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'File XXV/2 Arabian Affairs (including Iraq). Qatar and al Hassa (Bin Saud)' [20v] (40/56)
The record is made up of 1 file (26 folios). It was created in 11 May 1913-1 Sep 1914. 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
is a danger to our general interests in the Gulf and to our relations with the
Arab Principalities, unless we have a working understanding with him. This
is recognised by His Majesty’s Government.
Thus the Secretary of State for India addressing the Foreign Office on the
subject on 13th August, last wrote “ * * they (the Government of India)
cannot afford to make him their enemy and they propose to enter into a friendly
exchange of views with him in order to regularise the position.
“ It must of course he realised that Bin Saud, in return for a friendly
attitude towards us, may ask for our support against the Turks. It will b e
necessary then to make it clear to him that His Majesty’s Government, whil e
willing to use their good offices to bring about a reconciliation, cannot under
take to support him, but must maintain the strictest neutrality.”
A few days later as the result of deliberation between His Majesty’s India
and Foreign Offices, the following instructions were telegraphed to the Govern
ment of India by the Secretary of State (on 21st August) :—
“ The Amir must be made clearly to understand, if he asks for our support
against Tnrkev, as a quid pro quo for complying with our wishes, that while
we are willing to do our best to reconcile him with Turkish Government, we are
unable to support him against the Turks P. Z. C.) and are bound to keep
a strictly neutral attitude
Later still, this time in connection primarily with the general subject of
Railway enterprise within Asiatic Turkey, the Government of India in making
comment on certain aspects of the negotiations, telegraphed to the Secretary of
State on Sth September, as follows :—
«* • * There can be no doubt from the point of view of Indian in
terests, that a strong and reformed Turkey in Asia will act as a safeguard to
India from interference on the part of Foreign Powers from the west, and
might even in an indirect manner result in the maintenance of Persian
integrity. Now tlfat His Majesty’s Government have come to terms with the
Turkish Government, as regards their respective interests in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
,
they have nothing to fear from Turks and every advantage to gain from friendly-
relations with the Porte. * * % * The Government of India are there
fore strongly of opinion that His Majesty’s Government should spare no effort
to avoid any measure likely to contribute to the partition of Asiatic Turkey
either at the present time or hereafter and that His Majesty’s Government
should pursue a consistent policy of reforming strengthening and maintaining
the Turkish Empire
The above extracts indicate the policy of Government sufficiently clearly.
As regards Abdul Aziz-hin-Saud and the imminent meeting. It is apparent
from the correspondence with him that on his part he is pmwd/Vm'e anxi
ous to establish relations with us, hut seeks a more definite exposition of our
attitude in regard to his relations with the Turks than mere expressions of
good-will and the declaration of neutrality. It has been suggessted to
him that he should explain more fully in what way he would expect us to
evince our good-will and in response to this he has "replied that he w r ould like
to have a meeting with a British representative and discuss the position
with him in person.
It seems therefore to rest with Bin Saud to open the discussion by stating
frankly in what direction it is that he desires the expression of our good-wull or
our co-operation.
On our side we have explained to the Porte that now that Bin Saud has
come down to the shores of the Gulf and controls certain Gulf Ports, he must
be regarded by us as having entered the sphere of Gulf politics and w r e cannot
ignore him but must find a modus vivendi with him for the protection of our
own interests, while at the same time maintaining a strictly neutral attitude in
regard to the estrangement prevailing between Bin Saud and the Porte. It
would also appear that we have expressed our willingness to promote a
reconciliation if desired to do so.
About this item
- Content
This file contains correspondence between British officials concerning the seizure of al-Hasa from Ottoman control by Bin Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] and his growth in power along the littoral. The impact of this development upon relations between Bin Saud and the British Government generally is also discussed, notably the need to maintain neutrality in the conflict between him and the Ottomans. This discussion includes mention of the importance of maintaining the independence of Qatar and the states of the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. vis-à-vis Bin Saud.
The correspondence in the file is primarily between officials at the Political 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. in Bushire, the Government of India's Foreign Department and the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. in Bahrain but also includes a limited amount of correspondence (in English translation) between Bin Saud and British officials.
In addition to correspondence, the file contains a document entitled 'Memorandum of Interview with Bin Saud on 15th-16th December 1913' written by 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. in Bahrain, Arthur Prescott Trevor, 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. in Kuwait, William Henry Irvine Shakespear (folios 24-25).
The file contains an index on folio 2 that lists all the letters contained in the file with details of the correspondents and the date.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (26 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear 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 28; 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.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/6/31
- Title
- 'File XXV/2 Arabian Affairs (including Iraq). Qatar and al Hassa (Bin Saud)'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:7v, 8v:26r, 27v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence