‘File 41/1 Licences for Arms carried by Nakhudas’

Content

The file comprises correspondence relating to licences for arms carried by the nakhudas of boats on the Arab coast of the Gulf. Correspondents in the file include the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Bahrain, and the Rulers of Abu Dhabi, Kalba, Qatar, Ra’s al-Khaymah and Umm al-Qaywayn.

The file includes:

• a request from the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Lieutenant-Colonel Arnold Crawshaw Galloway, to his Political Agents, dated October 1945, that the rulers on the Arab coast of the Gulf be requested to instruct their subjects to obtain permits for the carrying of arms at sea (ff 2-3);
• correspondence between the Officiating Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. and the Acting Adviser to the Government of Bahrain, relating to the policy for arms licences in Bahrain (ff 4-5), and including a copy of the Arms Ordinance for Bahrain, dated 29 December 1936 (f 21);
• copies of letters (English and Arabic) from the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Bahrain, Lieutenant-Colonel Arnold Crawshaw Galloway, dated 23 December 1945, to the Sheikhs of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Qatar, Ra’s al-Khaymah and Umm al-Qaywayn, and the Regent of Kalba, making the formal request for arms licences to be carried by nakhudas (ff 6-15);
• replies to the Political Agent’s letter from: Sheikh Khalid bin Aḥmad Āl Qāsimī One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. , Regent of Kalba (ff 16-17); Sheikh Sulṭān bin Sālim Āl Qāsimī One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. , Ruler of Ra’s al-Khaymah (f 18); Sheikh Aḥmad bin Rashid Al Mu’alla, Ruler of Umm al-Qaywayn (ff 19-20); Sheikh ‘Abdullāh bin Jāsim Āl Thānī, Ruler of Qatar (ff 24-25);
• further letters from the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Bahrain to the various rulers along the Arab coast, dated 4 September 1946, reminding them of their obligations under the Prohibition of Traffic of Arms Act of 1902 (ff 27-33) and, in the case of the Ruler of Qatar, the 1916 Treaty with Great Britain (f 35); replies from Sheikh Shakhbūṭ bin Sulṭān Āl Nahyān, Ruler of Abu Dhabi (ff 36-37), the Regent of Kalba (ff 38-39), the Sheikhs of Qatar (ff 40-41) and Umm al-Qaywayn (ff 42-43) are also included;
• correspondence relating to an instance of arms dealing reported at Doha, Qatar, in October 1946 (ff 44-46);
• correspondence, dated 1949, relating to proposals for an arms permit system in the Gulf (ff 47-50).

Extent and format

1 file (53 folios)

Arrangement

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 51-54) mirror the chronological arrangement.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the back cover with 56; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 2-35; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.

Written in

English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/R/15/2/896

Former external reference(s)

Confidential Files: 41/1

History of this record

Date(s)

29 Dec 1936-26 Mar 1949 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

SailorsArms salesAgreement for the Prohibition of Traffic in Arms (1902)

Places

Persian Gulf

People & organisations

Emir of Umm al-QaywaynRegent of KalbaEmir of QatarEmir of Abu DhabiEmir of Ra's al-Khaymah

Share this record

• Share on twitter
• Share on facebook

Cite this record in your research

‘File 41/1 Licences for Arms carried by Nakhudas’, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/896, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000241.0x000167> [accessed 23 April 2024]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100000000241.0x000167

IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000241.0x000167/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Copyright: How to use this content