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'File 21/7 Arms and Ammunition for the Shaikh of Qatar: Machine Guns for Shaikh of Qatar' [‎113r] (225/320)

The record is made up of 1 file (160 folios). It was created in 6 Jul 1947-14 Nov 1950. 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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f/
7
Confidentisl
3/9/50.
Doha,
6th February 1950.
British Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. ,
Please refer to youfc telegram Wo.7 of blst January.
2. On 2nd. February Cochrane took delivery of the
cases of rifles and ammunition from HMS Wren and brought
then to Doha, where they were put under lock and key in the
police house. The Sheikh had been told by me of their im
pending arrival, and Sheikh Ahmad asked Cochrane about the
arrangements for delivering them to the Palace. Cochrane
replied that the cases were addressed to me, and that he
was collecting them under guard on my behalf, and would
deliver them to me. On 4th. February I took one rifle to
the Palace, and annpunced their arrival to the Sheikh. He
expressed himself highly satisfied with them and grateful
to HMG Her or His Majesty’s Government in London. ., and then asked when I was going to bring them to
the Palace. I said that I had thought that he would prefer
to leave them w-ith Mr Cochrane, as he had said that they
were tc) be for the "Shurta”. He then became a little excited
and said, amongst other things, that he had ^hurta” of his
own who needed rifles, as well as those commanded by Coch
rane.
5. I therefore thought it appropriate to say that
my instructions on the disposal of these arms were quite
explicit, and that although I was auite prepared to bring
them to the Palace if he would give me an assurance that
he would hand them all over to Cochrane for the use of the
police. I could not do so without such an assurance, and
would be obliged to refer the matter to you. He protested
for spme time, and finally said that he would think the k
question oyer. I returned to the police house and put the
arms back into store, and took the key away with me" so that
there should be no question of his giving Cochrane a direct
order to hand them over.
4. The Sheikh then sent Salih to see me (Darwish does
not handle the unpleasant jobs), and after some discussion
it became clear that the Sneikh was determined to have the
custody of the arms himself, and to issue them to the police
as they were required. I told Salih that I thought that he
was being very stupid, that you would not be pleased, and
that he would do far better to refrain from making an issue
of the matter. I arranged to see the Sheikh again yesterday
afternoon, and heard a great deal of inconclusive talk about
his honour, and his disappointment that MG should show so
little trust in him etc., which I received in Lermittian
silence. I said that the supply of arms was a serious mat
ter, and that if I was to depart from my instructions, I had
no alternative but to write to you fix* first. He said very
well, and he would write to you also.
5. After a two-or three-minute silence, I asked if
he had thpught about what he would do if you refused to ac
cede to his request. He said that he was sure that you would
not refuse, launched out on the subject of his honour again,
and finally began to show signs of weakening. In the end I
got from him ax verbal/

About this item

Content

This file contains correspondence between British officials regarding Britain supplying Qatar with arms and ammunition.

The correspondence is primarily between officials at the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. in Bahrain, the Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. in Bahrain and the British Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. in Doha. The file also contains letters sent to the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. in Bahrain by the ruler of Qatar, Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Jāsim Āl Thānī as well as his son (and successor) 'Ali bin ‘Abdullāh Āl Thānī. These letters are in Arabic and accompanied by English translations.

The file contains correspondence that discusses Shaikh ‘Abdullāh's desire for arms, exactly what type of arms and ammunition should be provided and the importation of arms into the country, as well as the broader political context of these events.

Extent and format
1 file (160 folios)
Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 160; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top centre 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 2-142; these numbers are written in a combination of blue ink and pencil, but are not circled.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'File 21/7 Arms and Ammunition for the Shaikh of Qatar: Machine Guns for Shaikh of Qatar' [‎113r] (225/320), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/2006, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100028016567.0x00001a> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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