The volume contains correspondence between the Political Agent at Bahrain and the Political Resident at Bushire, the Shaikh of Qatar and the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC) representatives, including Haji 'Abdullah Williamson, the Colonial Office and the Secretary of State for Colonies in London, regarding geologic surveys of Qatar and Trucial States, the concession of an exploration license in 1926 and its renewal with an agreement between the ‘Abdullāh bin Jāsim Āl Thānī, Sheikh of Qatar, and APOC, in 1932 (folios 57-59).The volume also contains notes of meetings and correspondence regarding the early stages of the negotiations for the oil concession in Qatar, and the 1933 draft oil concessions (folios 120-125 and 248-268), with comments.There are documents in Arabic, mainly letters to and from the Sheikh of Qatar. Some of the documents in the volume are marked as confidential.1 volume (361 folios)The documents in the volume are mostly arranged in chronological order. There are notes at the end of the volume, (folios 331-345). The file notes are arranged chronologically and refer to documents within the file; they give a brief description of the correspondence with reference numbers in red crayon, which refer back to that correspondence in the volume.The foliation is written in pencil, circled, and can be found in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.The numbering commences at the first folio with 1, 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D; then 2-47; 48 and 48A; 49-97; 98, 98A, 98B and 98C; 99-283; 284 and 284A; 285-308; 309 and 309A; 310-313; 314 and 314A; 315-337; 338 and 338A and terminates with 349, which is the last number given to the final folio of the volume.
This file contains correspondence between the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire; the Political Agents at Kuwait and Muscat; Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Jāsim Āl Thānī, ruler of Qatar; Secretary of State for India, London; M J Clauson and J P Gibson of the India Office, London; and the Foreign Department, Government of India.The correspondence concerns efforts to regulate the legal situation and define British juridiction in Qatar by issuing an Order in Council under the Foreign Jurisdication Act. Included within these papers are initial correspondence with Shaikh ‘Abdullāh (ff. 2-3); comparisons with other localities in the Persian Gulf, for example Kuwait and Bahrain (ff. 19-25, 46-47, 52-53); correspondence concerning the drafting of the Qatar Order in Council between 1936 and 1939 (ff. 60-146); a copy of the final version of the Qatar Order in Council (ff. 159-174), as well as two certified copies (ff. 178-194); various errors in the text and corrections (ff. 176-176A, 199-204); and its publication in the
Gazette of Indiaand exhibition in Qatar (ff. 195-208).1 file (239 folios)This file is arranged approximately in chronological order. Circled index numbers written in red crayon are also present throughout the volume.Foliation: The main foliation sequence commences at the title page 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 present between ff. 4-212; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence. Foliation errors: 1, 1A and 1B; 65, 65A and 65B; 66 and 66A; 69a and 69b; 73, 73A and 73B; 176 and 176A.
The volume contains correspondence between the Political Agent at Bahrain and the Political Resident at Bushire, the India Office in London, the Shaikh of Qatar, ‘Abdullāh bin Jāsim Āl Thānī, and the Foreign Office in regard to the southern borders of Qatar, the Qatar oil concession and the relations of the Shaikhdom with ‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd (Ibn Sa‘ūd), King of Saudi Arabia. There is also correspondence regarding an air reconnaissance of Qatar to be carried out via RAF flying boats, which took place on 9 May 1934, including reports of the reconnaissance (folios 147-154).Some of the documents in the volume are marked as secret or confidential.1 volume (207 folios)The documents in the volume are mostly arranged in chronological order. There are notes at the end of the volume, (folios 196-202). The file notes are arranged chronologically and refer to documents within the volume; they give brief description of the correspondence with reference numbers in red crayon, which refer back to that correspondence in the volume.The main foliation is written in pencil, circled, and can be found in the top right corner of the recto of each folio.The numbering begins on the title page, on number 1, and ends on the inside of the back cover, on number 207.There is another foliation sequence, incomplete.
