Abstract: This file consists of a letter from the Political Agent and Consul at Muscat to the Foreign Office, which was forwarded to the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf. The letter reports on the Political Agent's recent visit to the Muscat territory of Gwadur [Gwadar]. It includes details of meetings with the British Agent in Gwadur, as well as a visit to the remains of what is referred to as the 'Portuguese Reservoir.' The letter concludes with a recommendation that the trip be made into an annual visit.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 7; 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 is a set of typewritten memoirs by Sir Tom Hickinbotham, a retired officer of the British Indian Army and the Indian Political Service. Hickinbotham held various positions in India and in the Middle East, and these memoirs recount stories from his time in Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Quetta, Persia [Iran], Aden, Audhali, Bahrain and North Waziristan.The memoirs were most likely completed in 1982-83; they cover the period 1927-1982, although most of the chapters relate to events from the 1930s and 1940s.Hickinbotham writes not only about his official duties but also about various trips taken during periods of leave. Below is a list of the chapters, with a short summary of each:'No Medals This Time' (ff 3-6) – details of an incident in Kuwait involving a dhow that caught fire off the foreshore at Shuwaik [Ash Shuwaykh]'The Silver Coin' (ff 7-10) – thoughts on the use of the Maria Theresa thaler in Arabia'The Golden Dagger' (ff 11-36) – an account of Hickinbotham's unofficial visit to Riyadh to meet Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] in May 1942'The Brass Pencase' (ff 37-53) – memories of a journey undertaken from Quetta to Europe via north Persia in 1927, travelling in a Fiat Tourer with Colonel T Nisbet (also referred to as the 'purple emperor'), on what Hickinbotham claims to have been the first trip taken by car from India to the Mediterranean'The Bronze Boy' (ff 54-72) – reminiscences of weekends spent in 'Little Aden' (a rocky peninsula seven miles west of Aden), in 1938, and a later visit, in December 1961'The Silver Letter Case' (ff 73-118) – details of a ten-day trip on the Audhali plateau in the summer of 1938, and a return visit, in December 1960 (the chapter ends with remarks on the situation in Yemen generally from the late sixties to the time of writing, i.e. 1982)'The Agate Ring' (ff 119-144) – memories of travelling in Oman during the summer of 1940 and how this compared with Hickinbotham's last visit to the country in 1980'The Pearl Tie Pin' (ff 145-151) – thoughts and anecdotes on the pearl trade in Bahrain'A Point of View' (ff 152-157) – a story told to Hickinbotham, possibly fictional, of a pearl trader in the Gulf who lost his fortune and livelihood, and eventually his sanity'Snakes Alive!!' (ff 158-161) – an account of a near-fatal encounter with a krite [krait] in Waziristan'The Queen's Visit' (ff 162-168) – memories of the Queen's visit to the Aden Protectorate in 1954, where Hickinbotham was serving as Governor.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 168; 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 mixed foliation/pagination sequence is also present in parallel between ff 3-168.Condition: The original plastic comb binding ring has been replaced with a wider one to facilitate flat opening of the volume. Polyester film covers have been added to protect the first and last folios.
Abstract: The file contains information concerning the Persian Navy, including the visit of the Persian warships HIMS
Babrand HIMS
Palangto India and Ceylon, 1934; the cost of refitting the ships while in India; provision of docking facilities and further cost of refitting, 1935; the reimbursement of the Government of India by HM Government and the Persian Government of the cost of refitting; information on the promotion of Persian naval officers; and general intelligence about the movements of the ships and the efficiency of their crews.The file includes correspondence from the Government of India, the Foreign Office, the Admiralty, and Persian officials.The French language content of the file consists of a single item of correspondence on folio 113.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 inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 176; 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 letters and telegrams between officials of the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Relations Office in London, regarding visitors to the Persian Gulf during 1948. The file covers the arrangements for these visits. The visitors include the following: J B Clarke, E J Nicholls and Brigadier Clayton. The route includes visits to Bahrain, Kuwait, Riyadh and Teheran [Tehran].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 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 17, 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 correspondence regarding the visit of Anthony Eden and his son to the Middle East. Related matters of discussion include the following: approval of the visit from the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations; arrangements for the visit, including details of all the places where the Edens will be staying.The file also contains political opinion regarding Persia, and a schedule of the twenty-three-day visit to the Middle East.The file features the following principal correspondents: the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; the Commonwealth Relations Office, the Foreign Office, officers acting on behalf of the British Middle East Office, Cairo.