1. ‘File 7/4 Night flying training in Bahrain’

Description:

The correspondence in the file relates to a request made by 203 RAF Squadron at Basra, to carry out night-time flying practice, involving two flying boats for a period of ten days, at Bahrain. The Political Agent, Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Loch, replied by stating that the ruler, Shaikh Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah, had no objection to the request.1 file (5 folios)The contents of the file are arranged in chronological order, from the earliest item at the front to the latest at the rear. There is a page of office notes (folio 5) at the end of the file, which mirrors the chronological order.Foliation: The file is foliated from the front cover to the inside back cover, using pencil numbers in the top-right corner of each recto. The following foliation anomalies occur: 1a, 1b.

2. '15/3 ABU DHABI'

Description:

File contains notes on the personalities and tribes of Abu Dhabi. The notes were produced by the Residency Agent, Sharjah, in response to a request from the Political Agent Bahrain.There are the original notes in Arabic (ff. 24-43) with the English translation (ff. 2-23).A report (ff. 44-58) from the Residency Agent Sharjah to Colonel Gordon Loch, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, which describes a journey to Braimi to collect data and statistics on the payment of zakat to Ibn Saud. This was compiled as a questionnaire (f. 49) with six questions and the accompanying answers.A note on the personalities of Abu Dhabi (ff. 59-61)A note (ff. 62-64) on the rulers of Abu Dhabi, composed of the Al Bu Falah subsection of the Bani Yas.1 file (68 folios)The papers in this file are arranged into a translation in English (ff 2-23) of a letter and a report in Arabic (ff 24-43) from the Residency Agent, Sharjah, to the Political Agent, Bahrain. Then follows a letter (ff 44-64) from the Residency Agent, Sharjah, to Percy Gordon Loch, Political Resident in the Persian GulfThere is a page of file notes (folio 67).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.2-67; these numbers are written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence.

3. '86/1 VIII Kuwait Oil D 106'

Description:

The correspondence in the volume is primarily concerned with the ongoing negotiations between the Kuwait Oil Company (led by Frank Holmes and Archibald Chisholm) and the Shaikh of Kuwait, Shaikh Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ, which were suspended in June 1934 following disagreements between the parties over certain financial remunerations and the question of the appointment of a Chief Local Representative in Kuwait, before being resumed in September 1934 and concluded in December 1934 with the signing of the concession agreement. Copies of the final draft concession agreement can be found at folios 82-97 and 247-283. Other correspondents in these negotiations are the Political Agent at Kuwait (Harold Dickson, with Ralph Ponsonby Watts acting) and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Trenchard Craven Fowle, with Percy Gordon Loch acting).Also included in the file is correspondence relating to a company called Traders Limited who submitted a draft oil concession agreement to the Shaikh of Kuwait in September 1934, potentially breaching the agreement made by the Shaikh with the Kuwait Oil Company not to consider any other oil concession application during the period June to September 1934.The question of the oil concession for the Kuwait-Nejd neutral zone is also discussed, with corespondence between the Foreign Office, HM Minister in Jedda (Sir Andrew Ryan), the Secretaries of State for India and Foreign Affairs, representatives of the Arabian Development Syndicate, and the Deputy Saudi Minister for Foreign Affairs (Fuad Bey Hamza). The correspondence focuses on attempts to understand how the Saudi Arabian Government is handling their share of the concession, and how this might affect Kuwait.The volume also includes confidential records of meetings held at the Foreign Office with Fuad Bey Hamza (Foreign Minister for Saudi Arabia) in which the possibility of dividing the neutral zone are discussed. The Political Agent, Harold Dickson is consulted about these proposals and provides background information on the establishment of the neutral zone, the potential detrimental effects that disbanding it could have on the nomadic tribes living in the zone, and observations on the possible oil locations which would be most likely end up in the Saudi Arabian half under any division of the zone and the detrimental effect that might have on Kuwait.Other correspondence in the file includes discussions between the Secretary of State for India, Gilbert Laithwaite (India Office), Wilfred Ashton McClaughry (Air Ministry) and Charles Stuart Burnett (Air Vice-Marshall in Iraq) regarding the possible future need for a site at Shuwaikh as an airbase, and an agreement with the Shaikh of Kuwait for mooring buoys to be placed in Shuwaikh Harbour.1 volume (346 folios)The contents of the volume have been arranged chronologically according to the date the correspondence was received at the Political Residency in the Persian Gulf. Folios 316-326 contain file notes which list each letter or communication in the file giving the date, along with any relevant notes and in the margins are pencil numbers which refer to the folio that the relevant item can be found on and can therefore be used as an index.Foliation: The volume has been foliated in the top right hand corner of the recto of each folio using a pencil number enclosed in a circle. The sequence commences on the title page and concludes on the last folio.A second incomplete sequence is present between folios 115-316, these numbers are also written in pencil but are not circled and can be found in the same position as the main sequence. Circled index numbers, in red or blue ink, are also present throughout the volume.Foliation errors: 1, 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D; 85 and 85A; 145 and 145A; 156A; 176 and 176A; 182 and 182A; 190A; 240 and 240A; 247 and 257B; 267 and 267A; 283 and 283A; 285 and 285AFoliation omission: 24The following folios will need to be unfolded to be read: 249-267; 269-283; 319-320

