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Coll 6/67(4) 'Boundaries of South Eastern Arabia and Qatar.' [‎17r] (33/843)

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The record is made up of 1 file (420 folios). It was created in 12 Nov 1935-27 Sep 1937. 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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-2-
the question might well he left in abeyance subject to
one important proviso; viZt , that no activities in ccnnectior
with oil development intervened,.
MR* EENLEL confirmed that Ibn Sand was showing no
readiness to reach agreement on this question and would
probably prefer to leave it in abeyance* As regards oil
he had circulated a note of a conversation between himself
and Mr 0 Longrigg, cf Petroleum Concessions, Ltd., (paper
Noe Ivh 5,(0) 234). It was difficult to icre see what the
action of the Oil Companies would be. It was quite
possible that if the Standard Oil Company of California
struck paying quantities of oil at Hasa, Petroleum
Concessions, Ltd., would be more eager to start work at
Qatar, If however the Companies decided to prospect and
drill in the most favourable area, i. e. , South West of
Qatar, we might be faced with an awkward situation if the
frontier question remained unsettled,
THE CHAIRhAlT said he would like to hear the views
of the Sub-Committee on Sir Reader Bullard’s attitude. If
Ibn Saud was not Interested at the moment, it might be
best to fall in with Sir Reader’s view.
CAPTAIN PHILLIPS said the Admiralty were not particularly
interested in this problem, but they were impressed by
Sir Reader Bullard’s view, and it was for consideration as to
the extent to which his proposal could be applied. In the
Southern and Eastern areas it seemed that this could be done
without difficulty, but this was not so in the North. The
possibilities of oil in the area South of Qatar were not
apparently known, and the settlement cf the frontier
question in that area would probably have to be settled as
and when the occasion arose. The Admiralty considered that
in the interim it might be possible to establish certain

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Content

This file primarily concerns British policy regarding the eastern and south-eastern boundaries of Saudi Arabia, specifically those bordering Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and Muscat (i.e. the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman).

Much of the correspondence relates to British concerns that the boundaries should be demarcated prior to the commencement of any oil prospecting in the area. The file's principal correspondents are the following: His Majesty's Minister at Jedda (Sir Andrew Ryan, succeeded by Sir Reader William Bullard); 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 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. , Bahrain (Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Gordon Loch); 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. , Muscat (Major Ralph Ponsonby Watts); the Secretary of State for the Colonies; the Secretary of State for India; the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; officials of the Foreign Office, the Colonial Office, 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 Admiralty.

Matters discussed in the correspondence include the following:

  • Whether the British should press King Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] for a settlement of the outstanding questions relating to the aforementioned boundaries.
  • Sir Andrew Ryan's meeting with Ibn Saud and the Deputy Minister for Saudi Foreign Affairs, Fuad Bey Hamza, in Riyadh, in November 1935.
  • The disputed territories of Jebel Naksh [Khashm an Nakhsh, Qatar] and Khor-al-Odeid [Khawr al ‘Udayd].
  • Whether or not a territorial agreement between Ibn Saud and Qatar was concluded prior to the Anglo-Qatar Treaty of 1916.
  • The intentions of Petroleum Concessions Limited regarding the development of its oil concession in Qatar.
  • The line proposed by the British for the boundary between Saudi Arabia and the Aden Protectorate.
  • The Kuwait blockade.
  • Leading personalities in Oman.
  • Details of Harry St John Bridger Philby's expedition to Shabwa [Shabwah, Yemen].
  • Four meetings held between Sir Reader Bullard, George Rendel (Head of the Foreign Office's Eastern Department), and Ibn Saud, in Jedda, 20-22 March 1937.

Also included are the following:

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 (420 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 421; 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 6/67(4) 'Boundaries of South Eastern Arabia and Qatar.' [‎17r] (33/843), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2137, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100049619515.0x000024> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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