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'File 8/15 Arab Series - 1933-1939' [‎13r] (25/434)

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The record is made up of 1 file (214 folios). It was created in 31 Aug 1933-20 Mar 1939. It was written in English and French. 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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of His Majesty’s Government will be one of friendly sympathy towards any cons
tructive proposals for peaceful co-opertion and for the development of close and
friendly relations among the leading states of Arabia ; King Feisal could be left to
explain in greater detail exactly what he has in mind ; but, since it is not possible
for His Majesty’s Government, for the reasons explained above, and especially
in paragraphs 6, 8 and 15, to support any policy designed to bring about the political
unification of Arabia, it seems desirable that any suitable opportunity should be
taken to discourage King Feisal from identifying himself with, or committing himself
to, such a project. Such discouragement might, for instance, take the form of
advising His Majesty, as Sir Francis Humphrys has already done, that he can best
serve the Arab cause by concentrating his energies on the peaceful development
of his own country’s resources and institutions, so that the Government of Iraq
may serve as a model and a source of encouragement to other Arab states,
19. In any case Sir Francis Humphrys has suggested that it would be well to
do whatever may be possible to discourage King Feisal from holding a Pan Arab
Congress in Bagdad, as it has been proposed that he should do this autumn. While
the arguments which may be used with King Feisal against the holding of a Congress
must necessarily depend to some extent on the course which the discussion of this
aspect of the question with him may take, the following considerations might
perhaps usefully be brought to His Majesty’s notice.
20. In the first place is it clear that none of the causes which King Feisal
may be presumed to have most at heart— e.g., the consolidation and international
standing of Iraq or the future prospects of the Hashimite family in general—are
likely to be furthered by the holding of an Arab or Moslem Congress either in Bagdad
or elsewhere at the present time. The proceedings of the Congress, for which King
Feisal could not escape a considerable measure of responsibility, could hardly fail
to produce an adverse reaction at least on the French, and therefore not only prove
internationally embarrassing but also render relations between Iraq and Syria more
difficult. The opportunity of the Congress would moreover almost certainly be
taken to raise in an acutely controversial form such embarrassing questions for the
Hashimite family as that of the Amir Abdullah’s attitude towards the Jewish
Settlement in Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan , his relations, both now and in the recent past, with
King Ibn Saud, and his attitude towards certain Arab parties in Palestine itself,
Moreover, the Congress would almost certainly, as in the case of the Jerusalem
Congress of 1931, give an opportunity to zealots or mischief makers to make anti-
foreign speeches which would lead to bitter resentment in foreign countries with
Moslem interests, such as France and Italy ; it would offer a favourable opportunity
for anti-Hashimite propaganda intrigue, and would inevitably tend to intensify the
existing divisions in Arab opinion rather than to bring about a spirit of friendly and
effective co-operation among Arab peoples. Some of these arguments have already
been used orally with King Feisal by Sir Francis Humphrys last February and March,
and King Feisal then stated that be was most anxious to avoid doing anything
w T hich might have the effect of antagonising his neighbours or cause annoyance
or embarrassment to His Majesty’s Government. There is reason to believe,
however, that His Majesty has not yet completely abardoned the idea of a Congress
and it is very desirable from every point of view that he should now be strongly
urged to make up his mind against its being held at all.
( 23 )
Memorandum No. 52/1550/1427/2, dated the 2nd June 1933.
His Majesty’s Minister at Jedda presnts his compliments to His Excellency
the Viceroy of India, and has the honour to transmit to him the under-mentioned
documents.
Description of Enclosure.
Name and Date. Subject.
To Department of Overseas Trade, No. O.T.-24- Supply of electricity to Mecca.
(1548/1427/2), of 2nd June 1933 and enclosure.
(Received ivith Private Secretary to Viceroy s Office Memorandum, No. 1218-J.P.,
dated the 28th June 1933.)
(Copy sent to F. 0. under No. 164-(1549/1427/2) of 2nd June 1933.)

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Content

The file contains the Foreign Office confidential prints of the Arabia Series for the years 1933 to 1938. It includes correspondence, memoranda, and extracts from newspapers. The correspondence is principally between the British Legation in Jedda and the Foreign Office. Other correspondents include British diplomatic, political, and military offices, foreign diplomats, heads of state, tribal leaders, corporations, and individuals in the Middle East region.

Each annual series is composed of several numbered serials that are often connected to a particular subject. The file covers many subjects related to the affairs of Saudi Arabia.

Included in the file are the following:

  • a memorandum on Arab Unity produced by the Foreign Office dated 12 June 1933 (author unknown), folios 11-13;
  • a memorandum on petroleum in Arabia produced by the Petroleum Department dated 5 August 1933 (author unknown), folios 23-26;
  • a record of interviews with Ibn Sa‘ūd, King of Saudi Arabia, conducted by Reader Bullard and George William Rendel between 20 and 22 March 1937;
  • a memorandum on Yemen by Captain B W Seager, the Frontier Officer, dated 20 July 1937;
  • several records of proceedings of ships on patrol in the Red Sea, including that of HMS Penzance , Hastings , Colombo , Bideford , and Londonderry .

Folios 213-15 are internal office notes.

Extent and format
1 file (214 folios)
Arrangement

The file is arranged chronologically.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the back cover with 217; 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 2-215; 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 French in Latin script
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'File 8/15 Arab Series - 1933-1939' [‎13r] (25/434), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/310, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025548486.0x00001a> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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