Correspondence and other papers relating to visits made by Europeans and Americans to Saudi Arabia, and specifically to Riyadh:A visit made in 1937 by Lieutenant-Colonel Harold Richard Patrick Dickson, former Political Agent at Kuwait, reportedly in his capacity as a representative of the Kuwait Oil Company. The papers include English translations of press reports of the visit as reported in various Arab newspapers, including the Baghdad newspaper
Al-Kifah, the Cairo newspaper
Al-Mukattam[
Al-Muqattam] and the
Wakalat-ul-Sharq Al-Arabia(ff 3-16).Dickson’s request to the Political Resident to visit the Ruler of Saudi Arabia Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] in December 1938, and the Ruler of Kuwait’s [Shaikh Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ] strong objection to the visit (ff 18-28).Lord Alington’s [Captain Napier George Henry Sturt] visit to Ibn Saud in April 1939, including notes on his visit, and demi-official letters exchanged between the Political Agent at Kuwait (Major Charles Crawshaw Galloway) and the Political Resident (Lieutenant-Colonel Trenchard Craven William Fowle) commenting on Alington’s description of Ibn Saud (ff 27-37).Correspondence dated 1942 between the Political Agent at Kuwait and the United States military relating to unauthorised entry into Saudi Arabia by foreigners (ff 41-42).A note written by the Political Agent at Bahrain (Edward Birkbeck Wakefield), dated 5 April 1943, on wartime conditions in Saudi Arabia, based on reports received by Dr Harold Storm and Gerrit Dirk Van Peursem, both of the American Mission at Bahrain, following their medical tour of Saudi Arabia (f 44).Correspondence dated August 1943 relating to a visit to Ibn Saud by Lieutenant-Colonel Harold B Hoskins, personal envoy of US President Roosevelt (ff 45-54).1 file (58 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 foliation sequence for this description commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 60; 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; 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 A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.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 file contains letters, telegrams and other papers relating to unidentified aircraft either seen or heard over the Arab coast during the Second World War, and the emergency landing of a B-17 Flying Fortress at Abu Dhabi in May 1944. Correspondence is sent and received by a host of British officials including political and consular agents and RAF officers.A telex sent by the Political Resident to the Government of India on 25 November 1940 reported that Italian radio broadcasts had claimed success in a bombing raid over Bahrain, accounting for recent reports of unidentified aircraft in the area (folio 6). A large part of the correspondence in the file concerns payments made by the crew of the B-17 Flying Fortress to local Arabs, who offered them water and assistance. The crew members gave an array of banknotes to one man, which staff at the Political Agency in Bahrain attempted to convert into rupees at the Eastern Bank (folio 38). Further correspondence relates to a complaint made by the clerk at the Agency in Sharjah, over abuse directed at him by staff from the RAF base in the town (folios 46-47).1 file (52 folios)The file is arranged in approximate chronological order, from the earliest items at the front of the file to the latest at the end. The office notes at the end of the file (folios 51-53) mirror the chronological arrangement. Circled index numbers, written in red crayon and ink, can be found throughout the volume, and refer to the office notes.Foliation: The main foliation sequence starts on the front cover and ends on the inside back cover, and uses circled pencil numbers in the top-right corner of each recto. A second foliation sequence is also present between ff. 2-49; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence.
The file contains correspondence between the Bahrain Petroleum Company Limited (BAPCO) representatives and managers and the Political Agent at Bahrain on BAPCO's deposit account with the Agency regarding payments for visas, passport renewals and certificates.1 file (326 folios)The documents in the file are arranged in chronological order. There are reference numbers in red crayon and blue in the file.The foliation is written in pencil, underlined, and can be found in the top or bottom right corners of the recto side of each folio. The numbering commences at the front cover with 1 and 1A; 2-14; 15 and 15A; 16-132; 133 and 133A; 134-137; 138 and 138A; 139-167; 168 and 168A; and then it carries on until 323, which is the last number given on the back cover.
