Abstract: The volume primarily consists of correspondence between the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Trenchard Craven Fowle, Percy Gordon Loch); Political Agent at Bahrain (Tom Hickinbotham); the Residency Agent at Sharjah (Khan Sahib Abd ‘al-Razzaq) the India Office (John Charles Walton, Maurice Clauson) and Petroleum Concessions Limited (Frank Holmes, Basil Henry Lermitte, Stephen Hemsley Longrigg, Frederick Lewisohn); the main subject of discussion is the negotiations between the Shaikh Sultan bin Saqar [Sulṭān bin Saqr Āl Qasimī], Ruler of Sharjah and Major Frank Holmes, negotiator for Petroleum Concessions Limited.The correspondence discusses the negotiations for a commercial concession in Sharjah, which are concluded in the beginning of July 1937 with the Shaikh agreeing to sign the concession; and his subsequent concern over the Political Agreement and Exchange of Notes relating to the concession agreement.Also discussed in connection with concession agreements is a letter drafted by the India Office which contained an ultimatum to be used should any Shaikh appear to be holding out in negotiations with Petroleum Concessions Limited (PCL) with the intention of opening negotiations instead with the Standard Oil Company of California. The ultimatum stated that should the Shaikh in question not wish to give his concession to PCL, he would not be permitted to negotiate with or grant a concession to, any other company. The ultimatum was issued to the Shaikh’s of Sharjah, Ras al Khaimah and Umm al Qaiwain.Further correspondence relates to PCL’s interest in exploring the territory west of the Oman mountain range and the subsequent discussion regarding which rulers claimed responsibility over the territory, whether they had actual authority there or whether it was in the hands of local shaikhs, and how PCL should approach exploring there in those circumstances.The correspondence includes a detailed assessment by the Political Agent at Bahrain, Tom Hickinbotham, of the areas in question and outlines what he knows of the areas of the tribes that claimed ownership including the Beni Kitab [Beni Qitab] (also given as Beni Chittab); Naim [Āl Na‘īm], Bu Shamis [Āl Bū Shāmis] and Duroor [Al-Durur] as well as outlining where he believed the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi and Sultan of Muscat’s areas of authority to be. The correspondence concludes by recommending that the Company be persuaded to delay their explorations into this territory until the following year in order to permit the Political Agent and Residency Agent to spend the winter visiting and exploring these areas in order to ascertain a more accurate knowledge of the situation.Other matters discussed in the volume include:an invitation from the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi to Petroleum Concessions Limited to open concession negotiations with him and the company’s wish for Khan Sahib Yusuf Kanoo to accompany their negotiator (Basil Henry Lermitte) to Abu Dhabi;copy of the Debai [Dubai] Commercial agreement (folios 53-70) signed by Major Frank Holmes (PCL), Tom Hickinbotham (Political Agent at Bahrain) and Shaikh Saʻīd bin Maktūm Āl Maktūm (Shaikh of Dubai).the Political Agreement for the Trucial states which both the India Office and Petroleum Concessions Limited wished to amend, and subsequent negotiations to achieve this. A copy of the redrafted agreement can be found at folios 103-109.a visit by Frank Holmes to the Shaikh of Ras al Khaimah (Shaikh Sulṭān bin Sālim Āl Qasimī) for the purpose of opening concession negotiations, which was unsuccessful, and concerns that the Shaikh would attempt to negotiate with the Standard Oil Company despite being informed by the British Government that such negotiations would not be permitted.Petroleum Concessions Limited’s intention to employ Haji ‘Abdullah Williamson to work for them in the Persian Gulf as his employment with the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company had ended and their concern that they would not be able to do so owing to the circular issued by the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf preventing Williamson from visiting the Arab Coast. Also included is discussion of the decision by the India Office and Political Resident in the Persian Gulf to make the company aware of the evidence they had in support of Williamson’s actions on the Trucial Coast in which he was seen to be working against the interest of his employers (PCL) and of the Shaikh of Dubai.Correspondence with the Trucial Coast Shaikhs is in English and Arabic; letters from the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company contain Persian and English letterheads.A series of file notes which were maintained as a record of the correspondence in the volume can be found at folios 191-196.