Abstract: The file consists of a memorandum from the Political Intelligence Department of the Foreign Office concerning supplementary British commitments to the Idrisi Saiyid and Amir of Sabia [Saiyid Muhammad-bin-Ali-al-Idrīsi] regarding the Farsan Islands [Farasān, Jazā'ir] and the treaty of 30 April 1915. It contains quotes from correspondence by the Political Resident at Aden, the India Office, the Idrisi, the Viceroy of India, the Foreign Office, and the Government of India.It covers: the islands history of possession; the agreed terms of the original treaty; British attempts to make the status of the islands more definitive; and a dispute over the hoisting of the British flag. A copy of the Supplementary Treaty of 22 January 1917 is included in an appendix. A further section is included headed 'Relation of Commitments to the Idrisi, under the Supplementary Agreement, to British Desiderata' regarding Italy's claim to occupy the Farsan Islands, and how the supplementary agreement defends British interests.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) for this description commences at f 115, and terminates at f 117, 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 present in parallel between ff 115-117; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
Abstract: This file concerns prospective Saudi oil concessions for Asir and the Farsan Islands.In a telegram to the Foreign Office, dated 4 June 1933, His Majesty's Minister at Jedda (Sir Andrew Ryan) reports that the recent Hasa concession, which was granted by the Saudi Government to the California Arabian Standard Oil Company, has stimulated interest in the possibility of further oil concessions for other parts of Saudi Arabia, notably Asir and the Farsan Islands. Ryan's telegram also reports that King Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd], who has been approached by Italian oil companies, wishes to know whether any British oil companies would be interested.The remaining correspondence reports on communications between the British Government's Petroleum Department and various British oil companies (including the Iraq Petroleum Company, the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, the Shell Group, and the Eastern and General Syndicate) regarding those companies' interest (or lack thereof) in pursuing a concession for either location.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 (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 21; 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 part comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, and notes pertaining to proposed occupation of the Kamaran Islands. Discussion includes the reasoning that the British saw for this in order to pre-empt Italian action and the Government of India's view that in the first place an understanding should be arrived at with the Italian Government. Further discussion concerns the Foreign Office's view that an arrangement with Italy would be impracticable and their preference therefore for British occupation of the islands. Also discussed is an application by a British company for a licence to prospect for minerals on the Farsan Islands.Physical description: 1 item (217 folios)