Distinctive Features:Enclosed with letter from Charles Dalrymple Belgrave to Political Agent, Bahrain, dated 11th April 1934 (folio 85).Tracing showing area between villages of Busaitin and Deir at Muharraq acquired by the Government of Bahrain outlined in red with dimensions reported.1 mapMaterials:Pencil and crayon on tracing clothDimensions:405 x 427 mm
This file contains an exchange of letters between Foreign Office and India Office officials regarding the extent of Persia's territorial waters after the Persian Minister for Foreign Affairs claimed a ten-mile limit.1 file (12 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, 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 2-10; these numbers are also written in pencil, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence, but they are not circled.
The file consists of a letter — dated 28 June 1934 — from Percy Gordon Loch, Political Agent at Bahrain, addressed to Ibrahim bin Muhammad al Muammar, Chargé d’Affaires for the Royal Legation of Saudi Arabia, Baghdad. It simply thanks the Chargé d’Affaires for his visit during Loch's recent stay in Baghdad, and apologises for not being able to return the favour. An Arabic translation of the letter is included.1 file (6 folios)The Arabic language version of the letter (on folio 4) precedes the English language version (on folio 5). The notes section at the back of the file is empty.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 also present in parallel between ff 4-6; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
The volume contains correspondence between the Political
Resident in Bushire, the Political Agent in Bahrain and the Secretary of State for
India, on the Qatar oil concession, on the Southern boundary of Qatar and on the role of
Ibn Saud in the negotiation.The volume includes:meeting notes, copies of telegrams and letters on
Qatar and Kuwait oil concessions;note from the Political Agent in Kuwait to the
Political Resident dated 23 Jan 1934 about the Qatar and Hasa Oil concessions and the
Kuwait Neutral Zone (ff. 60-63);memorandum on the political importance of 'the
maintenance of a British position on the Arab littoral of the Gulf' (ff. 71-76)
and the need to offer protection to the Sheikh of Qatar in return for an
'undertaking on his part to grant a concession to the Anglo Persian Oil Company
(Iraq Petroleum Company);correspondence between the British Air Ministry and
the India Office about air facilities in Qatar;note referring to a conversation that occurred at the
end of 1922 between Sir Percy, Ibn Saud and Major Holmes regarding the southern
boundaries of Qatar and the political relationship between Qatar and Saudi Arabia (f.
116C);memorandum from the meetings occurred on 11-12 Mar
1934 between the Sheikh Abdullah bin Qasim al-Thani and the Political Resident re oil
concession (ff. 131-140);copies of draft Qatar Oil Concession;a sketch of Qatar, ink on fabric (f. 212);memorandum on the frontiers of Saudi Arabia (ff.
196-199).There is an index at the end of the volume ( folios
211-216).1 volume (223 folios)The papers in this file are arranged in chronological order.
There is an index at the end of the volume, on folios 211-216. The index is arranged
chronologically and refers to documents within the volume; it gives brief description of
the correspondence with a reference number, which refers back to that correspondence in
the volume.The foliation is on top right-hand corner, starting on the
first page of writing and finishing on the back cover. The numbering is in pencil,
enclosed by a circle and starts with 1, then 115, 116A, 116B, 116C, then carries on
until 221, which is the last number given. There is a second pagination on the top right
corner, uncircled, starting on folio 22 (numbered 21) to folio 100 (numbered 99) and
then from folio 116a (numbered 113) until folio 210 (numbered 207).
The volume contains correspondence between the India Office and the Shaikh of Qatar, the Air Ministry, the Foreign Office, the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC) and H.M.'s Ministry at Jedda in regard to the borders of Qatar, the oil concession and the relations of the Shaikhdoms with Ibn Said.It contains:notes of a meeting held at the India Office on 21 March 1934 with representatives of APOC and Royal Dutch Shell to discuss the Qatar oil concession (ff 22-29 and 86-92A);notes on the meeting occurred on 2-4 April 1934 between the Political Resident and the Shaikh Abdullah bin Qasim al Thani of Qatar (ff. 44-51A);envelope titled 'Sketch Map of Qatar peninsula with boundary line marked by Shaikh' (f. 51B);correspondence re the 'reconnaissance of Qatar' via flying boats by R.A.F. taking place on 8/9 May 1934 (ff. 141-222);extracts from R. E. Cheesman's
'In Unknown Arabia'(ff. 177-185);list of tasks to be carried out during the reconnaissance, including photographs to be taken (ff. 194-197).There is an index at the end of the volume (folios 236-244).1 volume (262 folios)The papers in the volume are arranged chronologically. There is an index at the end of the volume, on folios 236-244.The foliation starts on the first page of writing on top right-hand corner and finishes on the back cover. The numbering starts with 1, then 7, 8a, 8b, 9A, 9B, 10A, 10B, 11-14, 15A, 15B, 16, then 18, 19A, 19B, 20, 21A, 21B, 22, then 50, 51A, 51B, 52, then 79, 80A, 80B, 81-84, 85A, 85B, 86, then 92, 93A, 93B, then 159, 160A, 160B, 160C,161, then 228, 229A, 229B, 230, and then carries until 249 which is the last number given.
