Abstract: This file consists of letters (in English and Arabic), telegrams, handwritten notes, diary extracts, and drafts of the above concerning a rumoured visit by Ibn Sa'ud, ruler of Najd, to the Trucial Coast and Oman. The bulk of the file is correspondence between the Political Residency in Bushire, the Political Agents in Kuwait and Sharjah, the Foreign Department of the Government of India, the Secretary of State for India in Whitehall, the British Embassy in Constantinople, the various Trucial Sheikhs, Sheikh Mubarak of Kuwait, and Ibn Sa'ud. Included within this are letters sent amongst the Arab rulers themselves that came into the possession of the British via the Agent at Sharjah.The file begins with reports of Ibn Sa'ud's visit to al-Hasa in the summer of 1905 where he reconciled the quarrelling tribes of 'Ajman, al-Murrah, and Bani Hajar, and his talk of visiting the Trucial Coast and Oman. A discussion follows on how the British should deal with the consequential unrest and injury to trade in the Gulf should the visit occur, often seeking the advice of Sheikh Mubarak of Kuwait due to his close connection to Ibn Sa'ud. Warnings are then given to the Trucial Sheikhs to refrain from contact with Ibn Sa'ud and measures of blocking the arms trade to Kuwait and more direct military action are put forward. The file ends (at the close of 1907, after a gap of a year) with reports from Sheikh Mubarak that complaints about the British and requests for contact with Ibn Sa'ud had come to him from several of the Trucial rulers.Physical description: Foliation: The main sequence is written in pencil in the top right corner of the recto of each folio. It begins on the front cover of the file, and runs from 1 to 57, the final folio of writing. Note that f 24 is followed by f 24A.There are two other foliation sequences that are both intermittent through the file. The first consists of five digits stamped in the top right corner of each folio. It begins on the first folio of writing. The second sequence is written in blue crayon in the top right corner of each folio. It begins on the first folio of writing.
Abstract: The volume consists of letters, telegrams, administrative reports, memoranda, and hand-written notes concerning the affairs of Ibn Sa'ud and the Najd. The correspondence is between the Political Residency in Bushire, the Political Agencies in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jeddah, the High Commissioner in Iraq, the High Commissioner in Egypt, the Resident in Aden, the Colonial Office, the India Office and the Foreign Office, all in London, the Foreign Department of the Government of India, and Ibn Sa'ud. There are some letters written in Arabic.The main subjects that the documents relate to are: the final payment of Ibn Sa'ud's subsidy; the unrest and movements of a number of tribes of the region, particularly the 'Ajman and those in the Kuwait area; and the expulsion of Hindu merchants from Qatif by Ibn Sa'ud.Other topics are:Ibn Sa'ud's liability for Ottoman Public Debt repayments;diplomatic development and policy of Ibn Sa'ud;the absorption of the 'Idrisi state into Ibn Sa'ud's territories;Ibn Sa'uds's assumption of the title of 'King';anti-Wahabi propaganda distributed among Muslims in India.Near the end of the volume is mention of treaties signed by Ibn Sa'ud with the German Reich and the Turkish Republic. Also of note is a 'Green Book', an official Najdi document, on the administration of the 'Idrisi province.Physical description: Foliation: the sequence starts on the title page and continues through to the inside back cover. The numbers are written in pencil and can be found in the top right hand corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The volume consists of letters, telegrams, and reports relating to affairs between the British Mandate of Iraq and the Kingdom of Najd. The majority of the correspondence is between Leo Amery, Secretary of State for the Colonies, Austen Chamberlain, Foreign Secretary (both in London), Henry Dobbs, High Commissioner in Iraq, Lionel Haworth, Political Resident in Bushire, Cyril Barrett, Political Agent in Bahrain, James More, Political Agent in Kuwait, Ibn Sa'ud, King of Hejaz-Najd and its Dependencies, John Glubb, Administrative Inspector in Iraq, Gerald De Gaury, Special Service Officer in Kuwait, and the Government of India.The volume covers the period after a revolt by the Ikhwan during which there was a perceived threat of attacks against Iraq and Kuwait. The different opinions within the British Government on the size of the threat and how to respond to it is evident. Subjects included are:intelligence of tribal movements and activities, particularly those of the
