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Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎283v] (571/1062)

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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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9 I then took Sheikh Yussuf’s first point. I said that there was no
neneral change in His Majesty’s Go vrernment towards Ibn Sa ud Nevep-
theless particular questions might affect the relations of states, if they were
of sufficient importance. The Eastern Telegraph Company question was
not of that importance. The Trans-Jordan question might be. Eeen so
it was the practice of His Majesty’s Government to deal as far as possible
with all questions, even the most important, on their individual merits.
They had not for instance allowed the Trans-Jordan question to stand in
the way of Nuri Pasha’s visit, as they might have done even though they
were no longer directly concerned in the negotiations for which he was
comine They had, like the Hejazi Government, given no publicity to the
existence of an acute cont-oversy. Had they let it be known, Ibn Saud
mi^ht have sustained damage, e.g., it would have anected the Indian
pilgrimage, the only element in the whole of this year s pilgrimage which
seemed likely to be np to last year’s strength.
10. As for myself, I said, I had continued to discuss other questions
which were already in hand. The only change I had made was that I had
delayed certain communications pending a settlement of the one capital
question. I had been at pains to avoid any fresh cau e of quarrel, e.g., I
had in one case acted with great restraint over a new non-political question,
that of the Government chauffeurs. We then had some conversation on
that subject, on which I have reported separately.
11. My main object throughout this conversation was to impress Sheikh
Yussuf with the extreme importance of the Trans-Jordan frontier question,
without involving myself in any discussion of its recent phases. Though
perturbed over it, he gave me the impression of thinking that it had ceased
to be acute, as for i istanee when he said that he had waited until things
were easier to make his general communication. When he was leaving I
asked him to convey my respects to the King and to assure His Majesty
that I was always striving for a good understanding ; but I added that there
was one cloud and that that cloud had nob been dispersed.
12. I am sending copies of this despatch to His Majesty’s High Com
missioners at Jerusalem and Baghdad and to the Government of India,
Foreign and Political Department.
(24)
(Received on 2nd May 1931, with Political Secretary'*s letter No. 16, dated
the 16th April 1931.)
Tilegram from His Britannic Majesty’s Minister, Jedda, to the
Foreign Office, No. 79, dated the 7th April 1931.
(Repeated to Trans-Jordan, No. 95.)
My immediately preceding telegram (Serial No. 16 in File No. 1-N./31).
Reports have been floating about recently to the effect that Ibn Saud
has been strengthening forces in North. I hear also of Camel Corps being
organised at Medina and the Government workshops at Mecca being
engaged in conversion of ordinary motor cars into extemporised armoured
cars. r
I cannot Youch for the last two items and the report of unusual move
ments of troops are (? too, omitted) common in this country to deserve
much attention. Language of last notes read in conjunction with other
recent communications suggests however the bare possibility that the King
may e trying to work up justification for some kind of forward action. I
think such action unlikely but possibility should be borne in mind as he
may ee r^er a er t e conclusion of Iraq negotiations and recent indications
point to easier situation between him and Imam Yahya. If there is any
oun ^tion lor reports measures taken may be equally due to apprehension

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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.' [‎283v] (571/1062), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2071, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100061765165.0x0000ac> [accessed 23 April 2024]

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