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 5-190; 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: This file contains correspondence concerning the Persian claim to the island of Sirrī, as well as their claim to and occupation of that place. In addition there is information concerning rival claims by Trucial Coast rulers, details concerning Dubai pearl divers on the island and details concerning other Persian Gulf islands, including Abu Musa [Abū Mūsá] and Tanb [Ṭanb].The correspondence in this file is between the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire; ‘Abd al-Qasim and ‘Abd al-Laṭīf, Residency Agents at Sharjah; Āghā Muḥammad Amīn Badr, Residency Agent at Lingah [Bandar-e-Lengeh]; Ṣaqr bin Khālid Āl Qāsimī, ruler of Sharjah; Maktūm bin Ḥashr Āl Maktūm, ruler of Dubai; and various British officials in the Foreign Department of the Government of India. There are also copies of correspondence between India Office and Foreign Office officials.Folio 2 is an index, and folios 4-9 are a precis of documents within the file for folios 10-115. Subjects covered include: Persian flag hoisted on Sirri [Sirrī] (folios 18, 48); Persian refusal to remove the flag (folios 127-131); Memorandum by the Resident on Persian refusal (folios 141-144); Hajji Ahmad Khan [Hājjī Aḥmad Khān]'s Report (folios 80-93); Legation correspondence with the Persian Foreign Office (folios 70-77); Documents tendered in support of the Persian claim (folio 52-59); Shaikh of Shargah [Sharjah]'s claims to Sirri (folios 27-28); Persian claim to Abu Musa island (folio 80); Shaikh of Debai [Dubai] complains of pearl divers absconding to Sirri and the Persian Coast (folios 116-118, 154-160, 167-190); Chief of Ras El Khaimah [Ras al-Khaymah]'s claim to Tanb island (folios 22, 209).Notable documents within the file include: a precis of correspondence about occupation of the island of Sirri (folios 109-113); a report entitled
Question of the status of the Island of Sirri(ff. 165-166); a report by the Residency Agent at Lingah on the island of Sirri in Persian and English translation (ff. 200-202); correspondence with Sir Mortimer Durand regarding the island of Sirri (folios 211-215); and a statement by the Shaikh of Sharjah (f. 65).Physical description: Foliation: The foliation number is circled in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto of each folio. It begins on the third folio after the front cover, on number 1, and ends on the last folio of writing, on number 227. The file contains the following foliation amendments: folio 1 is followed by folios 1A and 1B; no folio 3; folio 92 is followed by folio 92A; folio 156 is followed by folio 156A; folio 171 is followed by folio 171A.
Abstract: This item consists of copies of correspondence, consultations, and minutes cited in, or enclosed with, political letters from the Government of Bombay. These political letters appear in IOR/F/4/2203/108134. The correspondents are: the Government of Bombay; Major Samuel Hennell, British Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; and Commodore John Croft Hawkins, commanding the Gulf Squadron. It is the twenty-seventh in a series of thirty items.The item concerns:A report by Hawkins on his negotiations at Asseeloo [Bandar-e Asaluyeh] and tour of the GulfThe collapse of the alliance between Shaik Sultan bin Suggur, Chief of the Joasmees [Shaikh Sulṭān I bin Ṣaqr al-Qāsimī, Shaikh of Ra’s al-Khaymah and Sharjah] and Shaik Saeed bin Tahnoon [Shaikh Sa‘īd bin Ṭaḥnūn Āl Nahyān, Shaikh of Abu Dhabi], Chief of the Banyas [Banī Yās] tribeThe negotiation of peace between Shaik Sultan and Debaye [Dubai]The failure of peace negotiations between Shaik Saeed and Debaye.The item contains a contents page, and the title page of the item contains the following references: ‘Draft 700/47, Collection No 18 of No 69’.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with f 782, and terminates at f 792 as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the bottom right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: the item also contains an original pagination sequence.
