Skip to item: of 782
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

'File 61/14 VIII (D 55) Relations Between Nejd And Iraq' [‎265r] (535/782)

This item is part of

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. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

(9)
than this.
As regards the aerite of his polioy: there !»
nothing gallant or noble about it, it is true; but it has
opened up a certain araount of trade for his people, and it
has saved his tribesmen froa being raided, and all
his subjects froa the fear of attack to which they were
exposed last year. Consequently, I think we can say that
in the interests of his own subjects it is probably the
best policy which he could have followed.
Proa the British point of view, his policy is
certainly soaewhat annoying in so far as our interests in
'Iraq are concerned* On the other hand it saves us the
inconvenience and expense of keeping one or aore of X His
Majesty's Ships here, as we had to do for so long last
year, and as we would alaost certainly have to do again
if the Shaikh were again to incur the hostility of the
Ikhwan.
The Shaikh would, I know, be the first to own,
as is indeed patent to everyone, that Kuwait owes its
independence to us alone, and consequently I think we have
every right dictate what policy the Shaikh should follow
in a aatter of this sort, and to force hia to abandon any
policy which we consider opposed to our interests.
I have already expressed ay opinion, in ay tele
graa No. 210 of 24th March 19^9, as to what action we
should take in the evexit of Ibn Sa'ud defeating the tribes
which are now flouting his authority, and the latter wish
ing to take refuge in Kuwait, and you have endorsed that
opinion.
It only reaains, therefore, to consider whether
it is, or is not, to our interests as a whole to coapel
the Shaikh to abandon his present policy now, and to
close Kuwait forthwith to the Mutair and other Ikhwan
tribes who are now defying Ibn Sa'ud's authority. Now
that the 'Iraq tribes are leaving Kuwait territory again
it is really only this question of the blockade which
concerns

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
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

'File 61/14 VIII (D 55) Relations Between Nejd And Iraq' [‎265r] (535/782), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/584, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023663088.0x000086> [accessed 19 April 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023663088.0x000086">'File 61/14 VIII (D 55) Relations Between Nejd And Iraq' [&lrm;265r] (535/782)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023663088.0x000086">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x00022d/IOR_R_15_1_584_0533.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x00022d/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image