'File 1/18 I Major Head:- Political. Subject:- Sultan of Najd's Relations with Iraq.'

Content

The file deals with political relations between the Sultan of Nejd [Najd] (from 1926 King of Hejaz and Nejd) [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] (commonly referred to in the papers as Bin Saud or Ibn Saud) and the state of Iraq, specifically in terms of raids by Najdi tribesmen into Iraq (and Kuwait), and the British response to those raids.

The correspondence is mainly between 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. and 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. , Bahrain (also spelled Bahrein). There is also correspondence from Bin Saud; Abdulaziz Algosaibi & Company, Bahrain; and other British officials in the region. Enclosures to correspondence 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. to 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. , Bahrain include copies of correspondence with 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 office of the High Commissioner, Iraq; the Colonial Office, London; the Government of India; Bin Saud; and other British officials in the region.

The papers cover the following:

• reports on raids by Akhwan [Ikhwān] tribesmen, especially the Mutair, and their effect on Mesopotamian desert tribes;
• role in the raids of Akhwan leader Faisal al Dawish [Fayṣal al-Dawīsh];
• attack by Mutair on Busaiyah [al-Başīyah] in Iraq, November 1927;
• the response of the British to the attacks, e.g. permission from the Secretary of State for the Colonies for British aircraft to pursue Akhwan raiders across Nejd, November 1927;
• diplomatic contact between Bin Saud and the British via Abdul Aziz Gusaibi [‘Abd al-‘Azīz al-Quṣaybī], Abdulaziz Algosaibi & Company, Bahrain;
• implications for Bin Saud and the Akhwan of the construction by Iraq Government of a fortified post at Busaiyah (e.g. folio 171);
• notes of conversations between the High Commissioner for Iraq and his Counsellor and Shaikh Hafidh Wahba [Hāfiẓ Wahbah] (folios 308-315), February 1928;
• raid on Kuwait, January 1928, including involvement of Royal Air Force (RAF), use by Kuwaiti forces of motor cars against tribesmen, and requests by the Shaikh of Kuwait for purchase of machine guns and Lewis guns (folio 367) and advice on how to convert motor cars into armoured cars (folio 368), February 1928.

The date range indicates the covering dates of the main run of correspondence within the file. However, the earliest document is dated 27 November 1925 (enclosure to letter dated 12 December 1925).

The Arabic content of the file consists of approximately fifty folios of correspondence (with translations into English) from Abdulaziz Algosaibi & Company, Bahrain; the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , Bahrain; and Bin Saud.

Extent and format

1 volume (381 folios)

Arrangement

The papers are filed in chronological order from the front to the rear of the file, except where enclosures of an earlier date are filed after the relevant covering letter.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 383; 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 7-37; 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/15/2/89

Former external reference(s)

Confidential files, 1921-32: 1/18 I

History of this record

Date(s)

12 Dec 1925-17 Feb 1928 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Military operations

Places

Busaiyah

People & organisations

Ikhwan, military and religious brotherhoodSultan of NajdKing of Hejaz and Sultan of NajdKing of Hejaz and NajdFayṣal bin Sulṭān al-Dawīsh

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'File 1/18 I Major Head:- Political. Subject:- Sultan of Najd's Relations with Iraq.', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/89, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x000338> [accessed 24 April 2024]

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