Skip to item: of 283
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

Coll 30/160(2) 'Measures to influence minor Powers & Arab States in time of War. Deputation of British Officer to RIYADH. (Capt G. S. de Gaury).' [‎27r] (53/283)

The record is made up of 1 file (139 folios). It was created in 28 Apr 1939-21 Nov 1941. 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.

Apply page layout

■I—■—
Jfl
L'
Audit Note.
3 MJ01940
l> ! b
Duplicate for Departmental File
i. —
^Connected Papers Pol.E&t.Dept.Colin*2$
Registry No. C.P.45*
Connected Voucher. Reg.
pz 341071+0;
Vo.
\ed to The Political Secretary.
..A M M
JUL B'fc 193
Oapt. de Gaury received 6 months notice under
his contract of the termination of his services with
effect from 23rd March 1940. Since then he has
received, and is still receiving, the pay of his post.
He is not on leave - he has taken all and more than he
has earned - although it happens that the Government of
India had no duty for him. It is understood from the
d.o. letter to Mr. Caroe of 22nd April 1940 PZ 1746/40
that he had before that date been taken into the service
of the Foreign Office and he appears, therefore, to be
drawing duty pay from two sources. There is no
reference in the Secretary of State’s telegram dated
21st March 1940 PZ 1472/40 nor in the Government of
India’s reply dated 1st April 1940 to this aspect of
the matter and it is not clear that the Government of
India in saying that they had ,f no objection to him
taking up other employment before the expiry of the
period of notice” contemplated that he would in that
event continue to draw his Indian pay. It appears
that the Foreign Office should have informed the India
Office that they wanted Capt. de Gaury’s services in
which case the normal course would have been to lend or
transfer him to the Foreign Office. Information is
requested whether this course was considered. The
view stated in Finance Department’s minute*dated
21st May 1940 PZ 2588/40 that the fact that he obtained
employment under the Foreign Office does not affect
India’s liability is not understood. It is recognised
that there may be special features of Oapt. de Gaury’s
case but in principle the Finance Department’s view
does not appear sustainable and it is considered that
Under Secretary of State’s sanction to the course
adopted was necessary.
+Surely it is quite
correct? The G.ofl’sfc
liability is not
affected - though ti
F. 6 .might arrange tc
pay him less while
his 6 months ran.
But it is quite
different from the
loan /
i of a
i serving
Officer’s'
-services
R.T.P.
r>
425G
940 J Auditor,
.7.40
The Under Secretary of State has now sanctioned
the Department’s view that no action should be taken
towards the transfer of Mr. de Gaury 1 s services to the
Foreign Office during his 6 months’ notice - see
submission of 5th August, below.
J.P. Gibson,
8.8

About this item

Content

The file concerns the appointment of Captain Gerald Simpson Hillairet Rutland Vere de Gaury (formerly, 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. , Kuwait) as Political Officer at Riyadh (1939-40). The appointment of a Political Officer, under the orders of HM Minister, Jedda, was proposed in 1939 as a special measure in the event of war breaking out. De Gaury was suggested for the post because he was thought to be acceptable to Ibn Saud [Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd]. The purpose of the role was to monitor political developments in Saudi Arabia, and to keep Ibn Saud favourably disposed towards the British (comment by Reader William Bullard, HM Minister, Jedda, folio 91).

The papers include: correspondence concerning de Gaury's leave, pay and allowances; questions about de Gaury's suitability for the role (e.g. comment by the Government of India External Affairs Department on folio 132); 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. minutes relating to the appointment; report by de Gaury on the state of roads between Riyadh and Dhahran (folio 68); report by de Gaury on a meeting with Ibn Saud (folios 53-56); Ibn Saud's wish not to have a permanent British representative at Riyadh; correspondence concerning a proposed visit (which did not take place) by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Geoffrey Prior, 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. , to Ibn Saud, May 1941; and correspondence concerning a proposed liaison visit by de Gaury to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Riyadh, Jedda, Yemen, and Aden, September-October 1941.

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 (139 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 141; 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. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 1-139; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

Coll 30/160(2) 'Measures to influence minor Powers & Arab States in time of War. Deputation of British Officer to RIYADH. (Capt G. S. de Gaury).' [‎27r] (53/283), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3897, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100056026057.0x000036> [accessed 29 March 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100056026057.0x000036">Coll 30/160(2) 'Measures to influence minor Powers & Arab States in time of War. Deputation of British Officer to RIYADH. (Capt G. S. de Gaury).' [&lrm;27r] (53/283)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100056026057.0x000036">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000648.0x0001d3/IOR_L_PS_12_3897_0053.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000648.0x0001d3/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image