Abstract: This item consists of copies of correspondence, consultations, and minutes cited in, or enclosed with, political letters from the Government of Bombay. These political letters appear in IOR/F/4/2203/108134. The correspondents are: the Government of Bombay; Major Samuel Hennell, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; Sheik Saleh ben Suggur [Shaikh Ṣāliḥ bin Ṣaqr al-Qāsimī]; and Moollah Houssein, [Mullā Ḥusayn], British Agent at Shargah [Sharjah]. It is the sixth in a series of thirty items.The item concerns the appointment of Sheik Saleh to the governorship of Shargah by his brother, Sheik Sultan ben Suggur [Shaikh Sulṭān bin Ṣaqr al-Qāsimī of Ra’s al-Khaymah and Sharjah], and the peace negotiations between Sheik Mukhtoom of Debaie [Shaikh Maktūm I bin Buṭṭī Āl Bū Falāseh of Dubai], Sheik Abdoollah of Amulgavine [Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Rāshid al-Mu’allā of Umm al-Qaywayn], and Sheik Saleh.The item contains a contents page, and the title page of the item contains the following references: ‘Draft 700/47, Coll[ection]: 18, Collection No 5 of No 37’.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with f 656, and terminates at f 661 as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the bottom right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: the item also contains an original pagination sequence.
Abstract: The item consists of copies and extracts of correspondence cited in, or enclosed with, a Political Letter from the Government of Bombay to the East India Company Court of Directors, 30 September 1847. A copy of this Political Letter can be found at IOR/F/4/2238/112322, alongside details of further enclosures. The item is the twenty-first in a series of fifty-nine items on events in the Persian Gulf.The item relates to a report, dated 1 June 1847, from Moollah Housseen [Mullā Ḥusayn], Native Agent at Shargah [Sharjah], to Major Samuel Hennell, Resident in the Persian Gulf, on the subject of recent events at Shargah since Hennell’s visit in May 1847. Moollah Housseen writes that a treaty has been drawn up between: Sheik Abdoollah bin Rashid, Chief of Amulgavine [Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Rāshid al-Mu‘allā, Shaikh of Umm al-Qaywayn]; Sheik Mukhtoom, Chief of Debaye [Shaikh Maktūm I bin Buṭṭī Āl Bū Falāseh, Shaikh of Dubai]; Sheik Saeed bin Tahnoon, Chief of Aboothabee and the Beniyas [Shaikh Sa‘īd bin Ṭaḥnūn Āl Nahyān, Shaikh of Abu Dhabi and leader of the Banī Yās]; and Sheik Sultan bin Suggur, the Joasmee Chief [Shaikh Sulṭān I bin Ṣaqr al-Qāsimī, leader of the Qawāsim]. Moollah Housseen notes that Sheik Mukhtoom is conflicted as he is unhappy with the terms of the treaty but does not wish to go against his ally, Sheik Abdoollah bin Rashid. Moollah Housseen also shares his opinion that the chiefs of the Joasmee and the Beniyas are hoping to cause a rift between the other two in order to subjugate them.Moollah Housseen's report also contains a couple of additional brief updates from Shargah.The item contains multiple spellings for individuals and places.The title page of the item contains the following references: ‘Bombay Political Department’, ‘Draft No. 345/48’, ‘Collection No. 2 of No. 118, Vol: 21.’ and ‘Examiner’s Office’.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 369, and terminates at f 373, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the bottom right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: the item also contains an original pagination sequence.
