Sub-committee for Questions concerning the Middle East); the development of air facilities in Qatar as a means of protecting the state, including correspondence from the Air Ministry; discussion of the Qatar boundary; note of a conversation between the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf and Haji Williamson (folios 147-148); the surrender to the British Government of jurisdiction over British subjects, British-protected persons, and non-Muslim foreigners in Qatar; the recognition of Shaikh Hamad as successor to the Shaikh of Qatar; British opposition to a request by the Shaikh of Qatar for machine guns and armoured cars, because of the provocative effect this would have on Ibn Saud (folios 33-35); agreement that the 1916 treaty between the British Government and the Shaikh of Qatar should be binding on his heirs and successors; and the terms on which military protection was to be afforded by the British Government (folios 12-14).The papers also include correspondence between the Shaikh of Qatar and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf.The papers include one item of an earlier date than the main date range: a copy of the 1916 treaty between the British Government and the Shaikh of Qatar (folios 451-452).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 first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 501; 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.