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'Memorandum on British Commitments to Bin Saud' [‎123r] (3/16)

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The record is made up of 8 folios. It was created in 1918. It was written in English. 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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Gulf, he should co-operate for
ime truce, i.e., the suppressiou
lities by the passage of armed
le arms traffic.
;o Katif and properly treated
Saud proceeded, and resulted
jra on the 15th May, 1914
marised here :—
of Abd-ul-Aziz Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. al-Saud
, 14 provided he remains loyal
lism for Turkish resident) to
id) wishes. Turkish military
) be posted, at Bin Saud's
)e administered by Bin Saud
et out of customs, ports,
srial revenue, and 10 per cent,
ntinople.
I shipping,
to be conducted with Marine
Bin Saud) is not allowed to
rnational treaties, or to grant
listries of Interior and Marine
et of Nejd. Stamps to be
[•key, or war between Turkey
[ Vali for a force to co-operate
irepare a sufficient force with
and at once, according to his
3in Saud and Turkey, and, in
Anglo-Turkish Convention of
Great Britain and Turkey on
iraged Bin Saud's advances to
le Convention,
war in Europe and the inter-
vernment was becoming more
ajesty's Government that Bin
rks. The Turks did, in fact,
ire their military co -operation
ertures (84042/46261/14 and
of Koweit wrote to him on his
Majesty's Government himself,
' And Bin Saud wrote back
>y the Sheikh and the British
towards the Turks, and the
ir his friendship, had already
formerly British Resident at
i). On the 4th October, 1914,
m Bin Saud of this intention
L914, instructions were sent to
*
the Viceroy for a further communication (also to be made through Koweit) explaining
His Majesty's Government's attitude towards Turkey, and asking Bin Saud to help
them to keep the peace in Arabia in the event of Turkish aggression leading to war.
Three Arabic letters were accordingly drafted at Koweit, one by the British Resident
and the other two by the Sheikh (82216/14), in which Bin Saud was addressed in the
sense 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. instructions and was informed of Captain Shakespear's mission.
These letters were despatched on the 15th October, 1914. In answer to them,
Bin Saud wrote letters on the 24th October, 1914, to 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 Gulf
and to Captain Shakespear himself. The letter to Captain Shakespear was conveyed
through Bin Saud's lieutenant on the Hasa coast, and the latter was instructed to
arrange a meeting for him with Captain Shakespear when that officer arrived
(5353/1385/15).
Meanwhile, on the 14th September, 1914, the Officiating 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. had submitted to the Government of India drafts of letters and notices to
the ditferent Gulf Chiefs, which he had prepared for the event of war between
Great Britain and Turkey, and which he proposed to issue upon the receipt of
intelligence that war had broken out (64214/61439/14).
The draft letter to Bin Saud (which was to follow a brief circular announcing that
a state of war existed between Great Britain and Turkey) ran as follows :—
" In continuation of my previous letter, informing your Excellency of the
outbreak of war between Great Britain and Turkey, I am authorised by my
Government to request your Excellency to co-operate with our honoured friends,
their Excellencies the Sheikhs of Koweit and Mohammerah, in the capture
of Basrah from the Turks or, should such a task be beyond your united powers,
which seems unlikely, that you should make such arrangements, especially above
Gurnan, as may prevent assistance reaching Basrah, until such time as the British
arrive and take over the city. Consistently with your main object, viz., the
captare or isolation of Basrah, we request youi Excellency to take all measures in
your power to prevent the plundering of British merchants and property in the
town of Basrah itself and in the neighbourhood. The personal safety of
the Europeans should also be a special object of your solicitude.
" In return for this valuable co-operation, I am authorised by my Government
to assure your Excellency that, in the event of our success—and succeed we shall,
insha Allah—Basrah will never again be allowed to be subject to Turkish
authority.
" I am further to assure your Excellency that the British Government
will guarantee your Excellency—
u 1. Against all reprisals by the Turks in consequence of these measures ;
"2. Against attack by sea ; and
" 3. That they will be prepared to recognise your Kxcellency as independent
Ruler of Nejd and al-Hasa, and to enter into treaty relations with
your Excellency.
" I am also directed to request your Excellency to turn the 1 urkish garrisons
of al-Hasa and al-Qatif out of your territory."
This draft was approved in due course by the Government of India and the India
Office, and the letter seems to have been released for delivery on the 3rd November,
1914 (82713/61439/14 : pp. 7-8, 15-6, and 17). The three assurances contained in it
became the basis of the subsequent negotiations.
Bin Saud 's reply, dated the 28th November, 1914 (17000/1385/15: No. 46) was
phrased as follows :—
"We have received your august communication dated the 3id ^November,
1914, in which you state that your honour has already mentioned in your previous
letter that the exalted Government of Great Britain has declared war'against the
Ottoman Government, and that you ha,ve been ordered by the illustrious Govern
ment to invite us to co-operate with the Sheikh of Mohammerah and the Ruler o
Koweit—our cordial friends and sincere allies—and attack Basrah. • • • •
co-operation with the above -mentioned two friends is incumbent upon us (and so is
it fdr us to) use our good offices with our friends, the illustrious Government, m a.l
useful actions which may be required by her. And I am using my endeavours and
efforts in furthering the common interests of all friends. \ ou should rest fully
assured and be confident in this question.

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Content

This is a printed memorandum by the Political Intelligence Department of the Foreign Office concerning British commitments to Bin Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd (Ibn Saud)] in the context of the First World War. The memorandum gives an overview of British and Turkish relations, including various treaties with Ibn Saud between 1913 and 1916, as well as 'Relation of Commitments to Bin Saud to British Disiderata', including 'Demarcation of Territories', 'Keeping of the Peace' and 'Dynastic Guarantee'. There is an appendix (folio 129) which includes the text of the treaty of 26 December 1915 signed by Ibn Saud and Sir Percy Zachariah Cox.

Extent and format
8 folios
Physical characteristics

Foliation: The foliation for this description commences at folio 122 and terminates at folio 129, as it is part of a larger physical volume; 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 folios 11-158; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'Memorandum on British Commitments to Bin Saud' [‎123r] (3/16), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/B295, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023666293.0x000004> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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