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File 2182/1913 Pt 4 'Persian Gulf: Policy towards Bin Saud (Capt. Shakespear's Mission)' [‎167r] (335/426)

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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I.
Letter from Shaikh Sir Mubarak to Bin Saud dated 14th Octoher
19 14.
After compliments,
We know well that for sime time the German Government
has been endeavouring to urge the Turkish Government to. the
committal of some action which would result in war between
her and Great Britain and her allies. Now these latter Govern
ments do not wish for war with her, especially the Glorious
Government which is the traditional friend of Islam. Neverthe
less owing to certain acts which the Turkish Government have
committed and words which they have uttered it has now become
necessary to the Glorious Government to make some military pre
parations in her own defence: but she wishes us Arabs clearly
to understand that she will not take action except in the event
of Turkish aggression.
Now the Glorious Government asks for good help from me and
from you in her efforts to maintain peace, by our influence
among our friends and relations and the tribes connected with
us; and that we should acquaint the sharif of Mekkah and Bin
Sha’lan with the German deceptions so that they may not be led
away by false promises of reward or by lying reports which come
from German agents at present.
And the Glorious Government is sending to you Captain
Shake spear whom all the Arabs know, that he may explain to you
the objects of Government and her intentions, and she desires
that neither you nor the Shaikhs on the coast will take any
action even in the event of war, until the intentions of the
Glorious Government have been communicated to you in detail”.

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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)' [‎167r] (335/426), 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_100034341124.0x000091> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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