This file consists of letters and telegrams between the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, London, and the Political Resident in Persian Gulf regarding the arrangement of different celebrations in Persian Gulf.Related matters of discussion include the following: Celebration of Armistice Day, Remembrance Day and New Year.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.1 file (6 folios)The file's contents are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 8, these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
The letter regards His Royal Highnesses wish for Stannus to return to Bushire and Stannus' wish to do so if certain conditions are met. It is followed by a list of three conditions, and a note stating they were translated and sent the same day.1 folioFoliation: This item has two different foliation sequences. The first is part of an original foliation sequence which was applied to the whole volume. It is written in ink and appears at the top right (recto) or top left (verso) corner of the folio. The second foliation number is a small pencil number enclosed in a circle which also appears in the top right corner (recto) only, this is the foliation number that has been used in referencing this item.Condition: The item has suffered from slight insect damage, but this does not affect the reading of the text.
The file contains correspondence from Major Tom Hickinbotham, Political Agent and HM Consul, Muscat, to Lieutenant Colonel Charles Geoffrey Prior, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, which is forwarded to the Secretary of State for India.The correspondence relates that, on the pretext that certain of his adherents had been murdered, Mohammad bin Abdullah al Khalili, Imam of Inner Oman, had taken control of the fort at Ibri in the Dhahirah, formerly in the hands of the Sultan of Muscat and Oman. It is suggested that a more likely motivation for this action was to take control of the area in which Petroleum Concessions Ltd had been most interested.The Political Resident in the Gulf suggests that it would be a set-back for British interests if the Sultan were to lose ground in this area, and after a number of letters providing updates of the situation the correspondence ends with a letter from Major Hickinbotham informing that Saiyid Shahab bin Faisal, Regent and Minister for External Affairs, Muscat, had been contacted by Ali bin Said of Ainane, offering surrender of the strategically-important fort at Ainane to the Sultan on terms, in consequence of pressure from the Imam. The Regent proposed to discuss terms, an action which gained Major Hickinbotham's approval.The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the front of the correspondence.1 file (24 folios)The file is arranged in reverse chronological order.Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 26; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located at the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Letter regarding the attention that Pelly has been paying to the subject of Nawab Faiz Alli [Ali] Khan and the actions that he has attempted to take in the matter, the Nawabs response to these actions and the matter of a Jagheer which had been granted to him.The letter also discusses reports submitted on the situation by the Political Agent and the Nawab, correspondence that the Nawab has sent directly to Aitchison and Pelly's intended response to the Nawab with regards to the situation.The letter concludes with an enclosed note from James Cavan Berkeley on the perfect situation at Kotah [Kota] and the ongoing matter between Charles Kenneth Mackenzie Walter and William Carnell.3 folios
The file contains papers relating to the defence of Muscat.It includes papers regarding: the position of the Sultan of Muscat in the event of the outbreak of war (since he was an independent sovereign and therefore his state would not automatically be on the side of the British Empire in war); the conditions under which the Sultan was prepared to grant the necessary facilities (in particular air facilities) in his territories to the British Government during the Second World War, including a monthly subsidy to the Sultan of 20,000 rupees for the duration of the war and for a period after the cessation of hostilities, and the gift of military equipment; and the decision of the British Government to continue the Muscat War Subsidy after the end of the War until the end of 1946, and to present a token gift of arms and ammunition to the Sultan on the termination of the War Subsidy, in recognition of his assistance during the War.Much of the file concerns the Muscat War Subsidy Agreement, but it also includes papers relating to the appointment of a Military Adviser to the Sultan of Muscat, and the recruitment of a Commandant of the Muscat Infantry.The papers mostly consist of correspondence, but they also include: India Office internal minute papers; a copy of a paper entitled ‘Appreciation of the Situation Regarding the Defence of Muscat Against Tribal Attack and Sabotage’, by Major R G Price, Air Headquarters, British Forces in Iraq, January 1939, which includes two photographs [IOR/L/PS/12/3937, f 427]; papers of the War Cabinet Official Committee for Questions Concerning the Middle East, including minutes of the first meeting of the Committee on 22 September 1939, on the subject of Muscat; a note of a meeting to discuss the Muscat War Subsidy, held at the India Office on 12 February 1946, between representatives of the India Office, the Treasury, the Foreign Office, the Admiralty, the War Office, the Air Ministry, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation.The main correspondents are as follows: the India Office (and the Commonwealth Relations Office from 1947); the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; the Admiralty Military Branch; the Foreign Office; the War Office; the Government of India External Affairs Department; the Government of India Defence Department; the Sultan of Muscat and Oman (Saiyid Said bin Taimur); the Political Agent and HM Consul, Muscat; the Air Ministry; the Treasury; and the Ministry of Civil Aviation.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.1 file (430 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 431; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
