The file comprises correspondence from two distinct periods. Correspondence at the beginning and end of the file is dated 1909 to 1913 (ff 2-16, ff 52-87), and discusses the British protection of Bahrainis in Ottoman Turkey, in response to Ottoman Government representatives in Constantinople [Istanbul] questioning Britain’s claim of Bahrain being under its protection, and the registration and status of the increasing numbers of Bahrainis residing in the port of Mohammerah [Khorramshahr], thanks to that port’s relative stability and affluence. Some of this correspondence deals with a specific incident occurring in March 1911 in which three Bahrainis were detained by the Basra authorities, with the latter refusing to recognise that the men were under British protection (ff 56-63). The principal correspondents in these parts of the file are: the British Ambassador at Constantinople [Istanbul] (Sir Gerard Augustus Lowther); the British Consul at Bussorah [Basra] (Francis Edward Crow); the Acting British Consul for Arabistan (Arnold Talbot Wilson).The middle portion of the file (ff 17-50) comprises copies of correspondence from the Basrah [Basra] archives, dated 1873-1878, sent to the Political Agent at Bahrain (Major Stuart George Knox) by Wilson in December 1910 (covering letter, f 16):letters dated 1878 from the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Charles Ross), reporting of the destruction of Zobara [Zubarah] by the Shaikh of el Bidaa [Al Bidda] with ‘two or three thousand followers’, under a Turkish flag (ff 20-21);letters dated 1873-1874, chiefly between the British Consul at Baghdad (Colonel Charles Herbert) and the British Ambassador at Constantinople (Sir Henry George Elliot), discussing a disagreement between British and Turkish Government officials over the Turkish Government’s intention to conscript Bahrainis residing in Turkish-administered Iraq into the Ottoman army, including a copy and translation of a memorial from the ‘Bahrainees of Kerbulla [Karbalā']’ (ff 22-50).1 file (86 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 chronological ordering is, however, interrupted by a set of much earlier correspondence, which was sent as an enclosure to a letter contained within the chronological arrangement (ff 17-50).Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 88; 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 mixed foliation/pagination sequence is also present in parallel between ff 2-87; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.Condition: There is considerable insect damage on some pages in the file, in the form of small holes in the paper. However the damage is not sufficient to impair the legibility of any text.
The volume contains correspondence relating to the actions and grievances of Shaikh Ḥamad bin Muḥammad bin Khalīfah Āl Khalīfah, cousin of Shaikh ‘Īsá bin ‘Alī Āl Khalīfah, the ruler of Bahrain. The key correspondents in the file are Shaikh Ḥamad and Shaikh ‘Īsá, and a succession of Political Residents (Major Percy Cox (later Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Cox), Major Arthur Trevor) and Political Agents in Bahrain (Captain Francis Prideaux, Major Stuart Knox, Captain David Lorimer, and Captain Terence Keyes).The opening letter in the volume, dated December 1904, is from Shaikh Ḥamad to the Political Agent (Prideaux) and Resident (Cox), and is a request from Shaikh Ḥamad for an increase in his monthly allowances, which Cox rejected (folios 1a-5). Later correspondence, dated 1910, reported on the growing antagonism between Shaikh Ḥamad and Shaikh ‘Īsá, which led to Shaikh Ḥamad threatening, and then carrying out his threat, to seek the protection of the Wali [custodian] of Busorah [Basra] (folio 13). British officials did not attach great importance to Shaikh Ḥamad’s threats, but nevertheless instructed staff the steam ship company Gray Paul & Co. to refuse Shaikh Ḥamad passage (folios 17, 18). However, in September 1911 Shaikh Ḥamad succeeded in making his way to Basra, and onwards to Baghdad and Constantinople, with the apparent intention of taking his grievances against Shaikh ‘Īsá to the Porte (folios 26-27). The Wali of Basra sent an envoy to Bahrain to negotiate between the two parties (folios 38-40). In the meantime Shaikh Ḥamad returned to Bahrain, where he was reported to be wearing Turkish dress and bearing an Ottoman medal (folios 64, 65).Shortly afterwards, reports stated that Shaikh Ḥamad and Shaikh ‘Īsá were reconciled (folio 71), but in the following years, further clashes between the two periodically surfaced, including an incident in which Shaikh Ḥamad’s Bedouin servant shot the dogs of a respectable Manama resident in 1914 (folios 83, 84), and the beating, in 1915, at Shaikh Ḥamad’s instigation, of Shaikh ‘Īsá’s camel herder (folios 102-03). In a letter from the Political Agent (Keyes) to the Political Resident (Cox), dated 8 October 1915, and in light of Shaikh Ḥamad’s previous intrigues with Ottoman officials, the possibility of Shaikh Ḥamad having been the member of the Āl Khalīfah family suspected of making contact with German agents is mooted (folios 118-20). Shaikh ‘Īsá’s subsequent request to British officials to have Shaikh Ḥamad deported to Karachi, ultimately fell on deaf ears (folio 121).1 volume (123 folios)The contents of the volume are arranged in approximate chronological order, from the earliest items of correspondence at the front of the file, to the latest at then rear.Foliation: The volume is foliated from the front cover to the inside back cover, using circled numbers located in the top-right corner of each recto. An earlier foliation system, which numbers versos as well as rectos containing text, runs through the volume. This foliation system uses uncircled numbers located in the top-left corner of versos and the top-right corner of rectos. The following foliation anomalies occur: 1a, 64a.There is evidence of insect damage, in the form of small holes in the paper, throughout the file. However the damage is not extensive enough to impair the legibility of text.