The volume contains letters, telegrams, maps and memoranda relating to oil prospecting undertaken in Bahrain by the Bahrain Petroleum Company (hereafter BAPCO), and the development of an oil infrastructure. The volume is a direct continuation of ‘File 86/2 VII (C 48) Bahrain Oil’ (IOR/R/15/1/655). The principal correspondents in the volume are the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Lieutenant-Colonel Trenchard Fowle, and the Political Agent in Bahrain, Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Gordon Loch.Subjects covered by the volume include:Construction of a submarine pipeline, ship anchorage and other facilities at Sitrah Island by BAPCO;Construction of wireless facilities for BAPCO’s operation, pending approval by Imperial & International Wireless Limited and Imperial Airways;Installation of buoys for the BAPCO anchorage (including details and location of buoys, folio 16), pending approval by the Government of India which holds responsibility for buoying in the Gulf; also concerns over the proximity of the anchorage to fish traps;British Government officials’ preference for Admiralty cooperation in surveying the area for a proposed anchorage, over the involvement of the U.S. Marine (folio 30);The despatch (folio 84) and arrival (folio 222) of an American vessel, the
El Segundo, to Bahrain, with a workforce for the construction of the pipeline and other facilities and the despatch of a German steamer, the
Wachtfells, with materials (folios 86-87);British officials’ concerns regarding the forty-five American workers on board the
El Segundo(folio 116): the effects of their presence in Bahrain, and the question of a need for visas (folios 135-36, 139-40);Wider concern over the numbers of foreign workers employed by BAPCO in Bahrain, with details of the nationalities and classes of workers employed by BAPCO in January 1934 (folio 138);Questions over whether oil refining will be carried out in Bahrain, which is strongly advocated by the Ruler of Bahrain, Shaikh Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah, and his Government (folio 83);BAPCO acquisition of land in Bahrain, in relation to the prospecting and mining licenses, including land for shipping facilities at Sitrah, and plans for a permanent camp (folios 209-10);A dispute between the British Government and BAPCO over the interpretation of a clause in the concession agreement, relating to the waiving of duty paid on the import of equipment by the oil company. The dispute relates to whether such items as food goods and furniture can be classified as company equipment;Questions over the replacement of Ed Skinner, Chief Local Representative of BAPCO;Minutes of India Office meetings, in which the status of the Qatar concession, with reference to such issues as risks facing exploration, boundary issues, British and foreign representation, and the involvement of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company are discussed (folios 37-58, 93-110).1 volume (240 folios)The volume’s contents are arranged in approximate chronological order, from the earliest item at the front to the latest at the end. The office notes at the end of the volume (folios 225-30) mirror the chronological arrangement.Foliation: There is an incomplete foliation sequence and a complete foliation sequence. The complete sequence, which should be used for referencing, is circled in pencil, at the top of the recto of each folio. It begins on the title page, on number 1, and ends on the folio of writing, on number 230. Foliation anomalies: f 76 is followed by f 76A; f 210 is followed by f 210A. Index numbers written in red and blue pencil are part of the volume’s original filing system, and correspondent to the office notes index at the end of the file (ff 225-30).The following folios are fold-out maps ff 77-78; f 210; f 213.