The volume discusses the ongoing negotiations in Constantinople between the Ottoman, British and Russian Governments through 1912 and 1913 regarding the Turco-Persian Frontier. Also discussed is the decision in July 1913 to establish a delimitation commission to which Albert Charles Wratislaw and Arnold Talbot Wilson are appointed as representatives of the British Government.Also discussed in the volume is the region of Kermanshah and in particular Qasr-i-Shirin [Qaşr-e Shīrīn], along with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company's concerns over the rights accorded to them in their 1901 concession should some of that territory be ceded to Turkey.Further discussion relates to the movements of Russian and Turkish troops near the frontier and the withdrawal of Turkish troops from certain places along the frontier.This volume is part two of two. 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 (334 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.The subject 1356 (Turco-Persian Frontier) consists of 2 volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/266-267. The volumes are divided into 2 parts, with each part comprising one volume.Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 334; 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, nor does it include the two leading and ending flyleaves. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
The volume contains correspondence, telegrams and notes of meetings between the Political Agent at Muscat and the Political Resident at Bahrain and Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC) representatives regarding geologic surveys of Dhofar, Massirah and Batinah, Muskat, in Oman, and Gwadar, in Pakistan, carried on by geologists employed by D'Arcy Exploration Company. The volume contains an extract from the account of the expedition to Muscat (folios 44-45) and some letters to and from the Amīr of Ja‘lān, Muḥammad bin Nāṣir Āl Ḥamūdah.There are some maps within the file:Reduction to show Relationships of the Combined Plane Table and Prismatic Compass Sketch Map of the Country between JEBEL RODHAH, SOHAR AND IBRI, OMAN, ARABIA, with the Oman peninsula (f. 18A);Sketch map of the Omani and Emirati coast from Muscat northbound (f. 18B);Map extracted from Geographical Journal Sep. 1925' showing Oman and Trucial States (f. 18C);'Map showing coast and ports of Oman' (f. 36A), drawn by Mr Bower.1 file (77 folios)The documents in the volume are mostly arranged in chronological order.The foliation is written in pencil 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; 2-3; 4 and 4A; 5-7; 8 and 8A; 9-17; 18, 18A, 18B and 18C; 19-36; 37 and 37A; 38-60; 61 and 61A and then it carries on until 66, which is the last number given to the last folio.
This file is comprised of the correspondence and notes relating to two manuscripts by George Nathaniel Curzon. Firstly, 'Notes to accompany Map of Persia' (Published by the Royal Geographical Society), and secondly, the notes for Curzon's introduction to an edition published by Macmillan of 'The Adventures Haji Baba of Ispahan' by James Morier. In particular there is correspondence with the Macmillan publishers.The file consists of:The handwritten 'Notes to accompany the Map of Persia' (ff 1-11)The printed journal article (ff 12-14)A handwritten index to maps and plans (ff 16-21). This is divided into A) general maps i. Persia ii. Afghanistan. iii. Baluchistan. And B) Divisional maps. i Persia ii. Afghanistan iii. Baluchistan. These categories are all organised into five columns: title of map; author; number of sheets; scale of miles to inch; place and date of publication.Headed notelets (ff 28-30) from 'Kedleston, Derby' with Curzon's notes on Haji BabaCorrespondence between George Augustin Macmillan and George Nathaniel CurzonA flyer (ff 37-38) from Macmillan and Co for 'Illustrated Standard Novels' including a specimen illustrationNotes (ff 39-72) for Curzon's introduction to the account of Haji Baba.1 file (70 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 72; 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 4-11, and ff 48-74; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