Abstract: This handwritten memorandum concerns the Debai [Dubai] Incident of 1910-1911. The memorandum gives a background on British treaty relations with the Sheikh Buṭtī bin Suhayl Āl Maktum of Dubai, the arms blockade on the Trucial coast, and a narrative of the incident that occurred on 24 December 1910 and subsequent events. Printed copies of the principal telegrams relating to the Dubai Incident appear between folios 49-51.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation for this memorandumcommences at folio 41 and terminates at folio 51, 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 folios 7-147; 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 a record of negotiations between Major Frank Holmes and Ashraf Halim [Ashraf Halīm] on behalf of Petroleum Concessions Limited, and the Shaikh Sa'id bin Maktum [Saʻīd bin Maktūm Āl Maktūm], Shaikh of Dibai [Dubai], over a concession agreement for Dibai, which resulted in a concession being agreed and the clauses of the concession being initialled by each party with the Shaikh of Dubai intending to sign the concession formally once it had been approved by the British Government, draft copies of the concession are included at folios 70-73 and 91-109.Also included in the volume are correspondence and meetings between Petroleum Concessions Limited (Stephen Hemlsey Longrigg), the India Office (John Walton, Maurice Clauson), the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Trenchard Craven Fowle, Percy Gordon Loch), the Petroleum Department (Harold Gordon Gunn), the Admiralty (Ebenezer Seal) and the Foreign Office (Terence Vincent Brenan) to discuss both the amended clauses of the concession agreement for Dubai and the necessary Political Agreement between Petroleum Concessions Limited and Her Majesty’s Government. The main points of discussion being the clauses in the Political Agreement relating to protection of Company Employees, jurisdiction for expelling foreigners from Dibai, and the need for a British controlled Refinery in the Persian Gulf.Also under discussion is the question of boundaries between the Trucial Coast Shaikhdom’s and how best to settle them in relation to concession agreements; and reports of communications between the Shaikh Sa'id bin Maktum, Ruler of Dubai and Shaikh Shakhbut bin Sultan [Shaikh Shakhbūt bin Sulṭān bin Zāyid Āl Nahyān], Ruler of Abu Dhabi with the intention of settling themselves the boundary between their respective territories which the Political Resident believes to be the best solution to the boundary question, provided they are able to reach a consensus.Correspondence between the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf , the Secretary of State for India, the Political Agent Bahrain and Petroleum Concessions Limited discussing the protection undertaking required by the British Government before the options secured by the Trucial Coast Shaikh’s could be approved. The correspondence confirms the acceptance by the Shaikh’s of Abu Dhabi and Dibai of the condition; the refusal of the Shaikhs of Sharjah (Sulṭān bin Saqr Āl Qasimī) and Ras al Khaimah [Ra's al Khaymah] (Shaikh Sulṭān bin Sālim Āl Qasimī) to agree to the condition as it contained references to compensation without any upper limit or detail of amounts; and the non-response of the Shaikh of Ajman (Rāshid bin Ḥumaid Al-Nu`aimī) to the agreement. The correspondence continues by discussing ways of convincing the Shaikh’s of Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah to agree to the undertaking and possible reassurances that could be given in relation to the question of compensation.Other topics discussed include:the continuation of negotiations with the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi regarding a possible concession agreement;the appointment of Ernest Vincent Packer as Chief Local Representative for Petroleum Concessions Limited, including correspondence from the India Office following up his references;reports through the Residency Agent at Sharjah (Khan Sahib Saiyid 'Abd al-Razzaq) of attempts by the Shaikh of Sharjah to convince the Shaikh’s of Abu Dhabi and Dubai to go back on their acceptance of the protection undertaking; and to convince the Shaikh of Dubai not to sign a concession agreement until all the Trucial Coast Shaikhs had an opportunity to come together and discuss the question of oil jointly;summary of Petroleum Concessions Limited’s position and progress in relation to the concession agreements they were pursuing; progress updates were given for the Kuwait Neutral Zone; Qatar; Bahrain and the Trucial Coasts along with details of the appointment of a Chief Local Representative, the intended movements of their geologists and their intentions in regards to the shipping of equipment and materials and the recruitment of employees.Reports from the Residency Agent at Shargah of the movements of Hussain Yateem [Husayn Yatīm] in Sharjah and Dubai; and unconfirmed rumours that he had been employed as an agent and negotiator for an American Petroleum Company and had approached the Shaikh’s of Sharjah and Dubai in this capacity.Draft concession agreements and correspondence with Shaikh's in Arabic and English.A series of file notes which were maintained as a record of the correspondence in the volume can be found at folios 248-255.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 present in parallel between ff 6-247; these numbers are also written in pencil, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence, but they are not circled. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