This volume contains copies of correspondence between British officials regarding the construction of the Hedjaz [Hijaz] Railway. The correspondence discusses a number of different aspects of the railway including its route, the progress of its construction and donations made towards its construction by members of the Muslim community in India.A limited amount of the correspondence in the volume is in French, including a copy of a letter sent by Paul Cambon, the French Ambassador in London, to Sir Edward Grey, the Foreign Secretary (folio 15).The volume contains a number of reports and related information about the railway. Of particular interest are the following:A report on the Hejaz Railway by Major Francis Richard Maunsell, dated July 1907 (ff 56-69)A memorandum respecting German influence on the Hejaz Railway by George Ambrose Lloyd, 1906 (ff 95-96)A list of the principal stations on the Hejaz Railway with approximate distances between Damascus and each station (f 100)A map of the Hejaz Railway with list of stations (f 106)A report by Mr Teofani Loiso, Vice-Consul at Mersina, based on information provided to him by his son who was employed as an engineer on the railway (ff 105-107)A report by Herr Otto von Kapp Kohlstein, a German engineer who inspected the Haifa-Damascus branch of the route and worked on the construction of the Damascus-Maan branch (ff 107-109).In addition, the volume contains cuttings (and translations) of press articles related to several aspects of the railway and its construction. Also included are two maps. The Turkish (Ottoman) language material consists of the second of these two maps.The volume includes a divider which gives the year that the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references contained in it arranged by year. This divider is placed at the front of the volume.1 volume (242 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 240; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. It should be noted that the covers of this volume have not been foliated.
This part contains correspondence and other papers relating to British policy in the Hadramaut (also written Hadhramaut and Hadhramut) region of Yemen. The papers cover: the recruitment of Arabs from Aden and its hinterland by the Italian Government for employment in Africa; the status of Arabs from the region; relations with tribal leaders; present and future policy in connection to the First World War and the Arab Revolt; internal affairs; the activities of the Ottoman Turks and the Imam of Yemen; the supply of arms and funds to Sultan Ghalib bin Awad Al Qu'aiti [Ghālib bin Awad Al Qu'ayṭī] of Shehr and Mokalla [Al Mukalla]; the investiture of Sultan Ghalib with the honour of Knight Commander of the Indian Empire; boundary questions; proposals to establish a post and telegraphic office at Mokalla; the movements and background of Hadhramautis in Singapore and the Dutch East Indies, and the question of British influence in Southeast Asia in general.The principal correspondents are officials at the India Office, Foreign Office, Colonial Office, War Office, Political Residency in Aden, and the Government of India (Foreign Department). Further correspondence, included as enclosures, comes from: Sultan Ghalib Al Qu'aiti; the Government of Bombay; the Consul-General in Batavia; the General Officer Commanding the Troops, Straits Settlements, Singapore; Treasury; and High Commissioner for the Malay States.Notable within the file are photographic copies of intercepted letters from the Turkish Consul General in Batavia to the Ottoman Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding pro-British individuals in the Dutch East Indies and Singapore (folios 232-240).1 item (229 folios)
This volume contains correspondence and other papers relating to British policy in connection with the Hadramaut (also written Hadhramut and Hadhramaut).The correspondence covers internal affairs, relations with tribal leaders, activities of the Turks and the Imam of Yemen, boundary questions, the Arabs of the Dutch East Indies, questions of policy and strategy connected to the First World War and the Arab Revolt, and proposals to establish a Vice-Consulate and other facilities at Mokalla [Al Mukalla].The principal correspondents are officials at the India Office, Foreign Office, War Office, Colonial Office, and the Government of India, Foreign Department.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 (419 folios)The papers are arranged in chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.The subject 1740 (Arabia) consists of two volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/551-552. The volumes are divided into three parts, with parts 1 and 2 comprising one volume, and part 3 comprising the second volume.Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 420; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
The volume contains correspondence in the form of letters and telegrams related to the temporary administration of Baghdad Vilayet [province] and the question of the type of postage stamps to be used for the civil post office at Baghdad during the British occupation. The correspondence is particularly related to a small supply of Turkish stamps that was found in Baghdad after the Ottoman troops left the city. The British Government proposed to issue these stamps with the overprint 'Baghdad under British Occupation.' The volume includes correspondence with stamp printing firms and publishers to provide lists of the Turkish stamps and their values. The volume also includes correspondence between Buckingham Palace and the India Office arranging for a collection of the overprinted Turkish stamps to be sent to His Majesty King George V. Another set of stamps and envelopes was also kept aside in order to use it in an exhibition at the National/Imperial War Museum, London. The main correspondents in the volume are: John Evelyn Shuckburgh; Sir Percy Zachariah Cox, the Civil Commissioner, Baghdad; the Viceroy of India's Foreign Department; the Foreign Office; the Government of India's Department of Commerce and Industry; Harrison and Sons Limited; and Bradbury, Wilkinson and Company, Limited.The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.1 volume (274 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.The subject 1323 (Mesopotamia: Postage Stamps) consists of two volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/670-671. The volumes are divided into 5 parts, with part 1 comprising one volume, and parts 2-5 comprising the second volume.Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 272; 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 leading and ending flyleaves. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.