Ikhwantribes of Mutair, 'Ajman, and 'Utaibah, and the threat and occurrence of cross-border raids, all gathered from reports by De Gaury and Glubb, as well as local rumour;issues concerning the defence of Kuwait (naval protection, air reconnaissance and bombing, a land force);the use of 'police posts' along the desert frontier;the first meeting (in May 1929) between Gilbert Clayton and Ibn Sa'ud in Jeddah to discuss the crisis;the thoughts, motivations, and capabilities of Ibn Sa'ud;a conference of Najd tribal leaders in Riyadh with Ibn Sa'ud to try and resolve the situation.Other subjects that are covered are:the concept of the 'jihad tax' levied by Ibn Sa'ud against non-combatants to help finance his wars;a rumour, dismissed by the British, that the Persians are encouraging the
Ikhwanrevolt (it is not clear which Persians are implicated);the loss of crops and grazing in Najd caused by a swarm of locusts and its effects on tribal migrations.At the end of the volume (folios 398-402) are internal office notes.Physical description: Foliation: the sequence starts on the first folio and runs through to folio 404 on the inside back cover. The numbering is written in pencil, circled, and found in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. There are the following irregularities: 1A and 1B; 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D; 118A; 285A; and 299A.
Abstract: The volume consists of letters, telegrams, and reports relating to affairs between the British Mandate of Iraq and the Kingdom of Najd. The majority of the correspondence is between Leo Amery, Secretary of State for the Colonies, Austen Chamberlain, Foreign Secretary (both in London), Henry Dobbs, High Commissioner in Iraq, Lionel Haworth, Political Resident in Bushire, Cyril Barrett, Political Agent in Bahrain, James More, Political Agent in Kuwait, Ibn Sa'ud, King of Hejaz-Najd and its Dependencies, John Glubb, Administrative Inspector in Iraq, Gerald De Gaury, Special Service Officer in Kuwait, and the Government of India.The volume covers the period of unrest after a revolt by the Ikhwan during which there was a perceived threat of attacks against Iraq and Kuwait. The causes of and solutions to the crisis are suggested and debated amongst the different offices and departments of the British Government. Subjects raised are:intelligence of tribal movements and activities, particularly those of the Ikhwan tribes of Mutair, 'Ajman, and 'Utaibah, and the threat and occurrence of cross-border raids, all gathered from reports by John Glubb, as well as local rumour and reports;issues concerning the defence of Kuwait (naval protection, air reconnaissance and bombing, a land force);the friction between civil and military authorities;the second meeting (August 1929) between Gilbert Clayton and Ibn Sa'ud to try and reach an agreement;the thoughts, motivations, and capabilities of Ibn Sa'ud;a second meeting between Ibn Sa'ud and Ikhwan leaders in Riyadh to try and resolve the crisis;the idea of a blockade of Hasa ports to force the Najdi tribes into submission.Other subjects included are:the sale of arms to Kuwait;Sa'id al-'Aiyash, a Damascus journalist who plans to travel to Riyadh.Physical description: This volume comes in two parts: the first part is a bound volume; the second part is a small file.Foliation: The sequence starts on the volume's title page and continues through to the inside back cover. It resumes on the front cover of the file and continues through to the inside back cover. The numbering is written in pencil, circled, and positioned in the top right corner of each folio. There are the following anomalies: 1A-1C; 114A; 182A-182D; and 191A. There is a second, incomplete sequence that is also written in pencil in the same place, but is uncircled.Condition: folio 150 bottom right corner torn away, obscuring some text.
