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Coll 6/67(4) 'Boundaries of South Eastern Arabia and Qatar.' [‎25r] (49/843)

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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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CONCLUSIONS.
THE SUB-COMHITTEE agreed -
(i) To recommend acceptance of the view of
His Majesty’s Minister at "'edda (Paper
No. M.E.O. 227) that, for the present,
4 it is not desirable to press King Ibn
Sard to come to a settlement of the
outstanding questions regarding the eastern
and southern boundaries of Saudi Arabia,
on the understanding that, should the Oil
Companies concerned decide to prospect in
any of the areas under dispute, it will
be necessary to consider the question of a
unilateral declaration being made by His
Majesty’s Government to King Ibn Saud,
in which they would state the frontier
which they propose to observe.
As an interim measure to prevent the claim
of His Majesty’s Government going by
default, a reply should be sent to King
Ibn ^aud (provided that His Majesty’s
Minister at .’’edda still considers this
desirable) su estin th1 a jo int Anglo—
Saudi-Arabian Topographical Mission should
be despatched to the area south of ,atar,
in order to establish accurately the
geographical position of important features
in that area.
(ii)
(’ i)
efore His ! h? jesty’ s Government is co r -mitted
to such a Mission, the Moreign Office,
Jndla Office, ‘V'ar Office and dir Ministry
should worb out the detailed recuirements
and prepare an estimate of tne probable
cost for consideration by the Treasury.
(iv) .The suggestion of F
is Majesty's Minister at
Jedda (Paper No. ! .1.(0) 227 ; that King
Ibn Saud might perhaps be given part of
the royalties on oil struck in or near
Hebei .Hacsh would require consideration
only as part of a bargain for the
settlement of the boundary and should
remain in abeyance for the time being:
meanwhile it was noted that the India
Office saw objection to pressing the
Vh
Sheikh oi
Qatar to give up any id art of
royalties to which he was entitled under
concessions ^hich had been anproved by
His Majesty's Government, but it seemed
clear that His Majesty’s Goverament could
not contemplate
5ritish fund s.
making any grant from
it
V
(v)
•Whitehall Gardens,S. . 1.
29th June. 1937.
So far as the Aden Protectorate is concerned,
note was taken of the maximum concession
to in;; Ibn Saud which the Governor of
Aden regarded as feasible (Paper Ho.
M.H.G.GSP), an' the v ew was taken that
there ' 7r O' : .ld be no harm, an 1 there might even 1
be some advantage, in deferring action
for the delimitation of this part of the
boundary.
- 10 -

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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.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Coll 6/67(4) 'Boundaries of South Eastern Arabia and Qatar.' [‎25r] (49/843), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2137, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100049619515.0x000034> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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