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File 2182/1913 Pt 4 'Persian Gulf: Policy towards Bin Saud (Capt. Shakespear's Mission)' [‎48v] (93/426)

The record is made up of 1 item (211 folios). It was created in 22 Sep 1914-17 Jan 1916. 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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9
dinned into their ears that Islam was being attacked. Some of them
might even believe the amazing stories that were told about the
conversion to Islam of eminent Germans, including the Empetor
himself.”
1 have the honour to submit a few notes of information which I have
collected regarding the extent to which the Arabs have co-operated with the
Turks in the Shatt-ul-Arab country; the considerations which have led
them to co-operate, and the results to themselves and to the Turks of such
co-operation ; with some remarks upon the position of those Arab tribes
which have held aloof or tacitly sided with Ilis Majesty’s Government.
2. The Arab forces which took part in the recent operations in the
neighbourhood of Shaiba were composed mainly of 4,000 members of various
communities from Iraq and 0,000 of the Muntafik tribes from the country
lying on the banks of the Euphrates and the Shatt-ul-Gharaf between
Khamisiah on the south and Kut-ul-Aniarah on the north. The only other
Arabs who appear to have helped the Turks on this occasion are a few
hundred men of the Bani Hakam and the Bani Hasan who inhabit the
swampy region adjoining Sukh-us-Shiyukh.
3. The Iraqis have had very little connection with us, and dwell too far
away ever to have come under the influence of our Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. officials.
The Resident at Baghdad has in all probability had little opportunity of
cultivating their friendship or of making his influence felt amongst them,
and no astonishment need be expressed at their having joined the Turks,
which was natural. Of the Muntafik much the same may be said. Their
country nowhere touches upon Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. administrative limits, and !
learn that no decided efforts have ever been made by His Majesty’s Consuls
at Basrah to establish friendly relations with them ; in fact, they probably
did not consider such a proceeding to be part of their duty, as it would have
been regarded by the Turks with grave suspicion if not with resentment.
It may also be remembered that the Muntafik land lies in the direct route
of Turkish troops advancing on Basrah from Baghdad and in districts which
have for centuries been governed or misgoverned by Ottoman officials. ' It
would have been strange indeed had they elected to oppose the Turkish
forces with, so far as they could see, everything to lose and nothing to gain
thereby. The small tribes west of Basrah mentioned above, who know little
of the British, were bribed or forced to give what help they could like the
Basravis, numbers of whom had been compelled some months earlier to join
in opposing our first advance, on pain of destruction of their lives and
property and those of their relatives.
4. The conduct of the Iraqis seems to have been correct from the
Turkish point of view, except that they occasionally displayed a lack of
discipline and perhaps courage. But in the course of the engagements of
A mil 12-15, the Muntafik showed clearly that their hearts were not in the
struggle from any national or religious enthusiasm, but that while motives
of self-preservation had led the. chiefs to take up arms, the common people
were out for plunder from whomsoever it might be taken. On 13th April
these same Muntafik plundered the Turkish encampment during their retreat
after being repulsed by our troops, the ostensible reason, according to

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Part 4 primarily concerns British policy towards Bin Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd], following the outbreak of the First World War. It includes the following:

  • discussion regarding Bin Saud's relations with the Ottoman government, and the need for the British to secure Bin Saud's goodwill, especially in the event of the Ottoman government entering the war on the German side;
  • details of Captain William Henry Irvine Shakespear's mission (as a political officer on special duty) to meet with Bin Saud, with the aim of ensuring that, in the event of hostilities between Britain and the Ottomans, no assistance is offered to the latter by Bin Saud;
  • translated copies of letters from Shaikh Mubarak [Shaikh Mubarak bin Ṣabāḥ Āl Ṣabāḥ], Ruler of Kuwait, to Bin Saud, urging the latter to side with the British Government;
  • details of a proposed preliminary treaty between the British and Bin Saud;
  • reports of Captain Shakespear's death;
  • reports on Bin Saud's military engagements against Bin Rashid [Saʿūd bin ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz Āl Rashīd];
  • a copy of a draft of a preliminary treaty between the British government and Bin Saud;
  • details of proposed gifts from the British to Bin Saud of arms and ammunition captured from the Ottomans, plus a £20,000 loan.

The principal correspondents are the following:

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1 item (211 folios)
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English in Latin script
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File 2182/1913 Pt 4 'Persian Gulf: Policy towards Bin Saud (Capt. Shakespear's Mission)' [‎48v] (93/426), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/387/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100034341123.0x000067> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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