This file contains one letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Gordon Loch, Political Agent at Bahrain, to Lieutenant-Colonel Trenchard Craven Fowle, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire, dated 1 November 1931. The letter concerns the visit to Bahrain in 1931 of His Highness Prince Ahmad Tauhid [Aḥmad Tawḥīd], grandson of the late Sultan Abdul Aziz [‘Abd al-‘Azīz] of Turkey, and Jamal [Jamāl] Pasha, formerly in the service of Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] as his War Minister and who was on an official mission to discover the cause of the great drop in the number of pilgrims to the Hedjaz [al-Ḥijāz] during Hajj.1 file (3 folios)The papers are arranged in chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the back cover with 5; 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 concerns finding a temporary home in Bahrain for a female Belgian artist named Mademoiselle Corbiau who wishes to visit there to earn money by painting portraits. The correspondents in the file include: Ernest Vincent Packer, Petroleum Concession Limited, Bahrain; Cornelius James Pelly, Political Agent at Bahrain; and His British Majesty's Consul-General at Basrah.1 file (7 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 with 1 and terminates at the back cover with 9; 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 2-7; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.
The file comprises correspondence and papers relating to visits to the Persian Gulf by foreign dignitaries. Correspondents in the file include the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, and the Political Agents at Bahrain and Kuwait.The file includes:correspondence relating to the visit to Bahrain in December 1937 of Amir Sa‘ūd bin ‘Abd al-‘Azīz Āl Sa‘ūd from Saudi Arabia, including: discussion amongst British Government officials who take a positive view of the proposed visit; a letter from the Political Agent in Bahrain (Captain Tom Hickinbotham) to the Ruler of Bahrain (Sheikh Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah), dated 7 October 1937, insisting that he be present during any political discussions (ff 24-25); reports in late December 1937 of the visit, written by the Political Agent Hugh Weightman (ff 43-48) and an unknown author (ff 50-53). Both reports include details of: the visiting dignitaries, receptions and dinners; the large quantities of gold sovereigns brought up by the Saudi party in the Bahrain bazaars, to be used to purchase Maria Theresa dollars in Saudi Arabia; rumours amongst the Bahrain bazaars of the purposes of the trip;correspondence relating to the Sheikh of Kuwait’s (Sheikh Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ) proposed visit to Bahrain, his intention being to meet the Ruler of Bahrain, Sheikh Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah, and offer mediation over the Bahrain-Qatar (Zubarah) dispute (ff 26-30);a proposed trip in 1936 by the Iraqi statesman Nuri Pasha to Bombay, stopping off at Kuwait, Bahrain and Muscat, and the consequent postponement of this trip due to unforeseen circumstances (ff 2-10). Correspondence relating to Nuri Pasha’s later trip to Riyadh via Bahrain in April 1940 is also included in the file (ff 57-63);the return of the Egyptian Chargé d'Affaires, Abdul Hamid Munir, to Egypt from Riyadh via Bahrain in 1944 (ff 72-76);wartime and post-war various visits by United States dignitaries and legations, including: a US legation at Bahrain in 1942 (ff 65-66); Colonel Hoskins, Personal Envoy to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1943 (68, 70-71); and US senators in 1943 and 1944-45 (ff 69 77-79);1 file (90 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 also present in parallel between ff 2-81; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence.
This file contains correspondence from the British Consulate General at Bushire and the Political Agent at Bahrain concerning the activities of Felix Valyi, a Hungarian Orientalist. In particular, are details of his plan for a 'world university' in Greece and a 'Council of Higher Learning in the Oriental Humanities'.1 file (3 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 with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 5; 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 1-4; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.
This file concerns protests by Petroleum Development (Qatar) Limited to the British Political Agent at Bahrain regarding the plan of Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Jāsim Āl Thānī, the Ruler of Qatar, to impose a system of taxation on its employees and the question of whether this breaches Article 10 of the Qatar Oil Concession. Correspondents in this file include: Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Geoffrey Prior, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire; Major Reginald George Evelin Alban, Political Agent at Bahrain; Ernest Vincent Packer, Petroleum Development (Qatar) Limited; and the India Office, London.1 file (13 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 with 1 and terminates at the 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. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
This file concerns the construction of the first hospital at Doha, Qatar, in the mid-1940s. Correspondents in this file include: Lieutenant-Colonel Arnold Crawshaw Galloway, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bahrain; Cornelius James Pelly, Political Agent at Bahrain; E P Donaldson, India Office, London; Dr W N Storm and Dr Paul Wilberforce Harrison of the American Mission at Bahrain.Details include funding by the American Mission and the possibility of funding from the Government of India based on the scale of that provided for medical facilities at Dubai; the necessity of medical facilities to service the oil industry and for a Political Officer to reside at Doha under Article 8 of the Anglo-Qatar treaty of 1916; relations between the American Mission and Qatar and the British administration; and the possibility of posting an European doctor to Qatar. Notable documents include a letter, dated 6 Dhu al-Qidah 1366 (20 September 1947), from ‘Abdullāh bin Jāsim Āl Thānī to the Political Agent at Bahrain regarding the construction of the hospital and a report by Storm and Harrison about their trip to the hospital at Doha in October 1947.1 file (22 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 with 1 and terminates at the back cover with 24; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
The file contains correspondence relating to the presentation of gifts by the Political Agent at Bahrain to Saleh al Mana, representative of the Shaikh of Qatar. The gifts are an appreciation of the hospitality provided by Saleh al Mana during the Political Agent’s visits to Qatar. Correspondents in the file include the Political Agent at Bahrain (Cornelius James Pelly, and Gordon Noel Jackson between August and November 1947), Saleh al Mana [Ṣāliḥ Āl Māni‘], and the Manager of Petroleum Concessions (Qatar) Limited, Basil Henry le Riolet Lermitte, who frequently acted as an intermediary between the Political Agent and Saleh al Mana.Correspondence relates to:the delivery of a radio set to Saleh al Mana in 1947 (ff 2-21), and further correspondence resulting from the radio not working and requiring replacement. Saleh al Mana’s attempt, in October 1947, to arrange the purchase of his own radio set through Lermitte, in contravention of restrictions on Petroleum Concessions Limited buying products from Bahrain for non-Company Qataris, is brought to the attention of the Political Agent by Lermitte (f 14);in September 1948, two letters from the Political Agent to Saleh al Mana, the first returning a set of pearls given to the Political Resident Sir William Rupert Hay’s daughter by the Shaikh of Qatar, owing to the fact that the Political Resident was not permitted to accept gifts; the second presenting Saleh al Mana with an automatic pistol (ff 22-26);between October 1948 and September 1949, correspondence relating to the incorrect ammunition that was supplied with the pistol given to Saleh al Mana, and the Political Agent’s arrangements for the correct ammunition to be purchased, imported and sent on to Saleh al Mana (ff 27-41).1 file (45 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 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, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.
