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'File 61/14 VIII (D 55) Relations Between Nejd And Iraq' [‎231r] (467/782)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (389 folios). It was created in 22 Dec 1928-29 Apr 1929. It was written in English and Arabic. 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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(
have effectively restrained their tribes from raiding into Nejd, there would be no
occasion for British forces to cross the frontier in any circumstances and thus no
hesitation on the part of His Majesty's Government in falling in with the wishes of
the Hejazi Government in the matter of article 6 of the Bahra Agreement.
8. You should add orally that His Majesty's Government feel bound to point
out that they cannot in any case allow unprovoked raiding against Iraqi tribes to
continue with the almost complete impunity which the raiders at present enjoy. Six
raids against Iraqi tribes have taken place since the end of December last, and, so far
as His Majesty's Government are aware, no effective action has yet been taken by
the Hejazi Government to punish the offenders or to make reparation for the Iraqi
losses. These raids have not only resulted in heavy losses to Iraqi tribes, but have led
to the death of a British aircraftsman and of an American missionary. The latest
of these raids has been reported by the British air officers engaged to have been of a
particularly impudent nature, in that the raiders, having recrossed the Nejd frontier,
and relying upon their immunity from pursuit in virtue of article 6 of the Bahra
Agreement, halted in the open and, within easy reach of British aircraft, proceeded
to the distribution of their loot. In the face of such provocation, His Majesty's
Government cannot be expected to hold their hand indefinitely.
I am, &c.
AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN.
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
Telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the High Commissioner
for Iraq.
(Sent 12-30 p.m ., March 5, 1929.)
(No. 84.)
MARCH 5. Your telegram 19th February, No. 74. Was Ibn Saud ever notified
of the Iraq Government officials authorised to correspond direct with the Amir of
Hail, and is there any foundation for the Hejaz Foreign Minister's statement that
Captain Glubb was not included among officials so authorised (see enclosure in
Jeddah despatch of 8th January, No. 17, to Foreign Office)?
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
Telegram from the High Commissioner for Iraq to the Secretary of State for the
Colonies dated March 7.— {Received Colonial Office, March 7, 1929.)
(Confidential.)
No. 102 of 7th March.
Your telegram No. 84. See Dobbs's telegram No. 65 S, 23rd April, 1926, to
Jeddah, repeated to you under No. 175, and Jeddah's reply of 1st May, 1926, repeated
to the Foreign Office under No. 46. On 19th May, 1926, Ibn Saud was informed that
the necessary instructions had been sent to Mutesarrif, Basra, Muntafiq and
Diwaniyah (no names were mentioned), and he replied in July confirming arrange
ments for direct correspondence between Hail and the local Iraq authorities,
" particularly those mentioned." Though Ibn Saud was not specifically informed of
Glubb's appointment to the southern desert Liwa, which was formed in 1928 and
includes the desert portion of three Liwas mentioned, it was referred to during
Jeddah negotiations in May 1928.
I think objection to Glubb personally emanates from Fuad Hamza himself rather
than Ibn Saudj who would be unlikely to support such unwarranted aspersions on our
sincerity or Glubb's honesty of purpose.

About this item

Content

The volume consists of letters, telegrams, and reports relating to affairs between the British Mandate of Iraq and the Kingdom of Najd. The majority of the correspondence is between Leo Amery, Secretary of State for the Colonies, Austen Chamberlain, Foreign Secretary (both in London), Henry Dobbs, High Commissioner in Iraq (later Gilbert Clayton, Acting Hich Commissioner in Iraq), Lionel Haworth, 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 Bushire, Cyril Barrett, 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. in Bahrain, James More, 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. in Kuwait, Ibn Sa'ud, King of Hejaz-Najd and its Dependencies, John Glubb, Administrative Inspector in Iraq, Gerald De Gaury, Special Service Officer in Kuwait, the British Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. in Jeddah, and the Government of India.

The volume covers the period of unrest after a revolt by the Ikhwan , including a number of raids on Kuwait and the Battle of Sabila, which effectively brought the crisis to an end. Subjects raised are:

  • a raid on Kuwait by the Ikhwan;
  • an attack on a car on the Kuwait-Basra road in which an American Missionary, Henry Bilkert, is killed;
  • intelligence of tribal movements and activities, particularly those of the Ikhwan tribes of Mutair, 'Ajman, and 'Utaibah, and the threat and occurrence of cross-border raids, all gathered from reports by John Glubb, Flight Lieutenant Howes (Special Service Officer in Kuwait), as well as local rumour and reports;
  • issues concerning the defence of Kuwait;
  • the failure of Gilbert Clayton and Ibn Sa'ud to come to an agreement over the legitimacy of the desert 'police posts' in Iraq;
  • the thoughts, motivations, and capabilities of Ibn Sa'ud;
  • a second meeting between Ibn Sa'ud and Ikhwan leaders in Riyadh to try and resolve the crisis;
  • the idea of a blockade of Hasa ports to force the Najdi tribes into submission;
  • the Battle of Sabila and its aftermath.

Other subjects included are:

  • the imprisonment of Nuhaitar ibn Juraiyid of the Dhafir tribe in Hail;
  • the channels through which communication with Ibn Sa'ud should be made (i.e. through Bushire or through Jeddah).

Notable within the volume is a sketch map and extensive notes by Harold Dickson on the seasonal migrations of the shepherd tribes of the Lower Euphrates.

At the end of the volume (folios 378-382) are office notes.

Extent and format
1 volume (389 folios)
Arrangement

The volume is arranged chronologically. There is an alphabetical subject index to the contents, at the front of the volume (folios 3, 4). The index entries include the folio numbers of relevant documents, to help identify and locate them within the volume.

Physical characteristics

Main foliation: the sequence starts on the first page and continues through until the inside back cover. The numbering is written in pencil, circled, and positioned 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. There are the following irregularities: there is no folio numbered 2, instead, the second, third, and fourth folios have been numbered respectively 2A, 2B, and 2C.

Secondary, earlier foliation sequence: the numbers1 to 341 are written in pencil, but not circled, on folios that were subsequently renumbered 5 to 377.

Condition: the top left corner of folio 47 has been torn away, obscuring some text.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'File 61/14 VIII (D 55) Relations Between Nejd And Iraq' [‎231r] (467/782), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/584, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023663088.0x000044> [accessed 18 April 2024]

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