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Coll 6/64 'South-Eastern Boundaries in [Arabia] – Anglo-Turkish Convention of 1913. Attitude of U.S.A.' [‎30r] (59/183)

The record is made up of 1 file (90 folios). It was created in 29 Jul 1913-27 Jul 1934. It was written in English, French and Arabic. 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.
political Department.
2119 5000 8 33
The Foreign Office letter speaks for itself.
There is, 1 think, definite advantage in letting the
United States Government have the text of these tv\o
Conventions at once and intimating to them that we
regard tne Blue Line of tne 1913 Convention as the
eastern limit of Ihn Baud*s-territories. It will he
remembered that the position of the Blue Line was
examined in connection with tne question of the Qatar
boundary. It was suggested (Foreign Office concurring)
that while the fact that the 1913 Convention had not
been ratified possibly made our legal position rather
weak, it would be desirable on general grounds to
maintain that line as the eastern boundary of Saudi
Arabia. The legal position has now been further
investigated by the Foreign Office Legal Advisers.
As a result, I^adonottonti £yeai Mvv ^unaul (jngi they
are of opinion that in view of the fact that the Blue
Line of tne unratified 1913 Convention is referred to
in the ratified Convention of 1914 we shall be on very
strong ground legally internationally in maintaining
it against Ton Saua. They have separately put forward
a proposal,which is for discussion in the Middle Bast
Committee next week, that we should, if this view is
accepted, claim on behalf of Qatar all the area betweec
the base of the Qatar Peninsula (the boundary at
present claimed by tne Sheikh himself) and the Blue
Line. That proposal, ii accepted, would not, however,
involve any extension either of the area of the Qatar
oil concession or of the guarantee of protection given
by H.M.G. beyond the base of the ’Qatar Peninsula. A
separate submission is beings made on this points
Uf<d l ttt H-CHju.

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Content

This file relates to boundaries in eastern Arabia (specifically Saudi Arabia and Qatar). It concerns British policy regarding what is referred to as the 'blue line' (the frontier which marked the Ottoman Government's renunciation of its claims to Bahrain and Qatar, as laid down in the non-ratified Anglo-Ottoman Convention of 1913 and redefined and adopted in the Anglo-Ottoman Convention of the following year).

Much of the correspondence relates to a request for a copy of the 1913 Anglo-Ottoman Convention, which was submitted by the United States Embassy in Angora [Ankara] to its British counterpart (reportedly on behalf of the United States' State Department), as well as to the wider significance of this request in relation to the United States' oil interests in the region.

The correspondence also discusses Foreign Office concerns that aerial survey work carried out by the California Arabian Standard Oil Company (Casoc) in relation to its Hasa oil concession might extend beyond the blue line (subsequent correspondence relays reports of Casoc's aeroplane having crossed the blue line).

Although the date range of the file is 1913-1934 most of the material dates from 1934. In addition to correspondence from 1934, the file includes two letters between officials of the Foreign Office and 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. dating from 1924, and printed copies of the Anglo-Ottoman Conventions of 1913 and 1914 (in English and French), both of which contain enclosed maps (with text in English and Arabic). Also included with the Conventions are printed copies of agreements and treaties between Britain and various Gulf rulers, covering 1820-1904, and printed copies of Anglo-Ottoman protocols, covering 1903-1905.

Notable correspondents include the following: 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. (Lieutenant-Colonel Trenchard Craven William Fowle); the British Ambassador in Angora (Percy Loraine); Hugh Millard, United States Embassy, London; officials of the Foreign Office and 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. .

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 (folio 2).

Extent and format
1 file (90 folios)
Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 91; 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.

Written in
English, French and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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Coll 6/64 'South-Eastern Boundaries in [Arabia] – Anglo-Turkish Convention of 1913. Attitude of U.S.A.' [‎30r] (59/183), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2131, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100039921442.0x00003e> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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