This part of the volume contains telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, notes, printed reports and two press-cuttings relating to the arms traffic in Muscat and arrangements for its regulation.Issues discussed include:new regulations to prevent the sale of arms in Muscat without the knowledge of the end-user;French schemes to evade the Sultan of Muscat's regulations by trans-shipment;proposals for the compensation of French arms dealers and the different views of the Treasury, Government of India and the Foreign Office thereon;Anglo-French diplomacy and proposed purchase of stocks at Muscat and Jibuti;value of weapons stock held in the Warehouse and disposals of the stocks after compilation of inventory.The principal correspondents in the volume include: the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Percy Zachariah Cox; the Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf; the Political Agent at Muscat; the Viceroy; the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Sir Edward Grey; the Under Secretary of State, Foreign Office; the Ambassador to France, Sir Francis Bertie; the Lord Commissioners of the Admiralty; Commander-in-Chief, East Indies; the Board of Trade; the Colonial Office.The volume includes two statistical tables, 'Inventory of arms and ammunition in French Private Warehouses in Maskat' (ff 230-232; 236-237).The volume is part 6 of 7. Each part includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.1 volume (278 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume. The subject 868 (Arms Traffic - Muscat) consists of 6 volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/235-240. The volumes are divided into 7 parts with parts 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 comprising one volume each and parts 4 and 5 comprising a volume.Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 278; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers.
The statement gives the following information for each tribe listed:Name of the tribeName of its ChiefIts place of headquartersNumber of subdivisionsPopulationAmount of tribute paid to Amir Faisul ibn Turki al-Sa'udNumber of horses procurable by each tribeRemarksThe remarks relate to the expectation that the Chief of each tribe would each year give horses to Amir Faisul. The amount of horses is determined by the number of Jama (subdivisions) the tribe had; in return the chief would receive clothes, weapons and dates from the Amir. A further remark notes that those tribes who pay no tribute are expected to protect the Nejd [Najd] frontiers and to go on any expeditions that the Amir wishes them to.1 folioThe folio has to be folded out in order to be read.
Correspondence concerning a proposal for a lighthouse to be erected at Ras al-Hadd. The proposal is made by Major Claude Edward Urquhart Bremner, Political Agent, Muscat, and forwarded to the Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf by the Political Resident, Bushire.1 file (6 folios)The file is arranged in chronological order, from the front to the rear.Foliation: the main 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. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 3-7; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
Part 9 comprises correspondence and other papers relating to the lifting of restrictions on trade between Baghdad and Mesopotamia [Iraq], under the Trading with the Enemy (Occupied Territory) Proclamation of 1915: the issue of certificates by the Board of Trade declaring that the wilayats [vilayets] of Baghdad and Basra are to be regarded as ‘territory under friendly occupation’ (f 324); the lifting of restrictions on trade in other areas of Mesopotamia, including Mosul and Anah; enquiries from commercial firms in Britain, relating to the resumption of trade with firms in Mesopotamia, and payments to be made to traders in Mesopotamia.The principal correspondents are: the India Office; the Foreign Office; the Foreign and Political Department of the Government of India; the Board of Trade.1 item (166 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the item.
This note was written by Major-General Percy Zachariah Cox in April 1918 in his capacity as Civil Commissioner, Baghdad. It consists of two main parts. The first part deals with the premises for British policy, namely, the proclamation issued on British arrival in Baghdad, that they had come to emancipate the country from the 'oppressive rule' of Turkey; the announcement of policy in the telegram, 29 March 1917, from the Secretary of State for India to the Viceroy which advocated annexation of the Basrah [Basra] Vilayet and the creation of a 'veiled protectorate' in Baghdad Vilayet.It discusses the 'difficulties' this would create with President Woodrow Wilson's principles of self-determination (paragraph 4) and the issues surrounding the creation of an 'Arab facade'.Part II deals with observations on more detailed issues and considers: the nature of Arab authority, dynastic or representative and Arab attitudes to King Hussein, Sherif of the Holy Places in the Hejaz [Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī, Shereef of Mecca]; personnel available for establishing a local administration; relevance of Indian models of administration and British supervision; requirements for Indian troops after the end of hostilities; ways of popularising British administration through irrigation, education and civilian health; elements the British should foster; measures to consolidate commercial influence in Mesopotamia.1 file (3 folios)Foliation: There is a foliation sequence, which is circled in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto of each folio. It begins on the first folio, on number 1, and ends on the last folio, on number 3. There are three copies of this item, of which only one (the foliated one) has been digitised.
