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Coll 6/67(1) 'Boundaries of South-Eastern Arabia and Qatar.' [‎129v] (263/794)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (392 folios). It was created in 13 Jun 1934-13 Dec 1934. It was written in English and Arabic. 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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His Maiesty’s Government took their stand on the k blue line, but that they
would be prepared to make some concession m this area as part of a general
settlement. But before deciding whether any such settlement were possible, it
was essential that they should know what King Ibn baud wns asking or. If
King Ibn baud was claiming virtually the whole of South-Bastern Arabia, it
might be useless to pursue the matter. In any case, it was necessary to issue
detailed instructions to Sir A. Ryan for his guidance in carrying on any
negotiations. These instructions would have to be elaboiated in consultation
with several other Departments of His Majesty’s Government, and it would not
be possible to consider them until His Majesty’s Government knew what King
Ibn baud wanted in this matter of the south-eastern frontier. He therefore
suggested that the Saudi Minister should telegraph to his Government and ask
for telegraphic information on this question.
8 . Sheikh Hafiz Wahba agreed to telegraph his Government forthwith, but
said that the King would probably require time to make enquiries from the
tribes, &c., in the area in question.
9. Mr. Rendel pointed out that the King was apparently claiming an
extension of his dominions to the east and south-east of the “ blue line,” on the
ground that certain tribes inhabiting certain areas in this part of Arabia had
always owed him allegiance. Surely the King must know which tribes owed him
allegiance and which did not, and must already have the necessary information
as to the areas which were inhabited by the former. King Ibn Saud could hardly
claim the allegiance of tribes which he did not know or sovereignty over areas
regarding the limits of which he was ignorant.
10. Sir A. Ryan added that King Ibn Saud knew more about this part of
Arabia than anyone else, and must certainly already possess all the information
required in order to enable him to formulate his claims.
11 . It was agreed that the Saudi Minister should put these points to King
Ibn Saud by telegraph, and communicate with Mr. Rendel again as soon as he
received a reply.
Eastern Department, Foreign Office,
October 3, 1934.
(E 6252/1

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Content

This volume primarily concerns British policy regarding the south-eastern boundaries of Saudi Arabia.

It includes interdepartmental discussion regarding the approach that the British Government should take in reaching a settlement with King Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] over the demarcation of the boundaries.

Much of the correspondence discusses the legal and international position of what is referred to as the 'blue line' (the frontier which marked the Ottoman Government's renunciation of its claims to Bahrain and Qatar, as laid down in the non-ratified Anglo-Ottoman Convention of 1913 and redefined and adopted in the Anglo-Ottoman convention of the following year), a line which is not accepted by Ibn Saud as being binding upon his government.

The volume features the following principal correspondents: His Majesty's Minister at Jedda (Sir Andrew Ryan); 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. , Kuwait (Lieutenant-Colonel Harold Richard Patrick Dickson); 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 Chief Commissioner, Aden (Bernard Rawdon Reilly, referred to in the correspondence as Resident); the Secretary of State for the Colonies (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister); the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir John Simon); the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs; officials of 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. , the Foreign Office, the Colonial Office, the War Office, and the Air Ministry.

Matters discussed in the correspondence include the following:

  • Whether the British should press Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] for a general settlement of all outstanding major questions.
  • The extent of territory that the British should be prepared to include in any concession made to Ibn Saud.
  • The British response to what are referred to as Ibn Saud's 'ancestral claims' to territories east of the blue line.
  • Sir Andrew Ryan's meetings with Ibn Saud in Taif, in July 1934.
  • Meetings held at the Foreign Office between Sir Andrew Ryan, George Rendel (Head of the Foreign Office's Eastern Department), Fuad Bey Hamza (Deputy Minister for Saudi Foreign Affairs), and Hafiz Wahba (Saudi Arabian Minister in London), in September 1934.
  • The boundaries of a proposed 'desert zone', suggested by Rendel, where Ibn Saud would hold personal rather than territorial rights.
  • Saudi-Qatari relations.
  • Whether tribal boundaries should be considered as a possible solution to the boundary question.

Also included are the following:

The Arabic material consists of one item of correspondence (an English translation is included).

The volume includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the volume by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence (folio 4).

Extent and format
1 volume (392 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 394; 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 and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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Coll 6/67(1) 'Boundaries of South-Eastern Arabia and Qatar.' [‎129v] (263/794), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2134, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100056574349.0x000040> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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