Abstract: The volume contains correspondence, primarily between Major Frank Holmes as negotiator for Petroleum Concessions Limited (PCL), John Skliros, Director of Petroleum Concessions Limited in London, the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf and the Political Agent at Bahrain regarding progress in negotiations with Shaikh Sultan bin Saqr [Sulṭān bin Saqr Āl Qasimī], Ruler of Sharjah for a concession in his territories. The correspondence discusses the amendments to the agreement which the Shaikh wished to make, various conditions he wished to place on the concession. and negotiations over the financial terms of a potential concession. A draft copy of the concession agreement can be found at folios 94-111.Also discussed is the signing of the Debai [Dubai] concession and PCL's acceptance of the signed copy; along with the written agreement given by Shaikh Sa’id bin Maktum al Maktum [Saʻīd bin Maktūm Āl Maktūm] to the Political Resident regarding a termination of contract undertaking.Further correspondence between the Political Agent at Bahrain, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf and Secretary of State for India considers methods of applying pressure on the Trucial Coast Shaikh’s to sign concessions with Petroleum Concessions Limited in order to prevent American interests from acquiring concessions in the area. A letter is issued by the Secretary of State for India, on behalf of the British Government, to be used if negotiations and initial pressure failed to secure the concessions. The letter made it clear that the British Government would not permit more than one Oil Company to operate on the Trucial Coast and that they had approved agreements with PCL and were not prepared to permit negotiations with other Companies. The intention was for the letter to be used as a last resort as there could be difficulties if either Petroleum Concessions Limited or the Trucial Coast Shaikh’s came to learn of its existence before it was required.Other matters of note within the volume include:circular issued by the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf to all Consuls and Political Agents with powers to grant visa’s requesting that no visa for the Trucial Coast be granted to Haji ‘Abdullah Williamson without prior discussion with the Political Resident. Also included is a note of a discussion which the Political Resident had with Mr Gordon, Assistant General Manager for the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company at Abadan, regarding Williamson’s activities on the Trucial Coast whilst being employed by Petroleum Concessions Limited;report on a conversation between the Political Agent at Bahrain and the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi (Shaikh Shakhbūt bin Sulṭān bin Zāyid Āl Nahyān) over statements made to the Shaikh about Major Frank Holmes and Petroleum Concessions Limited and their British status, which the Political Agent was able to correct; and concerns about rumours being spread on the Trucial Coast which could cause problems for both PCL and the British Government;draft copies in Arabic and English of the proposed Umm-al-Qaiwain [Umm al Qaywayn] concession agreement (ff 48-65), Ajman Concession agreement (ff 30-47), and Ras al Khaimah [Ra's al Khaymah] concession agreement (ff 112-129);Correspondence regarding a disturbance in Kalba [Kalbā] which had briefly prevented individuals visiting Ras al Khaimah;letter from the Sultan of Muscat and Oman (Sayyid Taymūr bin Fayṣal bin Turkī Āl Bū Sa‘īd) to the Political Agent at Muscat (Ralph Ponsonby Watts) regarding an encroachment by the Geologists for Petroleum Concessions Limited into his territory in the Buraimi [Al Buraymī] district; and observations by the Political Agent of the need to define the limits of the Sultan’s territory as soon as possible.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 5-214; these numbers are also written in pencil, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence, but they are not circled. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