This file contains correspondence related to the development of education in Bahrain. In particular, the correspondence discusses a proposal by C.R.L Adrian-Vallance to establish a college of higher education in Bahrain for students from all of the Arab states of the Gulf.Adrian-Vallance proposed this idea as a means to combat Pan-Arab/anti-British sentiment and foster a sense of Gulf identity distinct from a broader Arab identity. A letter (from Adrian-Vallance to Charles Belgrave, Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa's adviser) that outlines his plan for the college is contained on ff. 7 - 15.The file also includes a detailed report on government education in Bahrain with proposals for reform (written by Adrian-Vallance in 1939) contained on ff. 52b - 126, a report on technical education in Bahrain (written by Geoffrey E. Hutchings in 1940) contained on ff. 160 - 192 and a report written by Adrian-Vallance in May 1940 that gives an update on the progress made in education in Bahrain since his appointment as Director of Education in the country in November 1939.The file also contains correspondence regarding Adrian-Vallance's appointment as Director of Education in Bahrain, including a copy of his contract with Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.1 volume (245 folios)File is arranged in chronological order, from earliest at beginning of the file to most recent at end.Index numbers corresponding with the index at the back run through the volume; these numbers are written using red crayon and are circled.A bound correspondence volume. The main foliation sequence starts at the titlepage and terminates at the 4th sheet from the back of the volume; these numbers are written in pencil and can be found in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.An incomplete second foliation sequence (53-119) runs between ff 53-225 with a gap between ff 86-87; these numbers are also written in pencil and can be found in the same position as the main sequence.Foliation errors: 1A, 1B and 1C; 52a and 52b.
This file contains correspondence between the British Political Agent at Bahrain; the British Political Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire; R H Peck, Squadron Leader, No.84 (Bombing) Squadron, Royal Air Force; Shaikh Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah; and Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, Adviser to the Bahrain Government.The correspondence concerns general military matters affecting Bahrain and the wider Persian Gulf. These include:Stationing of troops in the Persian Gulf;Influence of the Indian communities in Muscat and Bahrain on Indian infantry stationed there;Arrangements for Royal Air Force visits to Bahrain, including No.84 (Bombing) Squadron's 1924 visit to Bahrain;A possible air route from Hasa to Riyad as detailed in 'Notes on the Route Hasa-Riyadh with special reference to the movements of aircraft', which contains a sketch map of a possible route (ff. 29-35);The question of withdrawal of military detachments in the Persian Gulf and strengthening the Levy Corps at Bahrain (1925-26);Military intelligence on Nadj tribes (ff. 73-83);Withdrawal of 3rd Battalion 16th Punjab Regiment from Manamah following a period of unrest in 1926 and their replacement by an armed State Police Force;A rough defence scheme ('Alarm Orders') in the event of raids being made on Manama prepared by the Bahrain Commandant of Police;The deployment of Captain R L O'Connor in 1930 to compile Military Intelligence in the Persian Gulf.1 file (112 folios)This file is arranged approximately in chronological order.Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover and terminates at the back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled and can be found in the top right of the recto side of each folio. A second incomplete foliation sequence written in blue crayon runs between ff. 2-22.
This file concerns the proposal and development of an Extradition Treaty for the mutual surrender of criminals between Bahrain and Nejd [Najd], later Saudi Arabia, following a visit by the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf to ‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd [Ibn Saud] in February 1932. The file includes correspondence between the Secretary to the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Vincent Biscoe and Lieutenant-Colonel Trenchard Craven Fowle, Political Residents in the Persian Gulf; Captain Charles Geoffrey Prior and Lieutent-Colonel Percy Gordon Loch, Political Agents at Bahrain; Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, Adviser to the Bahrain Government.The file includes a copy of a