The volume contains memoranda, confidential papers, personal letters and testimonies related to alleged smuggling of food and goods from Kuwait to Iraq. The correspondence includes two unsuccessful proposals for conferences to be held between Iraqi and Kuwaiti officials to discuss the limits of territorial waters and smuggling from Kuwait.The volume includes tables showing the total imports and exports into and from Kuwait, of sugar, tea, coffee, matches and tobacco which were the principal articles complained of as being smuggled between 1920-1933.Most of the volume relates to complaints made by the Shaikh of Kuwait to the Political Agent, Kuwait, regarding attacks by Iraq Customs Officials. The volume contains testimonies from Kuwaiti subjects, forwarded by the Shaikh, regarding armed cars belonging to the Iraqi customs crossing the Kuwait frontiers and attacking Kuwait nakhudas, locals and Bedouin tribes, as well as reports of Iraqi customs from Fao violating Kuwait’s territorial waters. The volume also contains minutes from meetings in London between British officials in response to the incidents.The main correspondents in the volume are the Political Agency, Kuwait, the Political Residency, Bushire, the British Embassy, Baghdad, the Iraqi Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Shaikh of Kuwait, and the Secretary of State for India, London.1 volume (318 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 inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 320; 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 60-64, and ff 148-315; 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 contains correspondence and telegrams between the Political Agent in Bahrain, the Political Resident in Bushire and representatives of the Bahrain Petroleum Company Limited (BAPCO) on the storage tanks calibration for the purpose of calculating the royalties payable to the Sheikh of Bahrain and on the first shipments of oil from Bahrain to Japan and Singapore.The volume includes a copy of the draft lease contract with notes (folios 55-64), newspaper cuttings on oil in Bahrain and House of Commons' questions on Bahrain (folios 204-205). There are letters in Arabic with English translation, to and from the Sheikh.There is an index at the end of the volume (folios 248-258).1 volume (270 folios)The documents in the volume are arranged in chronological order. There is an index at the end of the volume (folios 248-258). The index is arranged chronologically and refers to documents within the volume; it gives brief description of the correspondence with a reference number, which refers back to that correspondence in the volume.The main foliation system starts on the 5th sheet with 1 and finishes with 259, wich is the last number given, on the 5th sheet from the back of the volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled and may be found in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Foliation anomalies: 56A and 56B; 57A and 57B; 58A and 58B; 60A and 60B; 61A and 61B; 61A and 61B; 63A and 63B.Foliation omissions: folio 233A second foliation sequence starts on folio 14 and continues through to folio 247; the numbering for this sequence starts at 13. These numbers are also written in pencil and may be located in the same position as the main sequence.
The file concerns the abduction from Dilam [Bandar-e Deylam] in Persia to Koweit [Kuwait] of two Persian customs guards by the crew of a Persian dhow. The nakhoda of the dhow feared punishment after his cargo was judged to be contraband by the Persian authorities, and so fled to Kuwait, with the customs guards on board and under arrest. When in Kuwait, the Shaikh of Kuwait [Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ] banished the nakhoda and his boat from Kuwait in perpetuity.The papers include a statement made by the nakhoda of the dhow (folio 14) and correspondence from various British officials, including the Foreign Office, as to what attitude the British should adopt, should a complaint be made about the incident by the Persian Government.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 (13 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 15; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Reports from HM’s Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Tehran, Reginald Hervey Hoare, and the British Ambassador in Turkey, Percy Lyham Loraine, along with newspaper cuttings from
The Times,
The Near East and Indiaand
The Evening Standard, reporting on the Shah of Persia’s [Reza Shah Pahlavi] visit to Turkey, including to Angora [Ankara]. The reports focus on: the Shah’s movements and meetings; speculation regarding the discussions that took place between the Shah and Turkish officials, including the prospect of an agreement between Persia [Iran], Turkey, Iraq, and Afghanistan; press coverage of the visit. The file includes one item in French, a newspaper cutting from the Persian newspaper
Le Messager de Teheran(f 5A).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 (42 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 front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 44; these numbers are written in pencil and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
The file is a copy of a commercial lease between Shaikh Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah, Sheikh of Bahrein, and the Bahrein Petroleum Company, in which the Sheikh grants to the company the exclusive right for fifty-five years to drill for, extract, treat, refine, and deal with petroleum products and natural gas within the portion of Bahrain Island delineated on the accompanying map.1 file (10 folios)Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 10; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located at the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Pagination: the volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
Correspondence from the Military Accounts Department, Western Command, Quetta to Lieutenant Colonel Percy Gordon Loch, Political Agent, Bahrain, requesting particulars of his service so that the Department could open a record of service card for him in accordance with Army Department regulations concerning certain military officers in civil employ.1 file (12 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file. Circled serial numbers (red for received correspondence; blue/black for issued correspondence) refer to entries in the notes at the rear of the file.Foliation: the foliation system in use commences at 1A on the front cover and continues through to 11 on the back cover. The sequence is written in pencil, within brackets, and appears in the top centre of the recto page of each folio. Foliation anomalies: ff. 1A, 1B.