Abstract: The file concerns the arrangements for the supply of funds by the Political Agency, Bahrain for expenses incurred by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and its personnel in Bahrain (also spelled Bahrein) and the Trucial Coast.The correspondence is mainly from the Political Agent, Bahrain; staff of Air Headquarters, British Forces in Iraq, Hinaidi; the Residency Agent, Sharjah; and the Air Liaison Officer, RAF Bahrain (Wing Commander Aubrey Robert Maxwell Rickards). There is also some correspondence from the Adviser to the Government of Bahrain, and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf.The papers cover: correspondence concerning the consumption of electricity by RAF personnel in Bahrain (e.g. folio 13); monthly bills of expenditure incurred by the Political Agency, Bahrain on behalf of RAF personnel, for the period March 1936 - November 1937 inclusive; correspondence between the Political Agent, Bahrain, and the Residency Agent, Sharjah concerning monthly payments to Shaikh Said bin Maktum [Saʻīd bin Maktūm], Ruler of Dubai for hire of a petrol dhow and its guards, and to Shaikh Sultan bin Salim [Sulṭān bin Sālim Āl Qasimī], Ruler of Ras al Khaimah for pay of guards for a petrol barge, April 1936 - December 1937; receipts from RAF personnel for incidental expenses, and covering letters for payments of expenses issued by Air Headquarters, British Forces in Iraq, Hinaidi; correspondence between the Political Agent, Bahrain and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf concerning the need to prevent the Residency Agent Sharjah from being forced to make advances to RAF officers, July 1936; correspondence between the Political Agent, Bahrain and the Acting Adviser to the Government of Bahrain concerning payment of rent for Bahrain Aerodrome, August 1936; correspondence concerning payment of expenses in connection with the use by RAF personnel of the Bahrain Rest House (e.g. folio 113); sundry expenses incurred by the RAF in Bahrain (e.g. payment of expenses to the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) in connection with moving a crashed aeroplane, folio 134); and papers relating to the Air Liaison Officer, Bahrain (Wing Commander Aubrey Rickards), including correspondence between Rickards and the Political Agent, Bahrain, instructions concerning RAF accounting arrangements at Bahrain (folios 277-279), and correspondence concerning Rickards's death and estate, May - December 1937.The Arabic language content of the file consists of approximately sixty-five items of correspondence (all with translations into English) between the Political Agent, Bahrain, and the Residency Agent, Sharjah; and a small number of miscellaneous items.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 358; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Three additional foliation sequences are also present in parallel between ff 4-33, ff 296-309, and in the notes between ff 337-351; 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’s contents concern the implementation of civil air agreements, and the use of air facilities, at Britain’s aerodromes along the Arab coast (chiefly Bahrain (Muharraq), but also at Sharjah, Kuwait, and Qatar) in the period directly following the Second World War. The principal correspondents in the file are the Political Resident (Lieutenant-Colonel William Rupert Hay), and incumbents of the post of Political Agent at Bahrain (Lieutenant-Colonel Arnold Crawshaw Galloway, Captain Hugh Dunstan Rance, and Cornelius James Pelly).Subjects in the file include:Renegotiations between British Government officials (Persian Gulf, Foreign Office, Air Ministry) over the terms of the various air navigation regulations held with the various rulers of the Arab coast of the Gulf;Questions of the continued use of the aerodrome at Sharjah by the Royal Air Force [RAF], and the maintenance of British Overseas Airways Corporation [BOAC] staff and radio facilities at Sharjah;Renewal of the agreement between the British Government and Sheikh of Dubai over air facilities at Dubai;Requests from foreign airlines (France Air, Quantas, Czecho-Slovak Air) to fly over or land at aerodromes administered by the British in the Gulf;Hay’s concern of the lack of regulation of civil aviation in the Gulf, in light of the increasing number of flights and operators (both national and local) operating in the region, and in increasing tendency for foreign aircraft to not seek prior permission to land at Bahrain;Discussion in 1949 of the concept of ‘pre-packed airports’ being marketed by the likes of Westinghouse Corporation in the United States, with enquiries into their viability for the Gulf, and a lack of interest on the part of British officials at Bahrain (f 193) and Qatar (f 190);The installation of new light and radio facilities at Muharraq aerodrome in late 1950, in response to two fatal crashes by Air France aeroplanes that occurred in June 1950.Items of particular note in the file include:A letter from the Secretary of State for India, dated 26 June 1947, detailing the RAF’s long-term commitment at Sharjah, with a list of permanent buildings required at the Sharjah aerodrome (ff 69-71);A schedule of fees payable to the Sheikh of Bahrain for 1947, showing flights made into and out of Bahrain (f 63);A list of foreign aircraft