‘File 28/17-B Action to be taken in the event of an entry into the war by Japan’

Content

The file contains correspondence and papers relating both to Japan’s anticipated entry into the Second World War, and eventual entry in the wake of the Japanese Navy’s attack on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. 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 (Major Reginald George Evelin William Alban); 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 Charles Geoffrey Prior), and representatives from the Commerce and Foreign Departments of the Government of India.

The file includes:

• correspondence dated 1940, prompted by the prospect of war with Japan, including: a telegram from the Foreign Department of the Government of India, dated 17 August 1940, making preparations for the possibility of war with Japan, with instructions for what action should be taken in relation to Japanese commercial interests and merchant shipping (f 3); a draft letter 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 rulers of the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. states and Qatar (f 9);
• correspondence from December 1941 onwards, relating to the declaration of war on Japan, including: a telegram from the Secretary of State for India, originally dated 10 April 1941, containing instructions for the replacement of ‘precautionary plans’ with relation to Japan, in the event of war (ff 19-21); a copy of a letter (English and Arabic) to the rulers of the states of the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. and Japan, dated 10 December 1941, informing them of the state of war now existing between Japan and Britain, and instructing them to cooperate in the same manner as undertaken with regard to German interests (ff 25-26); correspondence between 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. , Eastern Bank and Director of Customs at Bahrain, ascertaining what Japanese goods are currently held in Bahrain (ff 31-33, f 40); letters (forwarded by the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Agent at Sharjah) in Arabic original and English translation from: Shaikh Shakbut bin Sultan bin Zaid [Shakhbūṭ bin Sulṭān Āl Nahyān], Ruler of Abu Dhabi; Shaikh Sa’id bin Maktum [Sa‘id bin Maktum Āl Maktum], Ruler of Dubai; Shaikh Sultan bin Saqr [Sultan bin Saqr 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 Sharjah; Shaikh Rashid bin Humaid [Rashid bin Humayd Al Nu’aymi], Ruler of Ajman; Shaikh Ahmad bin Rashid [Aḥmad bin Rashid Al Mu’alla], Ruler of Umm al Qaiwain [Umm al-Qaywayn]; Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmad, Regent of Kalba; Shaikh Sultan bin Salim [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 Ras Al Khaimah [Ra’s al-Khaymah], all of which are responses to the Political Agent’s earlier letter (ff 42-59); a copy of a Government of Bahrain notice, dated 14 December 1941, announcing the entry into the war of Japan, and controls on Japanese goods and trade (f 63).

Extent and format

1 file (66 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 64-67) 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 68; 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 2-15; 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/15/2/706

Former external reference(s)

Confidential Files: 28/17 B

History of this record

Date(s)

17 Aug 1940-14 Dec 1941 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Second World War (1939-1945)Attack on Pearl Harbor (1941)Merchant shipping

People & organisations

Indian Political Service, External Affairs DepartmentPolitical Resident, Persian Gulf

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‘File 28/17-B Action to be taken in the event of an entry into the war by Japan’, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/706, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000241.0x000063> [accessed 20 April 2024]

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