Abstract: The volume consists of letters, telegrams, and reports relating to affairs between the British Mandate of Iraq and the Kingdom of Najd. The majority of the correspondence is between Leo Amery, Secretary of State for the Colonies, Austen Chamberlain, Foreign Secretary (both in London), Henry Dobbs, High Commissioner in Iraq (later Gilbert Clayton, Acting Hich Commissioner in Iraq), Lionel Haworth, Political Resident in Bushire, Cyril Barrett, Political Agent in Bahrain, James More, Political Agent in Kuwait, Ibn Sa'ud, King of Hejaz-Najd and its Dependencies, John Glubb, Administrative Inspector in Iraq, Gerald De Gaury, Special Service Officer in Kuwait, the British Agency in Jeddah, and the Government of India.The volume covers the period of unrest after a revolt by the Ikhwan
,including a number of raids on Kuwait and the Battle of Sabila, which effectively brought the crisis to an end. Subjects raised are:a raid on Kuwait by the Ikhwan;an attack on a car on the Kuwait-Basra road in which an American Missionary, Henry Bilkert, is killed;intelligence of tribal movements and activities, particularly those of the Ikhwan tribes of Mutair, 'Ajman, and 'Utaibah, and the threat and occurrence of cross-border raids, all gathered from reports by John Glubb, Flight Lieutenant Howes (Special Service Officer in Kuwait), as well as local rumour and reports;issues concerning the defence of Kuwait;the failure of Gilbert Clayton and Ibn Sa'ud to come to an agreement over the legitimacy of the desert 'police posts' in Iraq;the thoughts, motivations, and capabilities of Ibn Sa'ud;a second meeting between Ibn Sa'ud and Ikhwan leaders in Riyadh to try and resolve the crisis;the idea of a blockade of Hasa ports to force the Najdi tribes into submission;the Battle of Sabila and its aftermath.Other subjects included are:the imprisonment of Nuhaitar ibn Juraiyid of the Dhafir tribe in Hail;the channels through which communication with Ibn Sa'ud should be made (i.e. through Bushire or through Jeddah).Notable within the volume is a sketch map and extensive notes by Harold Dickson on the seasonal migrations of the shepherd tribes of the Lower Euphrates.At the end of the volume (folios 378-382) are office notes.Physical description: Main foliation: the sequence starts on the first page and continues through until the inside back cover. The numbering is written in pencil, circled, and positioned in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. There are the following irregularities: there is no folio numbered 2, instead, the second, third, and fourth folios have been numbered respectively 2A, 2B, and 2C.Secondary, earlier foliation sequence: the numbers1 to 341 are written in pencil, but not circled, on folios that were subsequently renumbered 5 to 377.Condition: the top left corner of folio 47 has been torn away, obscuring some text.
Abstract: The file contains a set of manuscript notes by the Political Agent, Kuwait (Captain Stuart George Knox) on the Ajman [‘Ajmān] tribe.The notes include genealogical charts ('pedigrees'); estimates of numbers of fighting men; references to allowances received by shaikhs; and a table giving the divisions of the tribe (folio 5).Many names are recorded in Arabic only.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 18; 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 1-17; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
Abstract: The volume comprises correspondence between the Ruler of Katr [Qatar], Shaikh Jāsim bin Muḥammad Āl Thānī, and British officials, concerning relations between Shaikh Jāsim bin Muḥammad and a variety of parties on the Arab coast, including Indian subjects in Qatar, the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi, and the British and Turkish Governments. The principal correspondents in the file are the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Colonel Edward Ross, Shaikh Jāsim bin Muḥammad Āl Thānī, and the Residency Agent at Sharjah, Hajjī ‘Abd Āl Qāsim.The principal subjects discussed in the volume are:Relations between Shaikh Jāsim bin Muḥammad Āl Thānī of Qatar and Shaikh Zayid bin Khalīfah of Abu Zhabi [Abu Dhabi] including: Shaikh Jāsim’s intention to occupy the village of ’Odaid, considered to be Abu Dhabi property, with the Resident’s response to the move (folios, 5, 14), raids by Qatar tribes (folios 130-31) and subsequent reprisals (folios 134-35), reconciliation (folios 137-38), and a later deterioration of relations between Qatar and Abu Dhabi in 1885/86 (folios 189-91);Shaikh Jāsim bin Muḥammad’s intentions to attack the Ajman tribes at El Katiff [Al-Qaṭīf] (folios 34-35);The actions of Butuye bin Khadim and his people (the Kubeysat). The Kubeysat originated from ’Odaid and were indebted to Shaikh Jāsim bin Muḥammad. Butuye bin Khadim subsequently moved from Al Bidda to Wakrah [Wukrah] without repaying his debts, and was accused of stealing pearls at Wukrah (folios 59-61, 66-67);Reports of ill-treatment by the inhabitants of Al Bidda against Indian banians (folios 121-22);A report on a discussion between Commander Nesham of HMS
