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Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎468v] (941/1062)

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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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2 Copies of enclosures 1 and 3 have been sent to His Majesty’s Secretary
of State for the Colonies and His Majesty’s Agent and Consul at Jeddah and
of No 1 to His Excellency the High Commissioner for Iraq at Baghdad,
Enclo. 1 to Serial No. 143.
Confidential lettee from 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, to the Hon’ble
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. , Bushire, No. 613
DATED THE 6TH NOVEMBER 1929.
With reference to my telegram No. 600. dated 31st October and subse
quent telegrams, I have the honour to submit the following report
1. On the night of the 30th October at about 7-30 p.m., His Excellency
the Shaikh sent round his Secretary to report to me that al-Duwish had
written in asking for an interview at Jahrah or Saada the next or following
day, adding that he hoped I would meet him also. He had certain questions
to ask, be said, as well as certain important information to impart. The
Secretary added that as His Excellency thought such interview would be
useful especially as it was not known, if al-l>uwish intended preventing the
Awazim from entering Kuwait or not, he, the Shaikh, suggested that he
should be allowed to see the Rebel Leader and that I should accompany him.
I accordingly sent off my telegram No. 690 early on the morning of 31st
October.
2. On the same day (31st October) at 10-30 a.m. I visited the Shaikh to
discuss al-Huwish’s latest request, explaining at the same time that I had tele
graphed you, and that we could do nothing till we received your reply.
3. Whilst with the Shaikh and at about 11 a.m. a messenger accom
panied by al-Huwish’s nephew suddenly brought the startling news that al-
Duwish himself with a considerable retenue had followed up his letter in
person and had reached a point 6 miles from the city. The Shaikh who was
very angry indeed sent for the Duwish's nephew, a mere boy, and to his face
abused his uncle roundly for being a “ worthless and thick headed Bedouin
who could not wait a few hours for a reply to an ordinary letter The
youth replied with spirit that no man could stop al-Duwish in anythin?, when
once the latter’s mind was made up, nor would he the Shaikh be able to stop
him from coming to Kuwait now he had got so far and the city itself was in
sight. His Excellency much upset dismissed the youth and asked what my
advice was. I suggested his being returned to his camp at once. But on the
Shaikh pointing out that the Rebel Leader would certainly refuse to do this and
would come straight on. I came to the conclusion that the best means of
turning him was to send a joint order to al-Duwish to retrace his steps
and then proceed half right to Jahrah, where he could await our reply. To
insure his going back, a car was sent for him and he was invited by Abdullah
bin Jabir the Commander of the Kuwait forces to proceed to Jahrah. The
an< ^ n00n al-Duwish was successfully shepherded to Jahrah,
but the situation was stilly difficult, and both His Excellency and I fully
realized the danger of allowing al-Duwish to remain inside the Kuw'ait border.
i j’ a A t ur ^ ier discussion with the Shaikh, it was decided that I
should send for Abdullah al Jabir from Jarhah and give him a definite order
10 m myself to al-Duwish to quit Jahrah that night, informing him at the
some time that no meeting could be held at all with him till he recrossed the
border. As stated m my telegram No. 604, Abdullah was further iustructed
o obtain rom the Rebel Leader either xerbally or in writing exactly what
ie desired to say, and to tell him that it would be reported to His Majesty’s
overnment and if the latter thought necessary both His Excellency and T
would be sent out to his camp to interview him.

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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.' [‎468v] (941/1062), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2071, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100061765167.0x00008e> [accessed 3 July 2026]

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