Correspondence and papers relating to miscellaneous affairs in Saudi Arabia, as reported to or by the Political Agent at Kuwait:In 1937, the formation of the Nejdi Motor Car Company, a concession set up to convey pilgrims between Nejd, Hasa [al-Aḥsā’], and the Hejaz. Papers include a translation of an announcement of the formation of the new company, published in
Saut al Hejazon 15 Rabi’ al-awwal 1356 (corresponding to 25 May 1937) (ff 2-5).In November 1939, the distribution and use of the Saudi riyal (ff 7-9).In December 1939, the status of three islands in the Persian Gulf (Fasht al Jārim, Khor Fasht [Khawr Fasht], and Jazirat Chaschus [Kaskūs]), to which the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) had sent a technical party (ff 12-14).In December 1939, reports on water supplies for agriculture at Kharj (ff 16-21).affairs in Saudi Arabia during the Second World War, including food shortages and reportedly ineffective food controls (ff 29-41).A translation of Saudi Arabian Nationality Regulation No. 3, originally published by the Government of Saudi Arabia in
Umm al Quraon 24 Shawwāl 1357 (equivalent to 16 December 1938) (ff 43-46).1 file (45 folios)The file’s contents are arranged in approximate chronological order, from the earliest item at the front to the latest at the end.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 2-46; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
The volume comprises correspondence and notes from the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf to the Political Agent at Kuwait (Stuart George Knox) relating to the appointment of an Assistant Surgeon for the Political Agency, Kuwait.1 file (16 folios)The papers are arranged in rough chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) 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. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 3-13; 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.
The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, and notes, relating to the appointment of an Assistant Surgeon for the Political Agency, Kuwait.The discussion in the volume relates to appointments, salary levels, family remittances, and allowances. The volume also includes correspondence concerning medical supplies.The principal correspondents in the volume include: the Director General, Indian Medical Service; the Assistant Comptroller, India Treasuries; H M Vice Consul at Lingah; the Political Agent, Basrah; and the Assistant Secretary to the Government of India.1 volume (297 folios)The papers are arranged in rough chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 297; 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 1-296; these numbers are also written in pencil but, where circled, are crossed through.
The file contains correspondence related to the Iranian Government’s order known as the Tehran order, on treating people arriving at Persian ports from Bahrain, Muscat, Dubai and Oman as Persian subjects. The file also includes petitions raised by Muscat subjects whose passports were seized by the Iranian Customs.The main correspondents in the file are the British Residency and Consulate General, Bushire; the Secretary of State for India, London; His Majesty’s Minister, Tehran; the Political Agency, Muscat and the Government of Muscat and Oman.1 file (54 folios)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 with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 56; 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 3-54; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, and notes, relating to the status of Kuwait and the negotiations between Britain and Turkey which led to a treaty in 1913.The discussion in the volume relates to the:the proposed settlement of Kuwait question with Turkish Government;the draft Anglo-Turkish Convention;the report of Shaikh Mubarak's control over tribes, and on frontiers of Kuwait;negotiations on the draft Convention.Included in the volume is a copy of the Anglo-Turkish Agreement and the collection of documents signed on 29 July,1912.The principal correspondents in the volume include the following: the Viceroy; the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Percy Zachariah Cox; the Assistant Resident, Percy Gordon Loch; the Ambassador to Constantinople, Sir Gerard Lowther.1 volume (221 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 223; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located at the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Additional foliation sequences are present in parallel between ff 4-222; these numbers are also written in pencil, but, where circled, are crossed through.
The volume comprises correspondence, letters, notes and printed reports relating to translated articles from various Arabic language media. The articles are written from an anti-British view point and relate to the topic of British strategy concerning Kuwait and Mohammerah and the perceived intention to diminish the Ottoman Sultan's influence.The papers in the file are divided into 7 parts:extract from
Al Ahram, Cairo, 16 September 1904. This concerns an article entitled 'Arabia: From our special correspondent in Muscat' which gave comments on English policy towards Kuwait and Iraq. British officials indicate that they believe this was written by a Frenchman residing in Muscat, Monsieur Goguyer.anti-British Arabic leaflet,
Fath-el-Basayer.Section 2. Translations of articles in the
Habl-ul-Matin, April and May 1906.Section 3. Pan-Islamic propaganda. Including a circular memorandum from the Office of the Director of Criminal Intelligence.Section 4. Extract from "
Busrah Gazette", 23 August 1906 on Shaikh Mubarak's contribution to the Hedjaz Railway.Section 5. Extract from
Lewa, Cairo, 25 June 1908, 'The Mesopotamia Problem' looking at the Kuwait and Mohammerah intrigue and the British response.The principal correspondents in the volume are: the Political Agent at Kuwait, Stuart George Knox; the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Percy Zachariah Cox; First Assistant Resident to the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, J H Bill; Office of the Director of Criminal Intelligence; Foreign Office, Simla; John Gordon Lorimer.1 volume (35 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 35; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Two additional foliation sequences are also present in parallel between ff 2-31, and ff 2-34; 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.