Woodlarkand Shaikh Jāsim bin Muḥammad Āl Thānī, dated 7 February 1882, covering: the 1868 treaty between Great Britain and Qatar, and Shaikh Jāsim’s desire to break relations with the Turks and have relations with Britain similar to that enjoyed by Abu Dhabi; Shaikh Jāsim’s relations with the Turkish authorities; and the treatment of Indian subjects [banians] in Qatar (folios 164-75);Reports of Turkish activities at Al-Hasa and Al-Qaṭīf (folios 176-80).Correspondence on these subjects throughout the volume, exchanged between Ross and the Government of India, includes discussion on the ambiguous jurisdictional nature of Britain’s relationship with Shaikh Jāsim bin Muḥammad Āl Thānī who, in spite of having signed a treaty with the British in 1868 (folios 52-53, 57-58), had aligned himself with Turkey in 1871. A copy of a letter from the Assistant Political Agent at Basrah [Basra] to the Political Resident and Consul General in Baghdad, dated 2 September 1886 (folios 214-15), indicates Abu Dhabi’s status as Britain’s most westerly protectorate on the Arab coast, and its close proximity to Qatar, the most southerly domain in Arabia under nominal Turkish control.Physical description: Foliation: The volume’s foliation starts on the first page after the front cover and finishes on the last page of the volume, using pencil numbers in the top-right corner of each recto. The following foliation anomalies occur: 1a.Some pages are damaged at the edges, through tears or water damage, resulting in the loss of a small amount of text.
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: The volume concerns the situation on the frontier between Iraq, Koweit [Kuwait], Transjordan, and the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd (usually referred to separately as Hejaz or Nejd), following the operations of Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd], King of Hejaz and Nejd, against 'rebel' Nejdi tribes (also referred to as Akhwan [Ikhwan]), including the Mutair [Muṭayr] and the Ajman [‘Ajmān]. The main issues covered are: refugees, the fate of the rebel leaders, and negotiations over a settlement.In addition to India Office correspondence and memoranda, the volume includes correspondence from: the High Commissioner for Iraq; the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Vincent Biscoe); the Colonial Office; the Foreign Office; HM Chargé d’Affaires, Jeddah; and Ibn Saud.The papers include: intelligence reports concerning the movements of rebel tribes and the activities of their leaders; the role of the Royal Air Force (aeroplanes and armoured cars) in reconnaissance and defence; the policy on the Awazim tribe, who had been allowed to enter Kuwait; the policy on refugees from the rebel tribes who attempted to enter Iraq, Kuwait, and Transjordan; the return of property stolen by the rebels; measures to prevent rebels crossing into Iraq and Transjordan; discussion of the policy on the rebels' women and children; the activities of Faisal al Dawish [Fayṣal bin Sulṭān al-Dawīsh], including his unconditional surrender in January 1930; the British Government's policy on the bombing of rebel refugees, the objective of which was said to be to intimidate, rather than cause casualties (folio 326); the activities of the Hejazi Government official Hafiz Wahba; the question of whether to hand over rebel leaders to Ibn Saud; Colonial Office instructions to the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf concerning his negotiations with Ibn Saud (folios 247-258); the progress of Biscoe's negotiations; Ibn Saud's attitude to rebel leaders (e.g. folio 79); proposals for a meeting between King Faisal [Fayṣal I] of Iraq, and Ibn Saud; a petition from persons claiming to represent various Hejazi political parties in Egypt, expressing opposition to the Hejaz Government (folios 65-66); letters from Fayṣal bin Sulṭān al-Dawīsh to Ibn Saud (folios 46-48); and the successful outcome of Biscoe's negotiations with Ibn Saud.The volume also contains a minute dated 1934 concerning a rumour that two of the rebel chiefs had been executed on the orders of Ibn Saud (folio 3).The file includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references contained 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 508; 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 376-508; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.