The majority of the file consists of records of cypher messages sent between the Air Ministry in London and Air Headquarters, India, concerning arrangements for the possible supply of Supermarine Spitfires – mark VIIIs – to the Afghan Air Force. This includes the supply of a demonstration aircraft to Kabul for evaluation purposes, and preparations for the further supply of up to twelve aircraft in the event of a purchase being made. The final message (see folio 3) records the decision not to purchase.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 (34 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front 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 36; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
The volume comprises correspondence between the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Trenchard Craven Fowle, Olaf Caroe), the Political Agent at Muscat (Ralph Ponsonby Watts), the India Office (Maurice Clauson, John Charles Walton), the Secretary of State for India (Lawrence Dundas, 2nd Marquess of Zetland), Petroleum Concessions Limited (Frank Holmes, Stephen Hemsley Lonrgigg, Frederick Lewisohn) and the Sultan of Muscat (Said bin Taimur Al Bu Said) regarding negotiations for the granting of two oil concessions for Dhofar and Muscat territory, which were concluded by Basil Henry Lermitte of Petroleum Concessions Limited, with the concession agreements being signed on 24 June 1937.Also discussed in the volume are arrangements for a meeting between Stephen Hemsley Longrigg of Petroleum Concessions Limited and the Sultan of Muscat, which was to take place in India, in order to discuss how they might go about exploring the South East Muscat Coast and also how to gain access to the hinterland under the control of the Imam of Muscat. Also included is a request by the Sultan of Muscat for the Political Agent at Muscat, Ralph Ponsonby Watts, to be present not only at the meeting with Longrigg but also at later meetings in Delhi where the British treaty with Muscat was likely to be discussed.Further discussion relating to exploration is included between the India Office and Petroleum Concessions Limited regarding the Company’s interest in exploring the South East Coast of Muscat and parts of the interior controlled by the Imam of Muscat and the difficulties they would be likely to encounter in attempting to do so; along with the area west of the Oman Mountain Range which Petroleum Concessions Limited were interested in ascertaining any known boundaries for, and otherwise how best to approach exploration there.Another matter of discussion within the volume is Count Byron de Prorok and his wife who had travelled to Muscat to undertake archaeological exploration, but had been refused permission to explore the interior of the country by the Sultan of Muscat. The correspondence goes on to discuss allegations made by a number of individuals and organisations that the he was not entitled to hold the rank of Count; that he had been discredited in the scientific community and could not be considered to be an archaeologist; and that a number of institutions he claimed to have the support and backing of for his explorations had issued statements refuting any involvement with him. Later correspondence discusses an application made by him for permission to travel into the Rub-el-Khali in an attempt to discover an ancient city believed to be there and the India Office’s intention of declining the request. Also included with this correspondence is discussion of a visit made by an Italian, Tullio Pastori, to Muscat and Bandar Abbas and giving Mr Pastori’s background and intentions in visiting the region to recruit labourers to construct roads in Eritrea.Other matters of interest in the volume include:discussion surrounding ongoing communication between the Sultan of Muscat and the California Arabian Standard Oil Company, who wished to undertake examinations in Muscat territory for the potential development of Petroleum resources there, and regarding such correspondence being in opposition to conditions imposed in the Sultan’s treaty with the British Government.correspondence regarding proposed amendments to the Political Agreement to be signed by Petroleum Concessions Limited and the India Office in relation to the Muscat concession.the proposed itinerary for a tour to be undertaken by the Sultan of Muscat in 1937 to India, Singapore, Japan, USA, Britain, France and Italy.A series of file notes which were maintained as a record of the correspondence in the volume can be found at folios 175-184.1 volume (187 folios)The volume contains a table of contents on folio 4 comprising of subject headings and page references. The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.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 3-174; these numbers are also written in pencil, are 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.
This volume contains two types of information relating to a lavatory for the Political Agent's launch: a twenty page brochure from John Dowton and Co and then six hand drawn technical diagrams for installation of lavatory in the Political Agent's launch.1 volume (26 folios)There is firstly a brochure from John Downton and Company and secondly some hand drawn technical diagrams.Foliation: the system of foliation is the sequence of numbers appearing in the top right hand corner of each page.
Enclosures Nos. 3-4 of Despatch No. 5 from the Secret Department, Bombay Castle, dated 22 February 1860. The Enclosures are dated 30 November 1859-20 February 1860. Received 21 March 1860.The Enclosures include a report from Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Palmer Rigby, Consul and British Agent, Zanzibar, dated 30 November 1859, covering the arrival and departure of British and other foreign ships at Zanzibar, and the suppression of the slave trade. Also present is a letter from Commodore George Greville Wellesley, Commander in Chief, Indian Navy, dated 20 February 1860, recommending the use of a screw sloop rather than a screw gunboat for the suppression of the slave trade in the area.1 item (6 folios)
The letter refers to ruckhums [official correspondance] addressed to Stannus and their contents, proposals laid before the Prince, and discusses the return of the Residency to Bushire.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 and telegrams between the Sheikh of Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifah, the Sheikh of Qatar, Abdullah Bin Qasim Al Thani, the Political Agent in Bahrain and representatives of the Bahrain Petroleum Company Limited (BAPCO), on the division of the sea-bed between Bahrain and Qatar, notably the Hawar Islands and Deebel and Jaradeh shoals.There are letters in Arabic and a map of Bahrain (folio 45).1 file (52 folios)The documents in the file are arranged in chronological order.The foliation is circled in pencil, in the top right corner of each folio. The numbering begins on the front cover of the file, on number 1 and it carries on until 51, which is the last number given on the last page of writing. There is another foliation, incomplete and misplaced: the numbering starts with 4 on the first page of writing (folio 2) and ends with 136 (folio 31); missing folios: 6-23; 25-35; 38-42; 43-44; 49-54; 59-65; 67-74; 82-87; 88-95; 97-129; 133-135.
The file contains correspondence relating to the discussion over the proposed return of a Shī‘a judge and cleric, Shaikh Khallaf bin Ahmad al-Asfour. The discussion was triggered by a petition from Shī‘a village headmen, presented to the Political Agent, Bahrain, that called for his return from exile. The correspondents include the High Commissioner in Iraq, the Political Agent, Bahrain, the ruler of Bahrain (Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah [Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah]), and the Adviser to the Government of Bahrain (Charles Dalrymple Belgrave).The papers cover several matters, including:a petition from Shaikh Khallaf himself, requesting permission to return and deal with his properties in the country;the question of Shaikh Khallaf's nationality;legal cases to be brought against the Shaikh in Bahrain courts.1 file (45 folios)The file is arranged in chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 47; 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 4-46; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.