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Coll 6/19 'Arabia: (Saudi Arabia) Hejaz-Nejd Annual Report.' [‎244v] (489/540)

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The record is made up of 1 file (268 folios). It was created in 18 Apr 1931-18 May 1945. 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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16
44. As for the other principalities, all that need be said is that Ibn baud
showed no sign during the year of wishing to interfere with the sheikhs in the
British sphere, and seems to have respected his undertaking in article 6 of the
Jedda Treaty of 1927 “to maintain friendly and peaceful relations • • • • with
the Sheikhs of Qatr and the Oman Coast, who are in special treaty relations with
His Britannic Majesty’s Government.” It may be noted here that on th<^^
4th December, 1927, the British agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. at Jedda, acting on instructions issued in
consequence of a request which had been addressed by Ibn baud to Sir G. Clayton,
communicated to the Hejazi Government the texts of the treaties between His
Majesty’s Government and the Trucial Chiefs, the Sheikh of Qatr and the Sultan
of Muscat, as well as those with Asir, Bahrain and Kowait. Ibn Saud was,
however, reminded that British rights in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and on the coast did
not rest merely on the agreements which had been concluded, ‘ ‘ but in the custom,
consent and long-established relations of all the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. chiefs and the
Sultan of Muscat with the Government of India.”
45. Although, as has been stated, there has been no aggressive action by
Ibn Saud against the principalities now in question, the Sheikh of Qatr
expressed to 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 in July 1930 considerable misgiving.
He complained that certain of his own relatives were in the habit of appealing
against him to the Amir of Hasa, who sent him letters in their favour which
he could not disregard owing to his fear of Ibn Saud. He admitted that his
present relations with the latter were good, and disclosed confidentially that he,
the sheikh, paid the King a secret annual subsidy of a lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. , but he
manifested great apprehension for the future and sought a promise of British
protection against Ibn Saud in case of need, failing which he would have “ to
seek some other way,” meaning, in the Political Agent’s opinion, some under
standing with the King.
46. Wahhabism appears to enlist a good deal of support in the princi
palities on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. littoral, and it seems probable that Ibn Saud, while
refraining from aggression, takes advantage of this sympathy and the impression
he makes on all Arabs to cultivate prestige. 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. , however, expressed in August 1930 the preliminary view, subject
to further enquiry, the results of which were not known in Jedda up to the
end of the year, that the apprehensions of the Sheikh of Qatr were somewhat
exaggerated. Colonel Biscoe thought it unlikely that Ibn Saud would commit
any sort of aggression in view of his preoccupations elsewhere and the
improbability of his getting more by active interference than the position of
influence and financial advantage which, according to the sheikh’s statement, he
already enjoyed. Colonel Biscoe was inclined to think that Wahhabi influence
in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. principalities was waning rather than increasing, as Ibn
Saud had lost much of his appeal as a spiritual leader, although the fear of his
temporal power remained.
(5) Bahrain and Kowait.
47. For the present purpose these two sheikhdoms may most conveniently
be dealt with in a single section, despite the considerable differences between
them. Their peculiar status has been defined for each in the same
peculiar terms as being that of an independent Arab State, in special
treaty relations with His Majesty’s Government, but not a British
protectorate, a convenient, if baffling, formula. Each is restrained by
its treaties with Great Britain from free intercourse with other Powers,
although the clauses are different in form and substance. Ibn Saud’s treaty
obligation in regard to each, under article 6 of the Treaty of Jedda, is the same,
viz., “ to maintain friendly and peaceful relations with the territories of Kowait
and Bahrain.” His practical relations with them are not dissimilar, for while
he has no normal political relations with either, he is on terms of ostensible
personal friendship with the rulers of each, corresponds with them not
infrequently, and has in each a commercial agent of sorts. Each of the
sheikhdoms has a British 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. , and both are within the province of
the British 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. . Finally, and this is
the principal reason for dealing with both together in a report for 1930, the

About this item

Content

This file contains copies of annual reports regarding the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd (later Saudi Arabia) during the years 1930-1938 and 1943-1944.

The reports were produced by the British Minister at Jedda (Sir Andrew Ryan, succeeded by Sir Reader William Bullard) and sent to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (and in the case of these copies, forwarded by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the Under-Secretary of State for India), with the exception of the reports for 1943 and 1944, which appear to have been produced and sent by His Majesty's Chargé d’Affaires at Jedda, Stanley R Jordan.

The reports covering 1930-1938 discuss the following subjects: foreign relations; internal affairs; financial, economic and commercial affairs; military organisation; aviation; legislation; press; education; the pilgrimage; slavery and the slave trade; naval matters. The reports for 1943 and 1944 are rather less substantial. The 1943 report discusses Arab affairs, Saudi relations with foreign powers, finance, supplies, and the pilgrimage, whilst the 1944 report covers these subjects in addition to the following: the activities of the United States in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East Supply Centre, and the Saudi royal family.

The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 file (268 folios)
Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 269; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located at 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 additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 2-12 and ff 45-268; these numbers are also written in pencil but are not circled.

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English in Latin script
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Coll 6/19 'Arabia: (Saudi Arabia) Hejaz-Nejd Annual Report.' [‎244v] (489/540), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2085, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100036362872.0x00005a> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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