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Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎496v] (997/1062)

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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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(f) Here I asked where Bin Saud was, and the reply was : “he has
U ^ been forced back to the Hejaz, he cannot reach either Qasim or
Riath, only 4 days ago, special messangers reached us from
Oahtan Ataiba and Harb to the effect that they had been
completely successful in blocking the way from Hejaz.”
(a) I asked if it was true that they were moving south from Wafra *
and Shathaf. They said perfectly true, and half of them had
already moved off.
(h) I asked what were their intentions with the Awazim: al-Fuqm
V 7 replied that they had sent them an offer to “ Tudaiyan ” (join
the Akhwan) or be attacked. They have as yet had no reply,
but they had heard that Awazim had retired towards Hoffuf. *
(i) To my query, as to what their losses had been at al-Ritha, (where
they had attacked the Awazim) al-Fuqm replied “ 22 men
killed no Shaikhs hurt on either side To their regret their
rifle fire had killed several women among the Aw r azim, but that
was pure accident, as the Awazim were closely packed in Zeraba
formation when they received their attack.
(j) When I asked if it was true that they had raided as far as “ Saud
al-Rimadan “ Abu Jiffan ” and “Bamban” close to Riath,
they replied “ Yes and we have brought back much loot and
many of Bin Sand’s own camels ”.
(1c) When I questioned them as to what they really wanted from me,
they at last came to the point and said that they came for two
things:—
(i) They the Akhwan desired to enter into a sort of treaty engage
ment with the British, the treaty to be formally written
out and signed by their leaders: in the document they
would promise to remain on friendly terms with Iraq, and
Kuwait, and would undertake not to attack either Govern-
ment or raid any of their tribes.
(ii) In return they desire to be allowed to make use of Kuwait and
to purchase supplies and munitions from it.
(l) Kuwait had been their port from time immemorial. They looked
upon themselves as Kuwait tribes and only wished to return
to their own. They thought they were strong enough to be
called a small nation now and just as Kuwait had done, they
wished to make a direct treaty with the British, if possible.
(m) When I told them that their’s was quite an impossible request
and under no circumstances whatever could His Majesty’s
Government do such a thing, they naively asked if they could
come under the Shaikh of Kuwait’s jurisdiction. To this I
also gave a negative reply.
( 71 ) I was then asked to explain exactly the British Government’s
wishes as some of their friends would not be able to understand
why their offer of friendship was refused. I replied in detail
to the effect that as the Akhwan were in open rebellion againsi
their Ruler and that as their Ruler was our friend and in treaty
relations with us, we could not but stand by him, and had
promised to assist in the following way :—
(i) By denying supplies to them, the rebel Akhwan.
(ii) By refusing them entry, under any circumstances whatever, into
either Kuwait or Iraq territory.
(°) I added that neither Shaikh Ahmad nor I desired their blood or
that of their women on our heads, but that as sure as they
attempted to put foot across the border they would be bombed.
Beyond this the British Government had no concern, and they
w ould be quite safe anywhere across the border.

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.' [‎496v] (997/1062), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2071, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100061765167.0x0000c6> [accessed 11 June 2026]

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