In this letter Ephraim Gerrish Stannus, Resident in the Persian Gulf, Bushire, informs Captain Robert Taylor, Political Agent at Bussora [Basra], that in a day or two he will be leaving Bushire for a tour of the Arabian coast. Stannus states that the Assistant Surgeon, James Pringle Riach, will be charge of the Residency during his absence.1 folio
This file is a continuation from the previous file concerning the events of the 1913 uprising of the Ibāḍī imamate and the tribes of the interior of Oman under the leadership Sālim bin Rāshid al-Kharūṣī against the authority of the Sultans of Muscat and Oman, al-Sayyid Fayṣal bin Turkī Āl Bū Sa‘īd and Taymūr bin Fayṣal Āl Bū Sa‘īd, and the subsequent intervention and deployment of British Indian troops of the 2nd Rajput Regiment stationed at Bushire. The correspondence is between Major Percy Zachariah Cox, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire, and Major Stuart George Knox, Political Agent at Muscat, and later between Knox as officer on special duty as Resident in the Perisan Gulf, and Liutenant-Colonel Robert Aruthur Edward Benn, Political Agent at Muscat.Subjects included are: the illness of the Sultan (f 2); Muscat Arms Warehouse (ff 12-13, 18-22); the death of Sultan (f 11); succession following the death of the Sultan by his son (ff 16-17, 24, 43-44); funeral of the late Sultan (f 30) blockade of Muscat and the Batinah coast [al-Bāṭinah] (f 23); relations with the French Consul (f 45); Special Diary of the events connected with the Imam’s rising for the period 29 March to 5 April (ff 70-74); movements of the Sultan and the Imam; assistance from Shaikh Hamdan bin Zaid [Ḥamdān bin Zāyid Āl Nahyān] and other Trucial Coast chiefs (ff 120-121).There are also various extracts from Muscat News.1 file (122 folios)This file is arranged approximately in chronological order.Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the cover and terminates at the last folio; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and can be found in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. A second foliation sequence is also present in the volume between ff. 2-122; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence.
The volume consists of chronological diary entries containing transcripts of correspondence sent and received, and notes on the arrival and departure of vessels at Bushire. The Residents during the period covered were William Bruce (acting) and (from May 1807) Nicholas Hankey Smith.The correspondence sent is entered under the date the letter was written; that received is entered under the date of receipt at Bushire. The correspondence is between the Resident and other East India Company officials: officials of the Government of Bombay (including correspondence in the Political, Military, Public, General and Commercial Departments, and correspondence with the Accountant General); the Resident at Bagdad [Baghdad] (Harford Jones, and later John Hine [Acting]); the Resident at Muscat (David Seton); and the Resident at Bussora [Basra] (Lieutenant William Eatwell [Acting], and later Samuel Manesty).The records of shipping consist of a note of the day of arrival and departure of ships of the Bombay Marine (the East India Company navy) and country ships (privately-owned merchant ships, which operated under licence from the East India Company), and information on their port of origin and destination. The term 'imported' is used to indicate the arrival of a vessel.General topics covered in the volume include:political developments in the Gulf;movements of ships;the transmission of packets of correspondence;piracy;the provision and sale of East India Company merchandise;accounting and financial matters;administrative matters;relations with the Court of Persia;relations with local rulers;the activities of the French in the region (including the activities of French privateers);reports of political and military developments in Europe.Specific topic include:dispatches from the Government of Bombay concerning the Persian Embassy to India (entry for 20 February 1806, folios 5-22), including a report of an assault by a sepoy sentry on a horse belonging to members of the suite of the Persian Ambassador, Mohumed Nebee Khan [Muhammad Nābī Khān];dispatches from the Government of Bombay concerning the Persian Embassy to India (entry for 27 February 1806, folios 22v-40v), including details of the garrison court martial of the sentry mentioned above, and financial claims of the Persian Ambassador;letter from Bruce to Francis Warden, Secretary to the Government of Bombay dated 3 March 1806, in response to the above dispatches (folio 41);letter from Bruce to Jonathan Duncan, President and Governor in Council, dated 12 March 1806 containing a report of the search for the wreck of the
Reliance(f. 42v);letter from Bruce to Jonathan Duncan, President and Governor in Council, dated 25 March 1806 containing a report of the presence of a French agent at Tabrize [Tabriz], who was on his way to Teheran [Tehran] (f. 44v);dispatches from the Government of Bombay concerning the Persian Embassy to India (entry for 13 April 1806, folios 40v-67v), including details of stores drawn and remaining to be drawn from the Honourable Company's stores, and bills to be paid on account of the
Rahimshaw(ff. 47-51), account of articles purchased by the Ambassador's people (ff. 56v-57), report of the sale of horses presented by the Persian Ambassador (f. 60), and list of articles purchased for the Persian Ambassador for use as presents (f. 62);dispatches from the Government of Bombay concerning the Persian Embassy to India (entry for 27 May 1806, ff.74v-138v), including the embarkation of the embassy for Calcutta;correspondence containing reports by Bruce of a French agent at the Court of Persia, (1-5 September 1806, ff. 160v-162);regulations issued by the Government of Bombay concerning persons in the East Company's service who wished to proceed to Europe (19 October 1806, ff. 170v-171);correspondence concerning an incident involving the Honourable Company's Schooner
