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Coll 7/32 'Persian Gulf: supply of arms and ammunition to the Shaikh of Qatar' [‎66r] (131/167)

The record is made up of 1 file (82 folios). It was created in 9 May 1935-28 Aug 1939. 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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Minute Paper
p. z. 1521/36. Department.
:i9:J9
The Sheikh of Qatar, under his Treaty, is allowed
to import 500 rifles annually. He does not appear to
have bought any since 1927> when the Government of India
sold him 500 *303 carbines and 75>000 rounds of
ammunition.
He is at present anxious to buy 500 rifles, and
is considering a number of samples from British and
foreign firms. The Resident suggested that in order to
make sure of the Sheikh buying British rifles, he might
be offered cheap ’'reconditioned” rifles from India.
It appears from the Government of India*s telegram
of 2nd LI arch that none such are available, and that only
the expensive service rifle can be produced.
The Government of India however suggest offering
him 1914 pattern rifles from home stocks. These are the
rifles which we are selling to the Afghans at the
present time, and the Government of India think they
would suit the Sheikh well.
They would probably cost about £3 (or a little more
with accessories, whereas the service rifle would cost
about £ 7 .10s. The rifles being sold to the Afghans are
being individually inspected and tested, and probably
it would be a good thing to do the same for these.
A draft letter putting the suggestion to the War Office
is submitted.
5000 :35
71 t li u*, So A- V*
A' \t~tCvymj 14
^ JL A H/ivr
'•'a-.? t * fy 1

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Content

Correspondence regarding requests from the Shaikh of Qatar ('Abdullāh bin Jāsim Āl Thānī) to import arms and ammunition, under the terms of his 1916 treaty with Britain.

The correspondence documents attempts to convince the Shaikh to purchase British-manufactured arms and ammunition, on the grounds that, should an emergency situation arise, the Government of India would be in a better position to fulfil Qatari demands for ammunition and spare parts. The correspondence also discusses British concerns that the Shaikh intended to sell the imported arms, that arming Qatar would lead to tensions with Ibn Sa'ūd, and that Germany could increase their commercial and political influence in the region if the Shaikh equipped his army with German munitions. The file also includes a small quantity of correspondence with BSA Guns Limited, regarding orders for arms and ammunition and applications for the requisite export licences.

The primary correspondents are the 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. Political Department, the Government of India Foreign and Political Department, 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 The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Bahrain, and the Air Officer Commanding British Forces in Iraq.

The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the end of the correspondence (folio 2).

Extent and format
1 file (82 folios)
Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 83; 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 external leather cover wraps around the documents; the inside front cover has been foliated as f 1.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Coll 7/32 'Persian Gulf: supply of arms and ammunition to the Shaikh of Qatar' [‎66r] (131/167), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2200, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100036313388.0x000084> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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