Treaty of Extradition between 'Iraq and Hejaz[al-Ḥijāz],
Najd and Dependencies(ff 5-7), signed at Mecca on 21 Dhū al-Qa‘dah 1340 [8 April 1931] by Nuri As Sa'id [Nūrī al-Sa‘’id], Prime Minister of Iraq, and Faisal 'Abdul 'Aziz [Fayṣal bin ‘Abd al-‘Azīz Āl Sa‘ūd], and a draft Extradition Treaty between Bahrain and Najd by Belgrave (ff 11-14), which excludes the return of escaped slaves and a stipulates that applications for extradition should be forwarded through the Political Agent, Bahrain. A further draft copy of the treaty with Arabic translation is enclosed with a letter from Belgrave, dated 7 Rabī‘ I 1351 [10 July 1932]. There is further correspondence regarding the clause on excluding escaped slaves and making applications for extradition through the Political Agent (ff 21-29), as well as copies of correspondence between the Political Resident and the Colonial Office and India Office, London, regarding the proposed Extradition Treaty (ff 30-42). On 25 November 1932, it is decided by the Secretary of State for India that the matter should be left in abeyance.At the end of the file is a compliments slip, dated 29 August 1942, enclosing printed copies of:Agreement for Friendship and Neighbourly Relations between the Government of the United Kingdom (acting on behalf of His Highness the Sheikh[Shaikh]
of Kowait[Kuwait]
) and the Government of Saudi Arabia, Jedda, 20 April 1942 (ff 44-47);Trade Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom (acting on behalf of His Highness the Sheikh of Koweit) and the Government of Saudi Arabia, Jedda, 20 April 1942 (ff 48-49);Agreement for the Extradition of Offenders between the Government of the United Kingdom (acting on behalf of the Government of Koweit) and the Government of Saudi Arabia, Jedda, 20 April 1942 (ff 50-51).1 file (51 folios)The papers are 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 and terminates at the 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 between ff 2-51; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.
This file is entitled 'Activities of Saudi Arabians in Doha'; however, it concerns the activities of Saudi Arabians in Bahrain. The file includes correspondence between Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Gordon Loch, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; Captain George Ashmead Cole, Political Agent at Bahrain; and Charles Dalyrmple Belgrave, Adviser to the Bahrain Government.Correspondence between 1934 and 1935 concerns a Saudi proclamation (
i‘lān) posted on a wall in the Manama Pearl Bazaar without the permission of the Government of Bahrain (ff 2-3); action regarding a Nejd [Najd] travel document issued to Mohomed Ali [Muḥammad ‘Alī bin ‘Īd] and signed by Shaikh Mohomed al-Tawil [Muḥammad al-Ṭawīl], a Saudi official accompanying the Saudi Arabia Delegation in Bahrain (ff 4-8); and a case involving a Saudi subject charged with importing a rifle into Bahrain and selling it at Muharraq, plus a subsequent letter from Hamad Sulaiman [Ḥamad bin Sulaymān], a member of the Saudi Arabian Delegation in Bahrain, to Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah regarding the matter (ff 9-13). The remainder of the file (ff 14-25) consists of copies of correspondence between the Political Resident and the India Office with regards to the issue of the flying of the Saudi Arabian flag by the Trade Agent of ‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd [Ibn Saud] on Fridays at Kuwait, and how this issue pertains to the other Shaikhdoms of the Persian Gulf, including Bahrain.Notable Arabic documents include the aforementioned proclamation, dated 23 Sha‘bān 1353 [1 December 1934], concerning plans by the Government of Saudi Arabia to offer to carry fifty pilgrims in motor cars from Hasa (al-Aḥsā’) to Mecca and Medina (f 3), with a partial translation appearing on folio 25; and the aforementioned travel document (
tadhkirat huwīyat al-musāfir) issued by the Government of Saudi Arabia and including the stamps of the passport offices of Qatif [al-Qaṭīf] and Bahrain (f 5).1 file (27 folios)The papers are arranged in chronological order from the front to the rear of the file. File notes appear at 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 present in parallel between ff 1-24; these numbers are also written in pencil, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence, but they are not circled.