Sylphat Bushire, which led to a serious loss of life amongst the
Sylph'screw (14 January - 14 February 1807, ff. 188-192);table of books, statements etc. required by the Accountant General's Office, Government of Bombay, issued 11 March 1807 (f. 228).2 volumes (241 folios)The volume is in the form of a diary running in chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume. The correspondence sent is entered under the approximate date the letter was written; that received is entered under the date of receipt at Bushire. Notes of the arrival and departure of vessels are similarly recorded in diary form under the relevant date.Foliation: the foliation sequence, which runs through both volumes, commences at 1 on the first folio of correspondence and terminates at 235 on the inside back cover of the second volume. The numbers are written in pencil, are smaller than the pagination numbers, and appear near the top right hand corner of the recto page of each folio. Foliation anomalies: ff. 116, 116A, 116B, 116C, 116D, 116E, 1116F. Folio 228 folds out beyond the edge of the volume. This is the system in use.Pagination: there is also an incomplete pagination sequence, which runs from 1-458 through both volumes. The numbers are written in pencil, are larger than the foliation numbers, and appear at the top centre or toward the top of the recto and verso pages.Condition: the volumes have suffered extensive damage at the beginning and end of the original (pre-conservation) volume (ff. 1-15 and 222-232), in the shape of damaged edges and holes in the folios, which has resulted in significant losses of text. There is also some damage to other folios, which occasionally causes loss of text.
Report compiled by Captain Albany Robert Savile of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment, in the Intelligence Branch, Quarter Master General’s Department, Horse Guards. The report was published and printed in London under the superintendence of HM’s Stationery Office in 1878. The report contains fourteen chapters, labelled I to XIV, as follows:I: a history of Cyprus, from ancient times to the occuption of the island by Britain in 1878II: geography and topographyIII: towns, villages, and antiquitiesIV: communications (inland, maritime, and telegraphic)V: coast, harboursVI: climateVII: natural historyVIII: agricultural productionIX: geology and mineralogyX: population and inhabitants, including their character, language, religion and educationXI: internal administration (civil, ecclesiastical, military)XII: manufacture and industryXIII: trade and revenueXIV: currency, weights and measures, list of authorities on Cyprus, cartography of CyprusThe volume includes a sketch map of Cyprus at the rear (f 91).1 volume (91 folios)A content page at the front of the volume (ff 4-5), and an alphabetically arranged index at the rear (ff 87-89) both refer to the volume’s original printed pagination sequence.Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 92; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
The file is comprised of a paper produced by the Political Intelligence Centre (Middle East Forces): 'Paper No. 80: Middle East Oil' dated 28 March 1946.The paper (ff 4-17) includes a précis and then lists the oil-producing countries of the Middle East with their oil concessions and assessment of their known oil reserves and future potential (Persia; Iraq; Egypt; Saudi Arabia; Kuwait; Qatar). Further analysis concerns the importance and potential of Middle East oil placed in a world context. The paper also includes a table 'World Oil Production and Reserves, 1944' listed by region.A further section list exploratory work being undertaken in non-producing areas (Syria and Lebanon; Palestine; Muscat, Oman and Dhofar; Trucial Coast; Turkey; Transjordan; Cyprus; Yemen; Aden Protectorate). The report also includes a map 'Middle East Oil - Secret' (folio 12) and a distribution list.Also included in the file is a copy of an article 'Big Oil Boom in Saudi Arabia' from the
New York Timesand
Statesman Special Service, 4 December 1946.The principal correspondents are: the Head of the Political Intelligence Centre, Middle East Forces, Cairo (Colonel J G Clarke); the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; and the Political Agent, Muscat.1 file (17 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 19; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
The file relates to the imposition of a fine on a merchant belonging to the firm Dhamanmal Isardas, who had been caught by the Customs at Karachi, in company with a second merchant, attempting to smuggle coin, silver and a piece of silk into India. The papers include correspondence between the Director of Customs at Bahrain, the Political Agent, Bahrain, and the Collector of Customs, Karachi, and a report on the case, dated 23 February 1933.1 file (5 folios)The papers are arranged in chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.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.
The letter gives Stannus' apologies for not being able to meet with Mohumed Zekee Khan and the Prince, due to the threat of inclement weather. It notes that Stannus is leaving Bushire due to others conduct towards him, and he will move to a place in the Tungaseer District south of Bushire to carry on his duties until he receives further orders.2 foliosFoliation: This item has two different foliation sequences. The first is part of an original foliation sequence which was applied to the whole volume. It is written in ink and appears at the top right (recto) or top left (verso) corner of the folio. The second foliation number is a small pencil number enclosed in a circle which also appears in the top right corner (recto) only, this is the foliation number that has been used in referencing this item.Condition: The item has suffered from slight insect damage, but this does not affect the reading of the text.