4. 'F 83 File 82/27-II QATAR OIL'

Description:

The volume contains correspondence between the Political Agent at Bahrain and the Political Resident at Bushire, the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC) representatives and the India Office in London, regarding the political situation in Qatar, the southern boundary of Qatar and the Oil Concession.The volume also contains 'Note on conversation on 15 December 1933 with Mr G.W. Rendel, Foreign Office, on future policy in regard to Qatar.' (folios 68-78), draft 'Qatar Concession', 11 December 1933 (folios 102-110) and 'Mr. Williamson's Political Note on Qatar', with genealogical tree of the Al Thani family, 15 January 1934 (folios 125-135).There are two maps within the volume: a blueprint on folio 148, 'Geological Sketch Map of Qatar Peninsula', produced during a geological survey of Qatar, showing villages, deserted buildings, water wells, roads and routes and a 'Sketch Map of Qatar Peninsula' (folio 285).1 volume (310 folios)The documents in the volume are mostly arranged in chronological order. There are notes at the end of the volume, (folios 298-302). The file notes are arranged chronologically and refer to documents within the file; they give 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 and can be found in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The numbering begins on the title page with 1;1A; 1B and ends on the inside of the back cover, on number 308. There is another foliation sequence, which is incomplete.

5. 'F.85 File 82/27-IV Qatar Oil'

Description:

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.

6. 'Asia - Persian Gulf, Eastern Sheet'

Description:

A map of the Eastern Persian Gulf that was compiled by Commander C G Constable and Lieutenant Arthur William Stiffe in 1860. Corrections made by Commander Frederic H Walter, HMS Odin and Lieutenant H T Bowen, HMS Alert in 1910. This version was printed by the Admiralty in 1934. Engraved by J & C Walker.The maps has major settlements and relief marked, with water depth shown by soundings. An area of a proposed Royal Navy survey is marked in pink on the map.The map has detailed inserts showing the shore lines of Charak, Kais, Ras al-Khaimah, Hor [Khor] Fakkan, Abu Dhabi and Chiru.1 mapMaterials: Printed on paperDimensions: 1,100mm x 820mm

7. 'Red oxide on Abu Musa, 1898-1934'

Description:

This memorandum was prepared by John Gilbert Laithwaite in May 1934 and comments on the history of the concession of red oxide on Abu Musa [Abū Mūsá]. The concession was granted in April 1898 by Sheikh Salim bin Sultan [Sālim bin Sulṭān Āl Qāsimī] while acting as Regent. On his return the ruling Sheikh, Sagar bin Khalid [Ṣaqr bin Khālid Āl Qasimī], saw nothing objectionable it. The concession was made to Hassan Samaiyah, his son Abdullah and Isa bin Adul Latif [‘Īsá bin ‘Abd al-Laṭīf], son of the Residency Agent at Sharjah. The concessionaires were described as British subjects and the interest in the concession of Herr Wonckhaus [Robert Wonckhaus] and Frank Clarke Strick is detailed. The memorandum also describes the claim of the Persian Government to Abu Musa and notes that the concession granted for five years to Frank Clarke Strick in January 1923 expired at the beginning of 1928 but there is nothing to show that any application was made for a renewal.6 foliosThe memorandum is arranged in ten paragraphs.The main 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. A second parallel foliation sequence is also present between ff 2-6; these numbers are typed, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.

8. 'Jufair No. 1'

Description:

A simple blueprint map of one of two areas of land in Jufair (Bahrain) bought by the British Government in 1934. The extent of the land is marked by boundary pillars.1 mapMaterials: printed on drafting clothDimensions: 320mm x 360mm

9. 'Jufair No. 2'

Description:

A simple blueprint map of one of two areas of land in Jufair (Bahrain) bought by the British Government in 1934. The extent of the land is marked by boundary pillars.1 mapMaterials: printed on drafting clothDimensions: 320mm x 320mm

10. ‘JUFAIR. No. 1’

Description:

Distinctive Features:Blueprint plan based on a provisional survey carried out on 22 July 1934 enclosed to a copy of a ‘Report on areas acquired in Bahrein’ by Major K.M. Papworth (folio 187).Shows the extent of the land designated for the Naval Base situated at Ras Al Jufair about 3 miles south of Manamah. Plots lettered for reference with explanation and characteristics provided in ‘Appendix C’ (folios 192-193). Dimensions reported.1 mapDimensions:345 x 375 mm

11. ‘JUFAIR. No. 2’

Description:

Distinctive Features:Blueprint plan based on a provisional survey carried out on 22 July 1934 enclosed to a copy of a ‘Report on areas acquired in Bahrein’ by Major K.M. Papworth (folio 187).Shows the extent of the land designated for the Naval Base situated at Ras Al Jufair about 3 miles south of Manamah. Dimensions reported.Characteristics including information on marking, surface and present occupation described in ‘Appendix D’ (folio 194).1 mapDimensions:350 x 351 mm

12. 'SAUDI-YEMEN Frontier'

Description:

Sketch map produced by Sir Andrew Ryan, British Minister at Jedda, which attempts to establish the geographical location of the Beni Malik [Banī Mālik], Abadil [Āl ʿAbādil] and Ahl Faifa [Ahl Fayfā'] tribes.1 mapMaterials: Manuscript; coloured ink on paper.Dimensions: 330 x 200mm.