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Coll 17/34 ‘Iraq. Tour in the Persian Gulf of H.M. Ambassador in Iraq’ [‎8v] (16/98)

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The record is made up of 1 file (46 folios). It was created in 10 Feb 1940-28 Jun 1940. 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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with India, but can hardly remain so much longer. Its wealth, both proved and
potential, must surely lead to its exploitation and to foreign incursions, the
more so because access and communications are being made easy by air and motor
transport and their risks reduced by portable wireless, while simultaneously
climatic obstacles are being partially overcome by electric light, fans and
refrigerators and, above all, by the provision of air-conditioning in offices,
dwellings and even in field camps. The excellent political atmosphere to which
I have referred is no doubt primarily due to the work of 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.
and the political agents who represent Indian and Imperial interests in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and Oman. I only wish I could have learnt from Colonel Prior
and from Mr. Weightman and Captain Hickinbotham, who were such extremely
kind, hospitable and informative hosts to me at Bahrein and Muscat, how to
bring about similar conditions in the restless Arab country of Iraq.
5. While my own impressions were casual and are, of course, subject to
correction, it seemed to me that a principal means of creating and maintaining
our satisfactory position must have been, and must remain, the exclusion of other
foreigners. I am inclined to regret that in the case of Iraq we could not, when
giving complete internal independence, have excluded foreign diplomatic
representation in the same way as we did, in fact, reserve the right to
object to the State employment of foreigners where British subjects were
available. Perhaps Iraq was too big and too internationally-minded to allow
another country to conduct its foreign relations. But so far as I understand
our position on the Gulf, we are by treaty or other recognised instruments
entitled to control foreign activities in Koweit, Bahrein and the seven Trucial
States. Only in Muscat does our international position seem to be less secure.
If this is so and safeguards for the future should he desirable, no doubt the
authorities directly concerned will draw attention to the matter.
6. As, however, the Foreign Office is also concerned from the point of view
of international relations and of the maintenance of British predominance all
round the Arabian peninsula, I would suggest that some consideration should be
given to this question in that department. For example, the Anglo-French
declaration of 1862 can be of little importance now to France, and it may be
that its existence could tie our own hands in making arrangements with the
Sultan of a nature to prevent foreign intrigues and the growth of foreign
influence. I believe that in 1912 it did hamper our efforts to suppress the arms
traffic. While the British and French Governments seem by this instrument to
have imposed a self-denying ordinance on themselves, other Governments
ostensibly at least are left with a free hand. It requires no great stretch of the
imagination to fear that this state of affairs might be exploited to our detriment
by Italy, Russia, Germany, Japan which does an extensive trade here, or even
by Turkey, Persia and America. Thanks 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. and 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 Muscat our position could hardly be better de facto. What
1 have in mind is that the excellence of our de facto relations should he used while
the opportunity remains favourable to establish our position de jure, and thus
guard against an uncertain future. The present Sultan of Muscat is strong,
enlightened and pro-British, hut some future ruler might (cf. King Farduk of
Egypt) find it difficult to resist the flattery and seductions of an unscrupulous
foreign Government. The attempts to establish foreign influence which have been
made in the past will doubtless recur unless the way can be blocked, and it may
therefore be well to review the situation now in order that if any consolidation
of our position de jure is, in fact, desirable, we may be ready to take advantage
of the opportunity afforded by the war or by the subsequent peace settlement.
As a sidelight on this aspect of Muscat I would mention a remark recently made
to me by a resident from Aden, which, whether or not historically justified,
at least serves to point my present moral. It was that after the last war, owing
to war weariness and perhaps for more altruistic reasons, we declined to accept
some offer or proposal made by a local ruler and thus missed an opportunity of
strengthening our position in the Yemen. For what we hope will be value
received we have, of course, since had to tie our hands by the Anglo-Italian
Agreement of 1938. At Muscat we have often been threatened by the rivalry of
foreign Governments in the past, notably of France and Russia in the “ nineties,”
while as recently as 1938 the Italian Government contemplated sending a ship
of war to visit that port. If these attempts were made when Muscat and Arabia
were poor, what must we expect if they were to become rich.

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Content

The file contains papers relating to a tour by Sir Basil Newton, HM Ambassador to Iraq, to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and the Gulf of Oman, visiting Sharja [Sharjah], Muscat, Bahrain, Basra, Fao [Al-Faw], and Abadan.

The file mostly consists of the following:

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

Extent and format
1 file (46 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 front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 49; 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.A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

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English in Latin script
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Coll 17/34 ‘Iraq. Tour in the Persian Gulf of H.M. Ambassador in Iraq’ [‎8v] (16/98), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2896, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100045796755.0x000011> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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