Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [504r] (1012/1062)
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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
491 F&PD
56
Enclo. 2 to Serial No. 77.
Letter 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 Poli-
3 tical Resident in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
, Bushire, No. 546, dated the
24th September 1929. (Secret).
« •J'rJn° f t 1 ? y N °' 537, dated 18th September 1929 (Enclo 2 to
Serial No. 57) and my telegram No. 542, dated 21st September 1929 I have
the honour « report a very interesting conversation with Shaikh' Hillal al
Mutain which I had yesterday the 23rd September 1929.
This individual as you kn w resides in Kuwait and is probably the
wealthiest man m the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
to-day. He maintains, at all timesf the
closest ouc with Nejd, and more particularly with Faisal al Duwish and
Ibn Ashwan the two most important Rebel Leaders. With the former
because of a life long friendship between them, and with the latter because
Ibn Ashwan is the head of Shaikh Hillal’s own tribe the Mutair (Braieh).
2. Shaikh Hillal al Mutairi’s knowledge of affairs in Central Arabia
generally, and especia ly his knowledge of Desert politics and the things that
the great Bedouin tribes are thinking of and discussing, is in my opinion
unique, and being a man of 70 years old with mind still active and strong,
whatever he has to say is usually tempered with judgement and common
sense.
3. In politics Shaikh Hillal is a Mutairi tribesman first, secondly a
Kuwaiti pearl merchant, and loyal subject of the al Subah. Lastly, he is,
and always has been, an anti-Bin Saudite and as such his sympathies are
entirely with the Rebels. Being however, as I said above a man of long
views and clear perspective, his appreciations of situations are nearly always
sound.
4. Shaikh Hillal arrived from his estates on the Shatt al-Arab on 21st
September 1929 where incidentally he received on 16th September 1929 as
visitors Mutrij Ibn Hijna (Ataiba) and Rihan Ibn Marwi (Mutairi) both
resident in
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
. These individual according to the Special Service
Officer, Basrah’s report No. I/BS/1, dated 17th September 1929, paragr ph
(a) brought letters from Abdullah al Misfir, who holds an important position
in the palace at Baghdad. There would appear to be a connection between
the visit of these men and items of news mentioned in paragraph 6 below.
5. In his conversation w : th me Shaikh Hillal imparted the following in
formation which is given below in the form of sub-paragraphs :
(a) Azaiyiz the son of al Duwish was undoubtedly killed at Umel
Rudhumma but with him not more than 250 men. The
incident is looked upon as a regrettable incident and will in no
wmy affect the plans of al Duwish.
(b) Al Duwish had mobilized the Ajman and Mutair and was at the
moment of writing moving South against the Awazim. Al
Duwish had deliberately allowed the Awazim to hear o his
movements in order to convey the impression that he intended
attacking them any moment. They, the Awazim, with their
allies and Bin Saud’s regulars (Sarraya) in all about 2,500
strong had formed a camp surrounded by trenches and defen-
sife North-East by East of Nta and were to all intents
and purposes awaiting the coming attack.
. . „ . v , , v^pver was not to attack at all. Having got the
(c) Duwish s plan howeve camels and sheep ma
Awazim by a ring of camps
small area, he was go ng f them either to come
distant four to five m il® s or surmider. The large
out of their k^elfand sheep with the Awazim was their weak-
number of camels an t' decision. These required
ness, and wouid help for^ ^ quitt e d ca mp, Faisal’s plan
to be grazed an ^ a , attacked and rounded up. he
was that they *ould * ^ ^ enable them to
superior strength oi rn
adopt these tactics.
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 View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [504r] (1012/1062), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2071, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100061765168.0x00000d> [accessed 9 June 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100061765168.0x00000d
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100061765168.0x00000d">Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎504r] (1012/1062)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100061765168.0x00000d"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000261/IOR_L_PS_12_2071_1012.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000261/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2071
- Title
- Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:5v, 6v, 8v:10r, 11r:14r, 15r:20r, 21r:21v, 22v, 24v:26v, 27v:30r, 32r:41v, 43r:46v, 48r:48v, 49v:52v, 53v, 55v:58r, 59r:60r, 61r:70r, 71v:77v, 78v:79r, 80v:81v, 82v:93v, 95r:101v, 102v:104v, 106r:108r, 109v:110v, 111v:113v, 115r:120v, 122r:123r, 124r:126v, 127v, 128v:130v, 132r, 133v:137r, 139r:154r, 155r, 156r:157v, 159r:166r, 167r, 168r:171r, 172r:174r, 175r:175v, 176v:177v, 180v:181r, 182v, 183v:184v, 187v:188r, 191r:198r, 199r:199v, 200v:201r, 202r, 203r:203v, 206r:207r, 210r:211v, 213r:220r, 223v:224v, 226r:226v, 228r, 230v:234v, 236r, 237r:252r, 253v:257v, 259r:260v, 262r:262v, 264r:268v, 269v:276r, 277v:278v, 279v:281r, 282v:285r, 287r:288r, 289r:292v, 295r:296v, 297v:307r, 308r, 309r:316v, 318r:320v, 322r, 324r:325r, 327r, 329r:331r, 332r:335r, 336r:337v, 338v:345r, 347r:348r, 350v, 353v:358v, 360r:363r, 364v:365v, 366v:371r, 372v:375r, 376v, 377v:379v, 383r:383v, 384v:385r, 387v:389r, 390r:391v, 395v:400v, 401v:412v, 414v:420r, 422r:433v, 435v:437v, 440r:447v, 449r:449v, 451v:459r, 460r:463v, 465r:468v, 469v:471r, 474r:477r, 480r:485r, 486v:492v, 494r:507r, 508v:511r, 512r:513v, 514v, 516r:518v, 520r:522r, 523r:528v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence
![Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎504r] (1012/1062) Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎504r] (1012/1062)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000261/IOR_L_PS_12_2071_1012.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg)