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File 2182/1913 Pt 4 'Persian Gulf: Policy towards Bin Saud (Capt. Shakespear's Mission)' [‎154r] (309/426)

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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Copy of a confidential letter No. C-4 dated 9th Novemder
1914, from Captain W.H.I. Shakespear, I.A., Political Dept,
on special Duty 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 Persian
Gulf.
In accordance with instructions received in London, I
proceeded to Bahrain, reaching that port on the 7th November,
with a view to making my way to the Ruler of Nejd, Abdul Aziz
"Bin S8,ud\
2. I found awaiting me the letters of the which translations
are enclosed herewith, from Aodul Aziz and his Amir in Has a.
"Bin Baud” himself was reported to be at Anaizah, a town nearer
in point of travelling time to Kuwait than Bahrain; there was
• e.
further to oe considered the delay which must occur owing to th'
necessity for communicating with the Amir of Hasa before ar
rangements for my transport could be completed. I decided,
therefore to inform "Bin Baud” that I was proceeding to Kuwait
and requested him to march north with all his forces. I hope
that he will probably do this and that I shall oe able to get
into personal touch with him in the desert somewhere to the
south-west of Kuwait.
3. Pending the receipt of further news I am at present unable
to state what will be the ultimate attitude of the Ruler of
Nejd. His letter to me is friendly enough and from what I know
of the man 1 think he will probably throw in his lot with us.
At the same time I venture to suggest that it would have been
better if the letter of assurances, e.opy of which has been
forwarded to me, had been kept back and handed to me for
personal delivery to "Bin Baud”, It will be remembered that
hitherto all "Bin Baud’s" overtures have oeen cbldly received
by us and nothing which/could regard as a satisfactory reply
hs.s been voucehsafed to him.
Now when war has broken out between His Majesty’s Govern
ment and the Turks we offer him all he has ever asked and inp
vite his military co-operation. This sudden change o± front
on our part may very possibly produce the following effect on
his Mnd, viz: that the English now having gone to war with

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Content

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:

Extent and format
1 item (211 folios)
Written in
English in Latin script
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File 2182/1913 Pt 4 'Persian Gulf: Policy towards Bin Saud (Capt. Shakespear's Mission)' [‎154r] (309/426), 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_100034341124.0x000077> [accessed 20 April 2024]

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