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Coll 6/67(4) 'Boundaries of South Eastern Arabia and Qatar.' [‎111r] (221/843)

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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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W hereas a friend in need of help looked to a more powerful friend to assist him,
he had had no help from His Majesty’s Government. Look what His Majesty’s
Government had done for Egypt and Iraq ! Those countries might be richer than
Saudi Arabia, but Saudi Arabia could, in his opinion, be more useful than either
to His Majesty’s Government.
11. After expressing great interest in the valuable historical survey which
^ the King had given, but pointing out that what we had to adopt as a basis was
the facts of to-day, Mr. Rendel suggested that one difficulty was that, whereas
countries like Egypt and Iraq, which contained rich natural resources, could be
developed by commercial enterprises which would earn their own profits, Saudi
Arabia did not at present appear to be economically in that category. If, how
ever, Ibn Saud had any particular kind of help in mind and would specify what
it was, he could be sure that the suggestion would be considered very carefully.
Ibn Saud said that there were all sorts of help that he might mention, but he
would speak first of aviation, to which he attached great importance. He had
sent to His Majesty’s Minister through “ that man ” (pointing to Sheikh Yusuf
\asin) a suggestion about the training of Saudis in aviation in Great Britain.
As to the Italians, he swore as a Moslem and an Arab that when the Italian
aeroplanes arrived, he wished that Allah would destroy the machines and the men
in them. Mr. Rendel reminded the King that the failure of other countries to
follow our example in reducing armaments had compelled us to rearm, and that
the expansion of the British air force was employing to the full all our resources
for the manufacture of aeroplanes and the training of men as pilots and
mechanics, and that, while this should tend to deter other nations from disturbing
the peace of the world and should therefore be of advantage to His Majesty, it
made it more difficult than it would otherwise have been to give His Majesty
direct assistance in matters of aviation. Nevertheless, if His Majesty would
make specific suggestions, they would be examined most carefully and
sympathetically.
12. The subject was again referred to at a later meeting the same day.
Mr. Rendel repeated his warning about the peculiar difficulties created by the pre
occupation of His Majesty’s Government with their scheme of rearmament, and
spoke of the necessity for co-ordination of skilled men with suitable machines if
time and money spent on training and equipment were not to be wasted, and of the
possibility that Saudi Arabia, having a very small urban population among which
to find men with a suitable preliminary training in mechanical work, &c., might
find it more difficult than, e.g., Egypt, to produce suitable candidates for aviation
work. Sir Reader Bullard suggested that, whereas it might suit the Italians to
undertake the training of any number of Saudis because of the political effect it
might be expected to have, His Majesty’s Government would be reluctant to
embark on any scheme that would not have a reasonable chance of success. He
also asked the King what His Majesty thought would be the effect upon the
Italians of any close relationship between His Majesty’s Government and Saudi
Arabia in matters of aviation. Was there any reason to think that this might
encourage them to seek to extend their influence elsewhere, e.g., in the Yemen ? It
was true that the Italians had themselves wished to identify themselves closely
with Saudi Arabia in aviation affairs, but how far was that merely a phase of
the war with Ethiopia and their hostility to His Majesty’s Government on that
point? The King said that the Italians still wished to be allowed to develop
Saudi aviation, and implied that he didn’t care what they thought. He added
bitterly that the pilots trained in Italy were no good. At one point in the con
versation the King said that if Iraq shook itself free of Turkish influence he
would not mind having some Iraqis to help in aviation later on.
13. It was arranged that Sheikh Yusuf Yasin should prepare for His
Majesty’s Minister a note of the Saudi requirements in aviation matters. This
note, Ibn Saud was assured, would receive the most careful attention.
Third Interview, March 21.
14. The King said that he wanted to speak about his future in relation to
His Majesty’s Government. He began with a long and rather pointless account
of the negotiations for the Saudi-Iraq Treaty of Friendship and Alliance. In so
far as it had a point it was intended to show the Iraqis as rather slippery
customers. At Riyadh, said the King, Naji-al-Asil suggested to Ibn Saud that

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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.' [‎111r] (221/843), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2137, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100049619516.0x000018> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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