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Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎335r] (674/1062)

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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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On the next day, we were taken for a drive on the foretiOoli, and took
luncheon with the Officers of the la Battalion indigenes. In the afternoon, the
Colonel and Officers of the 3rd Battalion Eritreo Galliano Regiment took us all
over their barracks, one company were seen at recreational exercises, and we
were afterwards entertained to tea, when the Colonel made a short speech.
In the evening, His Excellency the Governor gave a dinner to which the
principal Officers of the Colony were invited, and after the loyal toasts had been
honoured, he made a most friendly speech, in which he stressed his earnest
desire for lasting friendship and good-will between his country and the
British Empire. A suitable reply was made by the Commanding Officer,
thanking him for his wonderful hospitality, recalling the fact that we fought
side by side during the Great War, and saying how greatly the camaradie of the
officers of “ Lepanto ” had added to the pleasure of our visit.
After dinner, the officers attended a Ball, given in our honour at the Officers’
Club, which was exceedingly well arranged.
His Excellency was unable to attend owing to the serious illness of his wife.
The party returned to Massawa next morning.
(ii) Nothing could have exceeded the kindness of all the Italians met, from
the Governor downwards, during the whole of our visit.
They are undoubtedly very proud of their Colony, and it is indeed a beauti
ful spot* The high lands, inlands, appear to be very fertile, plenty of corn is
grown, great herds of cattle are in evidence everywhere, and there is no short
age of fresh water.
The roads are excellent, and a car can travel at 50 miles per hour quite com
fortably across the plateaux*
(Hi) The Secretary General impressed me as a very forceful personality^
well read, and intensely interested in our Navy* He is well up to date in his in
formation, asked a few questions, but for the most part seemed only too willing
to display his knowledge, and listen to his own voice.
Both he and the Governor were very anxious to find put what we really
thought of the American Navy, and of the French, and explained how necessary
it was that Italy should possess a powerful fleet.
(iv) The Native Battalions, each with about 20 Italian Officers given an
impression of very high efficiency. Our visit to the Gallianos was intense y
interesting, the lines were absolutely spotlessly clean, recreational exercises
were entered into with zest, and good feeling obviously prevails between the
men and their officers*
(v) Both the Captain and the 1st Lieutenant of the “ Lepanto ’’ are newly
■joined, and appear most able officers. Hogardeo had been a Flag Lieutenant,
and had attended the Peace Conference at Paris, and the Naval Conference at
Washington. He struck me as likely to go far in his profession, as he is well
read, and speaks languages well. I was much interested to hear that the Italians
are building a second sailing ship for training cadets.
The utmost good feeling prevailed between the officers of the two ships.
(vi) An official dinner party was given on-board, after the return from
Asmara, nine Italians, the maximum that can be accommodated, dining with the
Commanding Officer, after which there was a small at home, a_ en e< > . c
Officers of both ships, several from the “ Lepanto ” having already dined m the
Ward Room.
After the loval toasts, the Commanding Officer told the Commissioner of
Massawa Vhat an interesting time had been spent at Asmara thanked Mm foi
his courtesy during our stay at Massawa, and asked tha ns 1
Conveyed to His Excellency once more.
(vii) The air station at Massawa is in charge of a Flight Lieutenant and
possesses two seaplanes only.

About this item

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.' [‎335r] (674/1062), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2071, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100061765166.0x00004b> [accessed 25 April 2024]

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