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File 3372/1916 Pt 2 'Arabia: French and Italian policy' [‎87r] (182/498)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (243 folios). It was created in 30 May 1917-11 Dec 1918. It was written in English, French and Italian. 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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appendix ji.
COMMITTEE OF IMPERIAL DEFENCE.
>Sul)-( 'ouiniittee on tlio Anns Tniffic.
.Skconi, JIkctixo mw at the India Ofhck on .Monday tuf
iotii Januaiiy 1917.
Present:
Loi:n Islington (Chairman).
SfR Henky McMahon.
Vice-Admiral Sir E. Slade.
Sir W. Tyrrell.
Major Paddon.
Mr. II. J. Read.
Mr. J. E. Shuck rurgh (Secretary).
t ,„. Plfp 6 Chili t l ; i " an v a “ uou,1 . ced ‘pt Sir H - McMahon had been added to
tlic SuM ominUtc 6 by direction ot the Prime Minister. Maior C. L. Storr
" th ? I omnuttee of Imperial Defence Secretariat, lias also been appointed a
member of the Sub-Committee. The draft Minutes of previous meeting
were approved.
MASK AT.
1>. Reverting to the subject of Maskat, Sir If. McMahon agreed that
there would be advantage in getting rid of French rights under the
Declaration of 1862, and thus removing all restrictions upon our freedom of
action at Maskat; but he considered our position there to be strong enough
already for all practical purposes. Me would welcome a “ free hand ” if it
could be purchased cheaply, but was against paying a high price for it.
Inter aha, a “free hand ” would enable us to develop the Maskat coal-fields,
believed to be of some value. Sir H. McMahon also touched on the
question of the “Trucial” chiefs raised by Admiral Slade at the last
meeting (paragraph 10 of Minutes). This question has been raised in the
past, but effective action has always been postponed. Sir H. McMahon
thought it desirable that a British officer should be stationed at or near
Debai to ensure the due enforcement of the arms prohibition. (There is
already a Native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. of the Bushire Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. at Shargah.) Sir E. Slade
agreed. It was decided to include in any proposals submitted by the Sub
committee a recommendation that this matter should again be brought
to the notice of the Government of India.
JIBUTI.
3. Jibuti (lat. 11° 35' N., long. 43° 9' E.) is the chief port of French
Somaliland, a strip of territory about 40,000 square miles in extent on
the north-east coast of Africa, nearly opposite the point of junction between
the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. The French Colony is flanked on the
north-west by the Italian possession of Eritrea and on the south-east by
British Somaliland. On the land side it is coterminous with the kingdom
of Abyssinia. Though barren in itself, the district is of importance as
commanding the only possible direct railway route from the sea to Adis
Ababa, the Abyssinian capital, from whence road and rail extensions with a
radius of 150 miles would tap the three richest provinces of Abyssinia
(Gojjam, Kaft’a and Sidamo), all of which fall within the British sphere of
influence, as adjoining, respectively, the Soudan, Uganda and British East
Africa. The French have built a railway from Jibuti to Adis Ababa (about
320 miles as the crow Hies), with a branch to llarrar. As regards the general
S 337—2 75 3/17 A

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Content

The volume contains papers largely relating to French policy in the Hedjaz [Hejaz] and Arabia, and Anglo-French relations concerning the region. It includes papers relating to the following:

  • The French mission being sent to the Hedjaz under Mustapha Cherchali.
  • The French Military Mission in the Hedjaz.
  • The British desire for French recognition of British predominance in the region.
  • The Sykes-Picot Mission.
  • The recommendations of HM High Commissioner, Egypt, on future British policy in Arabia.
  • The desire of the French government to send the equivalent in gold of 975,000 francs to the King of the Hedjaz.
  • The question of a revised agreement between Britain and France regarding Arabia and the Hedjaz.
  • The activities of a French agent at Mecca, Mahomet Bin Sasi.

The volume also includes papers relating to the policy to be adopted by Britain towards Italian ‘pretentions’ in Arabia.

The papers mostly consist of: correspondence between 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. and the Foreign Office, with enclosures including correspondence between the Foreign Office and the French Ambassador to the United Kingdom; copy correspondence between the Foreign Office and Sir Reginald Wingate, HM High Commissioner, Egypt, sent to 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. by the Foreign Office; 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. Minute Papers; and other correspondence and papers. Some of the papers are in French, and there is also a copy of a newspaper cutting in Italian.

The file includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 volume (243 folios)
Arrangement

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

The subject 3372 (Pt 1 Arab Revolt, and Pt 2 Arabia) consists of two volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/615-616. The volumes are divided into two parts, with part 1 comprising one volume, and part 2 comprising the second volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 243; 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. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.

A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English, French and Italian in Latin script
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File 3372/1916 Pt 2 'Arabia: French and Italian policy' [‎87r] (182/498), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/616, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100046208597.0x0000b7> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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