Correspondence in this file discusses the etiquette of gun salutes and exchange of calls in the Gulf. Topics include:the raising of the number of gun salutes for the Ruler of Kuwait and the Ruler of Bahrain from seven guns to eleven guns;a letter in Arabic (with English translation) from Shaikh Hamad bin Isa al Khalifah [Shaikh Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah], Ruler of Bahrain, to Percy Gordon Loch, Political Agent, Bahrain, expressing thanks to King George V for the granting of a seven guns as a personal salute;the programme and protocol for the visit of the Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station, to Bahrain and Sharjah.1 file (274 folios)The papers are arranged chronologically from the front to the back of the file. There are file notes ff 251-273.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 2-243; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence.
This file contains correspondence relating to the etiquette of various social occasions involving British officials in the Gulf, members of Gulf ruling families and visiting dignitaries. There are numerous seating plans for dinner parties as well as Christmas greetings and lists of expenditures and reports on social events. Topics include:protocol for return of calls depending on whether the Political Agent was married or unmarried;social programme for the visits of HMS
Bidefordand HMS
Shoreham;question of precedence of Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, Adviser to the Government of Bahrain, as compared to the Assistant Political Agent, Bahrain;a statement of expenditure for a party for the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf;invitation to Percy Gordon Loch, Political Agent, Bahrain, to use the BAPCO Club and golf course.1 file (206 folios)The papers are arranged chronologically from the front to the back 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 206; 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 2-200; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not 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 file contains correspondence relating to the flying of flags on Tamb island [Greater Tunb] and on Sirr Abu Nu'air [Şīr Bū Nu‘ayr]. In 1933 Trenchard Craven Fowle, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, encouraged the shaikhs of the Trucial Coast to fly their flags on these islands to prevent the Government of Persia from claiming ownership. This led to a dispute between the Ruler of Abu Dhabi and the Ruler of Sharjah over the erection of buildings on the islands. This dispute had previously surfaced during the Residencies of Percy Zachariah Cox and Arthur Prescott Trevor.The file contains a note written by Khan Bahadur 'Isa bin 'Abdul Latif, Residency Agent, Sharjah recording a conversation between Shaikh Shakhbut bin Sultan bin Zaid, Ruler of Abu Dhabi and Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Gordon Loch, Political Agent, Bahrain. Also discussed is the attempt by the Shaikh of Ras al-Khaimah to collect tribute from Persians living on Tamb Island.Correspondence is mainly between Trenchard Craven Fowle, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; Khan Bahadur 'Isa bin 'Abdul Latif, Residency Agent, Sharjah; Shaikh Shakhbut bin Sultan bin Zaid, Ruler of Abu Dhabi. Other correspondents include Edward Birbeck Wakefield, Political Agent, Bahrain; Cornelius James Pelly, Political Officer, Trucial Coast (Sharjah); William Rupert Hay, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf. Some of the correspondence is conducted from the office of the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, SS
Nearchus, at sea.1 file (58 folios)The papers in the file are arranged chronologically from the front to the back of the file with a page of file notes on folio 28.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 2-23; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence.
This file contains correspondence relating to the establishment of the Arab League.a summary (ff 2-9) of a resolution of protocol of the Preparatory Committee for the Arab Congress published in the
Journal d'Egyptein October 1944.a copy – provided by the British Ministry of Information Middle East Services – of an article entitled 'The Arab League' by Edward Atiyah of the Arab Office, which was published in
The Spectator, on 12 October 1944.1 file (20 folios)The files in the paper are arranged chronologically from the front to the rear of the file. There is a page of file notes on folio 19.Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the back cover with 20; 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 1-19; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.
The file contains correspondence regarding the formal recognition of Shaikh Hamad as Ruler of Bahrain by the Government of India and the presentation to him of a
kharitaby the Political Resident, Bushire on behalf of Freeman Freeman-Thomas Willingdon,Viceroy and Governor-General of India.The English version of the Kharita is found on folio 29 and an Arabic version on folio 30.1 file (46 folios)The papers in the file are arranged chronologically 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 46; 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 2-45; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.