landing at Bahrain during January to March 1949 (f 150);Notes of a meeting held at the Foreign Office on 25 September 1950, intended to address concerns over increasing local competition on air routes in the Gulf (ff 234-244).Physical description: Foliation: The main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the cover and terminates at the last folio; 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 between ff 2-259; 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 contains correspondence on a number of different, air-related matters, and is not restricted to air accidents suffered by Imperial Airways aircraft. The principal correspondents in the file are the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Political Agent in Bahrain, and the Political Officer on the Trucial Coast.The subjects covered by the file are:The emergency landing in March 1933 of an Imperial Airways ‘HANNO’ [Handley Page] aircraft at Jubail, in Ibn Saud’s [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] territory, the subsequent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the emergency landing, and discussion amongst British officials over whether a gift should be given to the Amir of Jubail, whose subjects lent assistance to the aircraft’s pilot (ff 4-46);Reports of a missing plane in the Gulf in March 1940 (ff 47-52);In July 1940, the theft of copper panels from the wireless station at the aerodrome in Sharjah, leading to the aerodrome’s inability to provide radio bearings to incoming aircraft. Further correspondence documents the investigation into the theft, and the apprehension of the culprits (ff 53-63);Through the remainder of the file, correspondence from 1941 to 1943 relating to the development of air facilities in a number of locations, as part of the Aden to Karachi air route. This correspondence includes: extensive arrangements for the temporary charter by the British Overseas Airways Corporation of the Sheikh of Dubai’s launch, to be used at Ras al Hadd; work at Masirah (island) and the sourcing of a launch to enable operations to proceed between the mainland and the island; unrest amongst the workers at Salalah.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 present in parallel between ff 2-171; 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 file contains correspondence and notes related to air facilities required by Imperial Airways (from 1940 the British Overseas Airways Corporation - BOAC) and the Royal Air Force (RAF) along the Arabian Coast. The file therefore contains a number of lists (some of which are categorised by priority) prepared by the Air Ministry outlining British requirements for navigation beacons, wireless transmissions sets, direction finding sets, moorings for flying boats etc; the lists prepared by the Air Ministry are revised over time to reflect changing requirements, for example the introduction of night flying. Also covered in the file is the establishment of a petrol dhow at Dubai in 1934 (see folio 402 for a copy of the agreement), and consideration in 1938 of arrangements for the provision of fuel at Ras al Khaimah [Ra's al-Khaymah] for Imperial Airways in cases of emergency.Another topic featured in the file is the introduction of a flying boat service by Imperial Airways in 1937, and the selection of a suitable stopping point along the Arabian Coast. The selection process is covered, which includes consideration of Dubai (also spelt Debai and Dabai), Ras al Khaimah, and Umm al Qaiwain [Umm al-Qaywayn] as potential sites. This process culminates in the Dubai Commercial Air Agreement (1937): see folios 223-226 for a copy of the agreement with both Arabic and English translation. This includes an agreement respecting security arrangements for passengers transferred between the alighting area at Dubai and their accommodation at Sharjah: see folio 199 for an English translation of the agreement. Further correspondence relating to its renewal in 1943 can also be found in the file. The prospects for the future use of Dubai and Sharjah, as of 1946, are also briefly discussed at the end of the correspondence.Material related to a survey of Sharjah Creek in 1939 and Dubai Creek by Bernard Whitteron in 1941 can be found between folios 36-57. This includes sketch maps the two creeks: Dubai (folio 48) and Sharjah (folios 53, and 55-56). It has been included in consideration of possible engineering work to enhance their navigability and hence their utility for flying boats.The main correspondents are as follows: the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, the Political Agent at Bahrain (Tom Hickinbotham, Hugh Weightman, and Reginald George Alban), officials of the Air Ministry, and officials of the India Office.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 for this description commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 466; 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 2-465; these numbers are also written in pencil but are not circled.