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File 4931/1916 'Arabia [Nejd]: Bin Saud's subsidy. Payment of subsidy authorised on 1 Jan. 1917. Question of incidence. Payments made without Treasury authority' [‎72v] (153/418)

The record is made up of 1 volume (202 folios). It was created in 6 Oct 1916-5 Apr 1922. 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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6
“ On the other hand, the advantages seem to be considerable :—
“(a.) Complete control of the Arabian littoral of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
“ (b.) Similar complete control of the arms traffic.
“(c.) The practical exclusion of foreign Powers and influence in Central
Arabia. <&+
“ (d.) The security induced by British suzerainty and ‘Bin Sand’s’ strong
control of the Bedouin tribes will give a great impetus to trade
through the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ports, probably diverting a share of what
now passes through the Bed Sea ports.
“ (c.) The great influence Bin Sand has over Mohammedan opinion in Arabia,
an influence likely to increase as the Turkish Empire breaks up and
the Khalifate of the Sultan is questioned, will be a British asset.
“ (/.) Bin Saud’s influence with ail Arab tribes, and particularly with the
Northern Anazah, with whom our occupation of Lower Mesopotamia
will bring us in close contact.
Upon receipt of Captain Shakespear’s report, Sir P. Cox telegraphed on the
16th January, 1915, to the Government of India (17000/1385/15 : No. 49) a summary
of Bin Saud’s desiderata, and made the following further suggestions:—
“ Bin Saud should undertake :—
“First. —To receive representative of British Government either at his
capital or sea-port or both, if desired.
“Secondly. —To agree (to) extra-territoriality for our non-Mohammedan
subjects.
“ Thirdly. —To abstain from waging war by sea without our consent, and to
co-operate for the suppression of piracy.
“ Fourthly. —To protect pilgrim traffic passing through his territory.
“ Fifthly. —To levy customs dues at rates which we consider reasonable,
having regard to rate prevailing at Bahrein and Koweit.
<£ Sixthly. —To allow British merchant vessels to visit his ports.
“Seventhly. —To agree to locate post office and possibly telegraph office at his
port when the time comes.”
“ I do not include any item regarding slave trade, as that is not now a
serious difficulty, and has given us no trouble at Koweit.
“ Only point regarding which it seems necessary to offer comment here is the
question of protection against external aggression by land. When we invited
Bin Saud to move on Basrah, we undertook to protect him against reprisals by
Turks, so that, as far as latter are concerned, what Bin Saud now asks us to give
does not amount to much more. Apart from Turks, Central Arabia is practically
inaccessible by land to any Power but ours, and I venture to think that we should
incur little risk by giving the desired undertaking, subject to (the) reservation
that aggression be unprovoked.
“ We have publicly declared that our object is to effect liberation of Arabs
from oppressive yoke (of) Turkey. In this case there is no question of annexation
of territory to which our allies could take exception, while Bin Saud’s weight in
scale would be no mean asset to joint cause of us all. Can I possibly be authorised
to draft a treaty on above lines for negotiation by Captain Shakespear ? I shall
not now have the opportunity of meeting Bin Saud myself.
“ I am obliged to give Bin Saud some reply by his messenger, who has orders
to return at once. I am sending Captain Shakespear purport of above additional
points and asking him to use his discretion in discussing them with Bin Saud. To
Bin Saud I am replying that I hope that an instrument safeguarding his position
can be arrived at somewhat on lines indicated, and that I have telegraphed to
Government on subject, but that treaty must necessarily take a little time to
draw up.”*
On the 29th January, 1915, after further correspondence with Sir P. Cox
(21633/15, Nos. 3 and 8 ), the Viceroy telegraphed to 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. as follows
<11837/1385/15)
“ In order to expedite settlement, Bin Saud has himself submitted memo
randum setting forth tentatively his proposals for formulation of treaty. These
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Content

The volume contains papers, mostly correspondence and 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. Minute Papers and Reference Papers, mainly relating to the subsidy paid to Ibn Saud, Emir of Nejd [Najd]. It includes papers relating to the following:

The main correspondents are: 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 and Political Department of the Government of India; the Foreign Office; the War Office; the Treasury; the Civil Commissioner Baghdad; Sir Percy Zachariah Cox; and Harry St John Bridger Philby.

The file includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 volume (202 folios)
Arrangement

The subject 4931 (Arabia [Nejd]: Bin Saud's subsidy. Payment of subsidy authorised on 1 Jan. 1917. Question of incidence. Payments made without Treasury authority) consists of one volume.

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 first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 202; these numbers are written in pencil, 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 59-178; these numbers are written in crayon.

The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the two leading and ending flyleaves.

Written in
English in Latin script
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File 4931/1916 'Arabia [Nejd]: Bin Saud's subsidy. Payment of subsidy authorised on 1 Jan. 1917. Question of incidence. Payments made without Treasury authority' [‎72v] (153/418), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/635, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100059364058.0x00009a> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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