Unnumbered file: the file is numbered 5308, but clearly belongs in this series.The file concerns a request from the India Office for revisions to the
Second List of Names in Arabia (N.E. and S.E.), by the Permanent Committee on Geographical Names for British Official Use (Royal Geographical Society, December 1935). The correspondence, dated 1936-37, includes a memorandum of corrections in accordance with local custom prepared by Major Ralph Ponsonby Watts, Political Agent and HBM's Consul, Muscat, and copies of the list dated 1935 and (corrected) 1937.The papers also include transcripts of three articles from the Arab press dated 1939 concerning German military aims in the Middle East, and related topics.The Arabic language content of the file consists of lists of place names (with transliterations into English) and press agency letterheads.1 file (26 folios)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 with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 28; 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 2-5 and between ff 14-27; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
This printed memorandum, by Joseph Austen Chamberlain, contains a report of a lecture 'Germany and the Middle East', by Dr Paul Rohrbach given at the Hamberg Volksheim which was printed in
Hamburger Fremdenblatt, 3 December 1915.The report discusses Rohrbach's opinions on the current situation in Europe and how Germany now had an advantage following the opening up of routes to the Middle East and the Suez Canal through the provision of railways and money to Turkey. The lecture also focused on Germany's need for raw materials, how access to the Middle East can provide them with oil, minerals, cotton and wheat, and the potential future economic benefits posed by the war-time alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey. The lecture concludes with the suggestion that as Germany cannot compete with Britain in its Naval strength it could use the Suez Canal as a point of pressure to try to secure access to the sea and its own position in the heart of Europe.1 folioFoliation: The foliation commences and concludes on folio 6, 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 former foliation sequence is also present in the volume; these numbers are also written in pencil, are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence.
Confidential memorandum containing a list of chapters and translated extracts from the book
Der Kampf um Arabien zwischen der Türkei und England[The Fight for Arabia between Turkey and England] by Dr Franz Stuhlmann of the Hamburgischen Kolonialinstitut [Hamburg Colonial Institute], and published by George Westermann in Hamburg, 1916. The extracts, which begin on the verso of folio 1, are preceded by a note, written by Arthur Hirtzel, Secretary to the Political Department of the India Office, and dated 31 October 1916, which draws attention to the academic credentials of Stuhlmann’s book.The extracts from Stuhlmann’s book cover topics including: the province of Hejaz and the Hejaz railway; the Trans-Arabian railway; the University of Medina; Turkish reforms; Yemen and Asīr, including the railway from Hodeida [Al-Ḥudaydah] to Sanaa [Ṣanʻā']; English interests in southern Arabia; Muscat and Oman; Bahrein [Bahrain] and the Turkish province of El-Hasa [Al-Hasa]; the Wahabis [Wahhābīs] and their successors in Nejd [Najd]; Koweit [Kuwait]; oil deposits in Mohammerah [Khorramshahr]; navigation of the Tigris and Euphrates; Mesopotamia during the War; and extracts from Stuhlmann’s conclusion, which comments on the strategic importance to England of the Persian Gulf, and the importance to Turkey and Germany of the Shatt al-Arab.An appendix to the memorandum, entitled ‘The importance to Germany of an open Persian Gulf’ is a review of an article that appeared in the journal
Europäische Staats und Wirtschafts Zeitung, 18 August 1916, entitled ‘Der persische Golf und die Verkehrspolitik der Mittelmächte’ [The Persian Gulf and the Commercial Policy of the Central Powers], written by Professor Gerhard Schott of the Deutsche Seewarte [German Hydrographic Office].1 file (6 folios)The memorandum, which chiefly comprises extracts from a book, is arranged by the book’s chapters, with the pages covering each chapter indicated, and the page numbers for each extract also indicated.Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the first folio 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.Pagination: The booklet contains an original typed pagination sequence.