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Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎69r] (142/1062)

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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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Highness received an enthusiastic welcome. A saluting gun ashore fired a slow
eleven-gun salute and a great crowd followed his car to the Palace
- f 6 ‘ before leaving the ship, His Highness had asked if I would dine
informally with him that evening and bring as many of my officers as possible?
Hour officers and myselt landed at 1930 and were met by two cars, in which we
were driven to the Palace. The streets were lined with people and police weTe
stationed every fifty yards, blowing whistles to clear the streets. Several police
detachments turned out and presented arms as we passed. On arriving at the
Palace I was surprised to find a Guard of about fifty file and a Band drawn un
m charge of an Indian Army Instructor. Several regiments appeared to be
represented. A salute was played and I then inspected the guard, who were
extremely smart. In spite of the fact that the Palace had been unoccupied while
His Highness was away, it was in good order and luxuriously furnished. After
dinner, which was served in the European manner, and the usual formalities
my officers and I were driven back to the landing place, the police detachments
again ti rning out and even the meanest inhabitant standing up and salaaming as
we passed.
7. The Ship’s Company were landed in two parties next morning to see round
the town, at 0630 and 0830. Cars were put at ,their disposal by His Highness.
Three officers also landed and were shown round by His Highness’s Doctor.
8. H. M. S. Bideford sailed for Aden at Noon on 16th April, 1936, and
arrived at 1630 on 17th April 1936.
9. I was informed that Mukalla has a population of about 30,000 and that
His Highness maintains a standing army of 2,000 infantry and also a cavalry
regiment. Mukalla has also a large and apparently efficient police force. The
natives appear extremely loyal and contented. A Wireless Station has recently
been built, but, though complete, is not yet in commission. The Palace alone is
lit by Electric Light, but a large plant has been ordered from England and in
the near future it is hoped to light the entire town by electricity.
(39)
(Received on 21 st June 1936, ivith Political Secretary^ letter No. 23, dated 4th
June 1936.)
Enclosure in Foreign Office covering letter, dated 28th May 1936.
Telegram jerom H. M.’s Minister, Jedda, to the Foreign Office, No. 68, dated:
the 23rd Mat 1936.
I made comtmunication orally to Yussuf Yasin on May 21st. My Italian
colleague had previously notified the Saudi-Arabian Government in writing of
the Italian Government’s decision. Yussuf Yasin had again seen him on the
receipt of this communication and re-asserted the views of the Saudi-Arabian
Government regarding the effects of their neutrality. As a result of this
conversation it had been decided to return no further answer. Yussuf Yasin
consulted me as to the correctness of his view that such silence would not comnn
his Government in any way. I expressed the opinion that B the Saudi-Aiabian
Government had made their contention clear in conversation ^ re< Y lvll 1 1 P
Italian communication, no further reply was necessary. Attitude ot the 8aiidi-
Arabian Government seemed to me, I said, analogous to that of His i <.] 7
Government subject to the difference'that it was based on neutrality whereas
that of His Majesty’s Government rested on other principles.
d I do not of course know exactly what Yussuf Yasin said to my Italian
colleague, bnf l am satisfied that the Saudi-Arabian XYannexatiom
of committing themselves prematurely to the recognition of Italian ann
Enclosure to Serial No. (39).
(Received on 21 st June 1936, with Political Secretary’s letter, dated
Ijettzs jbom *hb N °- K ' 2702|56i25 '

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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.' [‎69r] (142/1062), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2071, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100061765163.0x00008f> [accessed 20 April 2024]

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