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Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎250r] (504/1062)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (527 folios). It was created in 6 Jan 1929-15 Jan 1938. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the 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. .

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87
L632(C) F&PD
Enclosure 3 in No. 1.
(G) Record of Audiences with Ihn Saud on June 14 and 17, 1931.
The King arrived in Jedda early on the 14th June. In accordance
with his custom he received the foreign representatives in succession that
morning. As my audience on this occasion was formal I did not touch
on current business, but I said that I had been awaiting an opportunitv of
conveying to His Majesty the congratulations of His Majesty’s Govern
ment on the successful negotiations with Iraq (see Foreign Office telegram
No. 86 of the 21st May). I said that I had previously offered my own
congratulations and those of Sir F. Humphrys, but that His Majesty’s
Government had waited until ratification was assured. I explained that
I had received my instructions some little time ago when His Majesty was
expected in Jedda, but that, having told Sheikh Yussuf Yasin the nature
of the message, I had deferred the communication until I could see the
King in person. The King paid a renewed tribute to the part played by
His Majesty’s Government and myself, and spoke with great appreciation
of Sir F. Humphrys, when at a later stage I said that Sir Francis had asked
me to thank him for his gracious reply to a personal letter sent at the time
of Nuri Pasha’s visit. I ovserved that we had, indeed, worked hard for
a successful result, but that its attainment was due to the attitude observed
by the parties directly concerned in the final negotiations.
2. I had discussed outstanding business so thoroughly with Fuad Bey
that I had really little to say to the King himself during this visit to
Jedda. I therefore told Fuad Bey on the 15th June that I was not applying
for a business audience, but that it might be useful if I saw the King, as
His Majesty was going to Riadh and I to London; that he himself might
have matters to discuss with me; and that, in any case, I hoped the King
would give me a few minutes before he left for Mecca, so that I might pay
my respects on the eve of our separation for a long period.
3 The King received me on the 17th June and kept me for two hours.
Fuad Bey interpreted, and Sheikh Yussuf Yasin was present nearly the
whole time. I began by saying very much what I had said to Fuad B^y
as stated in the previous paragraph. It was clear that His Majesty did
not wish any more than I did myself to discuss the details of any partmula
question, but he engaged me in a conversation of a general kind in whuA
on his position vis-a-vis of His Majesty’s Government The following is
an account of what passed, necessarily abridged and not based on notes. 1
have omitted one or two digressions .
4 The Kino- spoke of his old friendship with Great Britain He said
that ill tercertinjf tf this them, 1, did “ “.KVd'Si, M*liS,“
ahl,. was 1 f n .P er, f h ^‘ t it g] a ^s[i 0 l f fofldm w’aTthat of his personal position
ssssr-srasrs ^ ’z*sJat>is s ■
yarVeaga israwwiw
&* Sir Percy had not »>« £,§”■ “in"
His Majesty s Government. He a n-ilbert had gone to Iraq
reported, but there had been no res P onse ’ • t0 p. 0 over the same ground
and had died soon after. He was now & & w hen our discussions related
with me, not having been able to do ^V.T he Zd ^n Sheikh Hafiz
to particular matters He mentio ^ a j m i n g at, but that the sheikh
reV^Kat he halU found a suitable opportunity of speaking to
His Majesty’s Government.
- t tbp entire disposal of the King to convey
5. I said that I was at the e Maiesty’s Government,
anything he might wish to communicate to His Maje y

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Content

This volume compiles printed copies of letters, telegrams, memoranda and newspaper extracts relating to Britain's involvement across the Arabian Peninsula during the period 1929-1938. Whilst the correspondence encompasses all matters concerning British interests in the region, much of it relates to Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] and the Kingdom of the Hejaz and Nejd (later Saudi Arabia). Matters discussed in the correspondence include the following:

  • Reports of unrest in the Hejaz.
  • Relations between Imam Yeha Hamid-Ud-Din [Yaḥyá Muḥammad Ḥamīd al-Dīn, Imam of Yemen] and Ibn Saud.
  • Reports of raids and arms trafficking on the Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan -Nejd frontier.
  • Reports of the proceedings of British naval ships in the Red Sea.
  • Details of the Akhwan [Ikhwan] revolt against Ibn Saud, including the movements of one of the revolt's leaders, Faisal Dawish [Fayṣal bin Sulṭān al-Dawīsh], and his surrender to the British in Kuwait.
  • Relations between Kuwait and Nejd.
  • Relations between Iraq and Nejd, including a proposed meeting between Ibn Saud and King Faisal [Fayṣal] of Iraq, and reports of a treaty of alliance between Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
  • Objections from the Hejaz Government to Royal Air Force aircraft flying over Nejd territory.
  • The purchase of arms by the Hejaz Government from Poland.
  • Ibn Saud's annexation of Asir.
  • The death of King Hussein [Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī].
  • Harry St John Bridger Philby's conversion to Islam, his mapping of Rub-al-Khali, and his reported spreading of Saudi propaganda in the Aden Protectorate.
  • The currency exchange crisis in the Hejaz-Nejd and the financial situation in the kingdom generally.
  • Reports on a survey of the water and mineral content of the Hejaz coastal area.
  • Relations between Soviet Russia and Saudi Arabia.
  • The emigration of Jews from Yemen to Palestine, via Aden.
  • British fears that Italy might harbour ambitions to annex Yemen.
  • Saudi oil concessions.
  • Italian-Saudi relations.

Prominent correspondents include the following: the British Agent (later His Majesty's Chargé d’Affaires) at Jeddah; His Majesty's Minister at Jeddah; the High Commissioner for Egypt; the High Commissioner for Iraq; the High Commissioner for Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan ; 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. , Kuwait; 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. (later Chief Commissioner, and later still, Governor), Aden; 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. ; His Majesty's Ambassador to Iraq; His Majesty's Ambassador to Italy; the Secretary of State for the Colonies; the Minister (and Acting Minister) for Foreign Affairs for the Kingdom of the Hejaz and Nejd (later Saudi Arabia); Ibn Saud; King Feisal of Iraq; the Prime Minister of Iraq; various officials of the Colonial Office, the Foreign Office, the Air Ministry, and the Admiralty.

The French material in the volume consists of several items of correspondence and a copy of a treaty between France and Yemen, which was signed in April 1936.

The volume includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the volume by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 volume (527 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

The items of correspondence are divided (roughly) into various sections. Each extract or item of correspondence within these sections has its own number, which is enclosed in brackets. These numbers proceed in ascending (and approximate chronological) order from left to right; however, the sections themselves proceed in reverse, from the rear to the front of the volume, in distinct groups (e.g. for 1929 numbers 1-23, which are located at folios 517-526, are followed by numbers 24-49 at folios 509-516, which are then followed by numbers 50-89 at folios 494-508, and so on).

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 529; 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.

Pagination: each section of correspondence within the volume (as described in the arrangement field) has its own pagination sequence.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎250r] (504/1062), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2071, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100061765165.0x000069> [accessed 7 June 2026]

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