Coll 5/11 ‘Air Route to India: Arab Coast Route – Emergency Landing Ground at Qatar’

Content

The file contains correspondence, memoranda, and reports relating to two topics. The first topic is an attempt by the British Government to obtain permission for an emergency landing ground in Qatar during 1932. The second topic relates to the air facilities needed by the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Qatar, if an offer of British protection is to be made to the Shaikh of Qatar in return for an oil concession for the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC). In respect of this second topic, the file also contains material regarding a reconnaissance undertaken by the Royal Air Force over Qatar on the 9 May 1934 to identify suitable sites for such facilities. It includes a copy of a report on the reconnaissance – submitted by Bomber Squadron No 84, Shaibah, Iraq – on folios 27-32, along with a tracing of Qatar (folio 7) and a number of aerial photographs (folios 8-22) referenced in the report.

A draft copy of the Qatar Oil Concession can be found on folios 93-101, and notes of amendments proposed by the British Government can be found on folios 80-89. In addition, a number of 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. memoranda have also been included towards the back of the file: El Qatar, 1908-16 (folio 167), The Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. Chiefs, 1908-28 (folios 168-71), and a Précis of the Treaties and Engagements between the British Government and the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (folios 164-67).

The main correspondents are as follows: 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. (Trenchard Craven William Fowle), the Foreign Secretary to the Government of India, officials of the Air Ministry, and officials of the 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. .

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

Extent and format

1 file (171 folios)

It is grouped into

Tracing of Qatar Peninsula showing amended Coastline

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/12/1956, f 7

Photograph No. 1 ‘Raiyan Fort and LG Doha Looking W’

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/12/1956, f 8

Photograph No. 2 ‘Dohah Palace Looking South’

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/12/1956, f 9

Photograph No. 3 ‘Dohah (Central) Looking NW’

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/12/1956, f 10

Photograph No. 4 ‘Dohah (West) Looking South’

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/12/1956, f 11

Photograph No. 5 ‘Possible LG 5 miles E of Salwa Looking S’

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/12/1956, f 12

Photograph No. 6 ‘Horpal-Odiad Entrance Looking WNW’

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/12/1956, f 13

Photograph No. 7 ‘Hawar Island Looking N’

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/12/1956, f 14

Photograph No. 8 ‘Duhat as Salwa (S Coastline) Looking S’

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/12/1956, f 15

Photograph No. 9 ‘Salwa Inlet Looking S’

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/12/1956, f 16

Photograph No. 10 ‘Kara-ana Looking NW’

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/12/1956, f 17

Photograph No. 11 ‘Kara-ana Looking W’

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/12/1956, f 18

Photograph No. 12 ‘Kara-ana Looking W’

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/12/1956, f 19

Photograph No. 13 ‘Raiyan Looking NW’

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/12/1956, f 20

Photograph No. 14 ‘Kara-ana Looking W’

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/12/1956, f 21

Photograph No. 15 ‘S of Raiyan Looking SW’

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/12/1956, f 22

Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 173; 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. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in

English in Latin 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/L/PS/12/1956

Former external reference(s)

Coll 5/11

History of this record

Date(s)

30 May 1932-16 Jul 1934 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Landing groundsAerial reconnaissance

Places

Qatar

People & organisations

Air MinistryGovernment of India, Foreign SecretaryAnglo-Iranian Oil Company LimitedEmir of QatarPolitical Resident, Persian GulfAHQ Iraq

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Cite this record in your research

Coll 5/11 ‘Air Route to India: Arab Coast Route – Emergency Landing Ground at Qatar’, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/1956, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x0001ee> [accessed 3 December 2023]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x0001ee

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