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Coll 30/172 'Attitude of Ibn Saud (Saudi Arabia) towards Arab rulers in Persian Gulf and P. Gulf affairs.' [‎18r] (36/66)

The record is made up of 1 file (32 folios). It was created in 5 Dec 1938-2 May 1939. 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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111
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
EASTERN (Arabia).
January 10, 1939.
^ ^ Section 1.
, . Copy No.
Sir R. Bullard to Viscount Halifax:—{Received January 10, 1939.)
(No. 231.)
My Lord, Jedda, December 13, 1938.
IN my despatch No. 224 d ated the 5th December I had the honour to report
to you on the changed attitude of Ibn Saud towards Koweit, and on the
6th December I addressed a letter to Mr. Baxter in which I mentioned Ibn Saud's
reluctance, as reported by the manager of the California Arabian Standard Oil
Company, to allow a British firm to establish itself on the mainland of Hasa. At
the risk of some repetition, 1 now furnish a brief report on Ibn Saud's general
attitude towards the Arab rulers in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . It is well known that he
has always resented his dependence on Bahrein if not on Koweit as well, that
he despises the smaller sheikhs, and that he considers that the policy of His
Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. has the effect
of hemming him in. During the last year or two various new factors have been
introduced into the problem : the discovery of oil in various Arab territories; the
increase in the influence of Iraq; movements in Arab territories which for con
venience can be described as democratic; and the real or simulated belief in some
Arab circles that His Majesty’s Government are engaged in a “ forward move
ment ” in the Gulf; and it will be convenient to make a brief survey of the whole
position in the light of these new factors.
2. The personal respect which Ibn Saud has for His Highness the Sheikh
of Bahrein was shown when the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia visited Bahrein
a year ago and on the occasion of the return visit of the sheikh to the Hejaz
shortly afterwards. The King, when speaking to me about the visit, praised the
sheikh as an excellent man, and, moreover, of the same tribal origin as himself,
while the Amir Saud spoke of the difference between the sheikh and the other
Arab rulers, whom he described as rather Boeotian. During my recent visit to
Riyadh Ibn Saud spoke with concern about the sheikh, whose position he con
sidered was endangered by the Persian intrigues, which, in his opinion, had caused
the recent agitation. He became quite animated in his sympathy. There was the
Zubara question, too. he said, that remained open. I said I thought this question
had been settled (I did not say that the decision of His Majesty's Government was
not to support the Bahrein claim), but the King said it was by no means settled.
This was the first reference to the Zubara question since the conversation with
Fuad Hamza which I reported in my despatch No. 18 of the 1st February, 1938,
except that some months ago one of the Mecca newspapers printed an obscure
paragraph, which did not mention Zubara by name but referred to what could
only be the Zubara dispute, and alleged that it had been exacerbated by the
discovery of oil at the place concerned.
3. If there was nothing novel in the King’s praise of the Sheikh of Bahrein
on this recent occasion, to hear him praise the Sheikh of Koweit was certainly
quite new. Hitherto, we have always been given to understand that he regarded
the sheikh as the leader of a gang of smugglers responsible for the loss of an
immense annual revenue to Saudi Arabia. Now, however, I was told of the
traditional bonds between Ibn Saud and Koweit, and assured of his desire for the
maintenance of the sheikh’s position and dignity; and was asked to expedite the
conclusion of that Saudi-Koweit Agreement for which he had previously shown so
little enthusiasm. A year or two years ago the Saut-al-Hejaz would not have
published the article on Koweit which appears in the issue of the 6th December.
This article begins : <c Koweit is a pure Arab country, distinguished by its mild
ness and tranquillity. Its people are known for their Arab nobility of character,
which they have inherited from their honourable ancestors.” In my above-
mentioned despatch I tried to provide some explanation for this change of
attitude, and suggested as the principal causes a growing realisation that Ras
[505 k—1]
CONFIDENTIAL.
[E 246/246/25]

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Content

The file contains correspondence from British officials concerning the attitude of the Government of Saudi Arabia (specifically that of its king, Ibn Saud [Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd]) toward the rulers of other Gulf states.

The correspondents include HM Minister, Jedda (Sir Reader William Bullard), and 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. (Sir Trenchard Craven William Fowle).

The comments are made against the background of the discovery of oil, and the increasing influence of Iraq in the region, and particularly concern Kuwait, Bahrain, and Dubai. The correspondence also discusses the issue of popular movements and administrative councils in Kuwait and Dubai, and the need to assure Ibn Saud that there was no British 'forward policy' in the Gulf.

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.

Extent and format
1 file (32 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 front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 33; 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.

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English in Latin script
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Coll 30/172 'Attitude of Ibn Saud (Saudi Arabia) towards Arab rulers in Persian Gulf and P. Gulf affairs.' [‎18r] (36/66), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3909, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100055159168.0x000027> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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