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 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 23, these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The file contains correspondence regarding an upcoming visit to Bahrain by the newly appointed Governor-General of India Archibald Wavell, 1 Earl Wavell, and his request to view a selection of pearls. The correspondents are the India Office and the Political Resident, Persian Gulf.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 6; 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 item contains three letters between Harford Jones, Resident in Bagdat [Baghdad], and Samuel Manesty, Acting Envoy to Persia [Iran]:1. Part of a letter from Jones to Manesty dated 6 September 1804. Jones states that the Pacha [‘Alī Pāshā al-Kahyah, Governor of Baghdad] has granted permission to Manesty to enter Turkish [Ottoman] territory, but will take no public notice of Manesty’s visit. The letter also reports the transit of mail. The beginning of this letter can be found in IOR/L/PS/9/76/354.2. An extract of a letter from Manesty to Jones dated 10 September 1804. Manesty acknowledges the receipt of letters and reports on the progress of his journey.3. An extract of a letter from Manesty to Jones dated 14 September 1804. Manesty states that he has dropped his plans to travel in state to Bagdat and will return to Bussora and resume his duties as Resident, and asks Jones to communicate this to the Bacha [Pāshā].Duplicates of this correspondence can be found in IOR/L/PS/9/76/367.Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)
Abstract: This item contains three letters between Samuel Manesty, Acting Envoy to Persia [Iran], and Harford Jones, Resident in Bagdat [Baghdad]:1. An extract of a letter from Manesty to Jones dated 18 July 1804. Manesty states that he intends to travel to Bussora [Basra] via Bagdat and expects to be received in state by the Bacha [‘Alī Pāshā al-Kahyah, Governor of Baghdad].2. An extract of a letter from Jones to Manesty dated 3 August 1804. Jones communicates the Bacha’s objections to Manesty’s proposed visit to Bagdat, and recommends that Manesty travel via a different route.3. Part of a letter from Manesty to Jones dated 16 August 1804. Manesty expresses surprise and displeasure at the Bacha’s objections to his visit to Bagdat and refuses to change course. The continuation of this letter can be found in IOR/L/PS/9/76/354.Duplicates of this correspondence can be found in IOR/L/PS/9/76/367.Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)
Abstract: This item contains copies of five letters between Harford Jones, Resident in Bagdat [Baghdad], and Samuel Manesty, Acting Envoy to Persia [Iran]:1. The second part of a letter from Manesty to Jones dated 16 August 1804. Manesty asks Jones to solicit the Bacha [‘Alī Pāshā al-Kahyah, Governor of Baghdad] to arrange safe transit for Manesty and his retinue to Bagdat. The first part of this letter can be found in IOR/L/PS/9/76/349.2. An extract of a letter from Jones to Manesty dated 18 August 1804. Jones forwards a note from the Pasha (not enclosed).3. A letter from Manesty to Jones dated 28 August 1804. Manesty forwards a note to the Bacha (not enclosed) proposing reconciliation.4. An extract of a letter from Manesty to Jones dated 6 September 1804. Manesty acknowledges the receipt of a letter from Jones and states that he intends to proceed imminently to Bagdat.5. The beginning of a letter from Jones to Manesty dated 6 September 1804. The continuation of this letter can be found in IOR/L/PS/9/76/353.Duplicates of this correspondence can be found in IOR/L/PS/9/76/367.Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)
Abstract: This item contains copies of 11 letters between Samuel Manesty, Acting Envoy to Persia [Iran], and Harford Jones, Resident in Bagdat [Baghdad], dated 18 July-16 September 1804.The correspondence covers Manesty’s approach to Bagdat on returning from Persia and the question of Manesty’s reception by the Bacha [‘Alī Pāshā al-Kahyah, Governor of Baghdad].Duplicates of some of this correspondence are catalogued as IOR/L/PS/9/76/349, 353, and 354.Physical description: 1 item (6 folios)
Abstract: The correspondence in this file relates to the expected visit of two Chinese Muslims to Afghanistan following their stay in Angora. The upcoming event is highlighted in a letter from Hughe Montgomery Knatchbull-Hugessen (HM Ambassador to Turkey) to Viscount Halifax (Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs) on 6 June 1939, and later recorded in a letter from William Kerr Fraser-Tytler (HM Ambassador to Afghanistan) to Viscount Halifax in January 1940, after the visit occurred.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 7; 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 correspondence relating to a tour of the Middle East by Laurence Frederic Rushbrook-Williams in 1940 to discuss propaganda problems in the area and improve the co-ordination of pro-British propaganda. The main correspondents in the file are Rushbrook-Williams (Adviser for Middle Eastern Affairs, Ministry of Information), Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Geoffrey Prior (Political Resident in the Persian Gulf), and the Marquess of Zetland (Secretary of State for India).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 16; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.