This file concerns possible anti-Saudi activities in the Persian Gulf. It contains correspondence between the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire, the Political Agent at Bahrain, and Charles Dalrymple Belgrave. In addition, there are copies of correspondence with Sir Andrew Ryan, Albert Spencer Calvert and Sir Reader Bullard of the British Legation at Jedda.The correspondence of 1933 (ff 2-20) concerns suspicions that Khalid Ibn Hithlain [Khālid bin Muḥammad bin Ḥithlayn] of the Ajman tribe proposes to enter Nejd [Najd] with 'evil intent' from Kuwait or Bahrain. Included are details of a meeting between the Political Agent and Shaikh Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah who doubts that Khālid would consider Bahrain as a location for buying supplies or as a staging ground for an attack, but instead suspects that he might be acting in collusion with an enemy of ‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd [Ibn Saud], for example, his brother, Muḥammad bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān Āl Sa‘ūd (ff 3-6). In addition, there are copies of personal letters on the same subject between Fuad Hamza, [Fu’ād Ḥamzah], Ryan, Calvert and Amir Faisal [Fayṣal bin ‘Abd al-‘Azīz Āl Sa‘ūd] (ff 14-20).A copy of a letter, dated 12 April 1939, from the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to Sir Reader Bullard, concerns a meeting between Sir Lancelot Oliphant and Faysal regarding the potential threat to Saudi Arabia from Nazi Germany, the likelihood of the incorporation of Koweit [Kuwait] into Iraq, and British rule of the Persian Gulf (ff 21-23).File notes at the rear of the file (ff 24-26) include brief genealogical and biographical details concerning Khalid, as well as the Ajman tribe.1 file (25 folios)The papers are arranged in chronological order from the front to the rear of the file. File notes appear at the rear of the file.Foliation: the foliation sequence 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.
The file comprises correspondence, memoranda, maps, and other papers relating to questions over the position of Saudi Arabia’s south-eastern frontier adjoining Qatar and the Trucial Coast shaikhdoms, notably Abu Dhabi. Negotiations over the frontier had long been deferred by British Government officials, as a result of the Ruler of Saudi Arabia ‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd’s [Ibn Saud] firm stance in negotiations before the Second World War. However, the need for a resolution became increasingly apparent as a result of ongoing oil exploration in Saudi Arabia by the Arabian American Oil Company (Aramco), and exploration in Qatar and Abu Dhabi by Petroleum Concessions Limited (PCL). The principal correspondents in the file include: representatives of the India Office, Foreign Office, Ministry of Fuel and Power; the British Legation at Jedda; the Political Agent at Bahrain; and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf.The file includes:correspondence, dating from 1944 and 1945, between British Government officials in the Persian Gulf, India Office and Foreign Office, discussing the previous difficulties encountered in negotiating Saudi Arabia’s south-eastern frontiers with Ibn Saud, and the agreement that further negotiations be left until after the event of Ibn Saud’s death (ff 2-29);correspondence from late 1945 through 1947, between Government officials on the possible establishment of a neutral zone between Aramco’s concession area in Saudi Arabia, and PCL’s concession area in Qatar. Also, there is some discussion of Aramco’s proposals to begin seabed exploration off the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia (ff 36-59);PCL’s request for permission to conduct seismic surveys at the southernmost limit of their concession area in Qatar (ff 76-95);reports of Aramco survey parties making incursions into PCL’s concession areas in Qatar and Abu Dhabi (ff 104-127);Government criticism of PCL’s delay in exploiting its concession areas in Qatar and Abu Dhabi (f 133);preparations in August 1949 for the reopening of frontier negotiations with the Saudi Government in Jedda. Papers include: a copy of a confidential memorandum with map, dated 2 February 1948, on the south-eastern frontier of Saudi Arabia, prepared by J E Cable of the Eastern Department of the Foreign Office (ff 164-169; copy also at ff 87-91); three further confidential memoranda with maps, prepared by the Eastern Department in 1940, outlining past and present negotiations on the position of the south-eastern frontiers of Saudi Arabia (ff 170-180, ff 181-185, ff 186-188); proposals to send representatives from Qatar and Abu Dhabi to the Jedda negotiations (ff 190-203).1 file (212 folios)The file’s contents are arranged in approximate chronological order, from the earliest item at the front to the latest at the end. The file notes at the end of the file (ff 204-212) mirror the chronological arrangement.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. This file has the following foliation anomaly: 111A. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 4-203; 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.