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Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎17v] (39/1062)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (527 folios). It was created in 6 Jan 1929-15 Jan 1938. It was written in English and French. 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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Enclosure 2 to Serial No. (65). ^ IniiIE8 Station, e|o H. 1L.
LE '^ O^cT Co N "™o? 0 to M Go™nob, W, No. E.1,3464, oateo the 5th
-j 1937
I We the honour to refer p"
Exceliency M. S. “ Weston’’ to investigate a reported landing
of Italians. _ „ .. . ...
, t .u m m^gg xsszfxttst “”S"
my message to yomse ( , ive vou of the use 0 f that ship should you have
were intended m any y ^ P j was un der the impression, however, that
Commanding Offieer of H M. 8 “ Norfolk
as I wafnot of the same opinion as the latter, firstly as to the safety of a ship
of that size in badly chartered waters, and secondly with regard to the effect on
other countries, of the visit of an 8-inch Gun Cruiser to waters which would
naturally be thought out of the ordinary and be apt to arouse curiosity and cause
comment. On the other hand, the visit of a Sloop to such waters would be a
normal occurrence and likely to pass unnoticed.
The landing of Italians on various Islands in the Red Sea has been con
stantly reported, and with one exception only these reports have proved entirely
false.
I do understand, however, that some Italians have been prospecting for oil
in the Sarafan and other Islands, and I have even heard it rumoured that they
have asked permission to prospect in Kamaran Island and its vicinity.
I am not, however, so seriously concerned about the above information, as
I am of the fact that Italians have engaged a large number of Yemeni subjects
during the last year for service in Eritrea as labourers, or possibly even, accord
ing to some reports, as soldiers.
Apparently the Italians send these labourers back to Hodeida periodically,,
with ample sums of money, and engage others in their place.
It is surely unreasonable to engage labourers for such short periods, if
efficient labour is what the Italians require ; on the other hand, if their inten
tion is to influence the natives of the Yemen for other purposes, this is precisely
the action needed. In any case the Italians appear to find plenty of money to
pay them.
The Political aspect of this matter is hardly within my province, but should
my premise be correct, and the process of educational propaganda continue. I
mel that under certain conditions an Italian Yemen would be easy to bring
about. J &
I have no doubt that in that case the balance might be rectified by the oppo
sition ot Saudi Arabia.
P c ol ff ic f 0 * cers ’ yth judicious agents, could doubtless
with tW^hf Ure the , teach 1 ll y s gJven in Eritrea to these Yemeni labourers,
considerable value 8 theret °’ aiR 1 i - eeI sure that such information would be of
to*
occupa-
ctel witTandTwchYeSrto b Uit f impos . sible f or a Sloo P> “ its officers,
tion by the Italians of an Toi ^ Pf 101 importance to the possible occiq
r ^ ltai]ans 0± an Island f rom which they might be evicted.
you will no?ImshateTo^iake snch'uJ? ofTt, 1 ^ Cl ° Se t0UCh with you ’ and 1 ho P e
with a view to elncidatino- + + U n e 2? .^ em as yon may consider desirable
own cruise programmt ^lt Yu h wf IrS i are free to make out their
rally and myself, and in neacp timo T Ct only to tlle concurrence of the Admi
ts you may require. ^ see no reason why they should not be used
I attach for your informer*
situation which ± recently forwardpA? 7 & F? Val A PPreciation of the Red Sea
secret nature perhaps Your ExcXnov !n le Adnilr ? lt y: In view of its most
after perusal. ^ may consider it desirable to destroy it
r

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Content

This volume compiles printed copies of letters, telegrams, memoranda and newspaper extracts relating to Britain's involvement across the Arabian Peninsula during the period 1929-1938. Whilst the correspondence encompasses all matters concerning British interests in the region, much of it relates to Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] and the Kingdom of the Hejaz and Nejd (later Saudi Arabia). Matters discussed in the correspondence include the following:

  • Reports of unrest in the Hejaz.
  • Relations between Imam Yeha Hamid-Ud-Din [Yaḥyá Muḥammad Ḥamīd al-Dīn, Imam of Yemen] and Ibn Saud.
  • Reports of raids and arms trafficking on the Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan -Nejd frontier.
  • Reports of the proceedings of British naval ships in the Red Sea.
  • Details of the Akhwan [Ikhwan] revolt against Ibn Saud, including the movements of one of the revolt's leaders, Faisal Dawish [Fayṣal bin Sulṭān al-Dawīsh], and his surrender to the British in Kuwait.
  • Relations between Kuwait and Nejd.
  • Relations between Iraq and Nejd, including a proposed meeting between Ibn Saud and King Faisal [Fayṣal] of Iraq, and reports of a treaty of alliance between Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
  • Objections from the Hejaz Government to Royal Air Force aircraft flying over Nejd territory.
  • The purchase of arms by the Hejaz Government from Poland.
  • Ibn Saud's annexation of Asir.
  • The death of King Hussein [Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī].
  • Harry St John Bridger Philby's conversion to Islam, his mapping of Rub-al-Khali, and his reported spreading of Saudi propaganda in the Aden Protectorate.
  • The currency exchange crisis in the Hejaz-Nejd and the financial situation in the kingdom generally.
  • Reports on a survey of the water and mineral content of the Hejaz coastal area.
  • Relations between Soviet Russia and Saudi Arabia.
  • The emigration of Jews from Yemen to Palestine, via Aden.
  • British fears that Italy might harbour ambitions to annex Yemen.
  • Saudi oil concessions.
  • Italian-Saudi relations.

Prominent correspondents include the following: the British Agent (later His Majesty's Chargé d’Affaires) at Jeddah; His Majesty's Minister at Jeddah; the High Commissioner for Egypt; the High Commissioner for Iraq; the High Commissioner for Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan ; 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; 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. (later Chief Commissioner, and later still, Governor), Aden; 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. ; His Majesty's Ambassador to Iraq; His Majesty's Ambassador to Italy; the Secretary of State for the Colonies; the Minister (and Acting Minister) for Foreign Affairs for the Kingdom of the Hejaz and Nejd (later Saudi Arabia); Ibn Saud; King Feisal of Iraq; the Prime Minister of Iraq; various officials of the Colonial Office, the Foreign Office, the Air Ministry, and the Admiralty.

The French material in the volume consists of several items of correspondence and a copy of a treaty between France and Yemen, which was signed in April 1936.

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.

Extent and format
1 volume (527 folios)
Arrangement

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

The items of correspondence are divided (roughly) into various sections. Each extract or item of correspondence within these sections has its own number, which is enclosed in brackets. These numbers proceed in ascending (and approximate chronological) order from left to right; however, the sections themselves proceed in reverse, from the rear to the front of the volume, in distinct groups (e.g. for 1929 numbers 1-23, which are located at folios 517-526, are followed by numbers 24-49 at folios 509-516, which are then followed by numbers 50-89 at folios 494-508, and so on).

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 529; 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.

Pagination: each section of correspondence within the volume (as described in the arrangement field) has its own pagination sequence.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎17v] (39/1062), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2071, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100061765163.0x000028> [accessed 23 April 2024]

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