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Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎280r] (564/1062)

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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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23
State lor India to say that he cononrq in tTi 0
to issue to Sir Andrew Ryan on tWs subject InTtlT u '* 13 pr0p03ed
that there may be advantage totems nniii h6
iSSf 1 ” 17 s is
(19)
(Received on 11th April 1931, with Political Secretary's letter No. 13, dated the
26th March 1931.)
Enclosure in Foreign Office covering letter dated tlie 18th March 1931.
Letter from His Britannic Majesty s Minister, Jedda, ti the Foreign
Office, No. C2, dated the 12th February 1S31.
As you are aware, some stir was created last year by Mr. H. St. J.
Philby’s adoption of the Islamic faith in August. I revert now to this
matter, which I did not think it necessary to report officially at the time,
because of a long article published in the Mjcca p tper “ Umm-al-Qura ” of
January 30th.
2. The writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. takes as his text a verse from the Koran which says “ I
will not drive away those who have believed ”. His object is to dispose of
calumnious gossip regarding the relations between Ibn Sa’ud and Mr. Philby.
He refers to the friendly personal relations which grew out of Mr. Philby’s
mission to the King during the Great War ; to Mr. Philby’s resignation from
the service of His Majesty’s Government as a result of differences when he
was employed in Trans-Jordan ; and to the renewal of his friend : y relations
with Ibn Sa’ud when Mr. Philby settkd in business in Jedda, He explains
how the spectacle of the King’s strong faith led Mr. Philby to look deeply
into Islam and how, after frequently expressing to the King his desire to
embrace that faith, he finally decided to do so, a decision which increased
his consideration in the eyes of the King and all the people, for the friend of
yesterday had now become a brother in Islam. The writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. scouts the idea
that there is any other difference between the Philby of the ptsst and the
Abdullah of the present. He repudiates the slanders to which Mr. Philby’s
profession of faith and the King’s acceptance have given rise.
3. The writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. wishes that the scandal mongers had stopped at general
slander but they do not. They suggest that the King, who founded his
dominions by the sword and also secured his independence by the grace of
God and his own good planning and power, has shewn submission to the
British by making Mr. Philby a British adviser, so that he should be under
British guidance. “ Oh God Almighty, what a lie ” cries the author. The
hero of battles fought for digni y and honour could not sink so low. Mr.
Philby, a true friend before and after and now a brother in Islam, is too
great to be accused so falsely and the King is a faithful Arab.
4. This article has a certain significance. Mr. Philby has undoubtedly
increased his position with the King, if not necessarily in other native
circles, by his adoption of Islam. He has much freer access to Ibn fea ud
now that he can go to Mecca and other places in the interior, than he had
before. The Kina, a talkative man by nature, certainly speaks much to him
of his affairs and,°I believe, admits him to the vagueJy constituted councils
which he constantly holds. There must be many people who hold by the
good old idea that a British official never cnanges his spots and t at
Mr. Philby can only be acting as some sort of a British rhe a .^ J
of the writer’s refe/enees to Mr. Philby’s past career would appear to intimate
that he has himself had a good deal to do with the apologia in the Urn .
QuraT.
5. I am sending a copy of this despatch to His Majesty’s High Commis
sioners in Iraq and Trans-Jordan.
228(C) F&PD

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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.' [‎280r] (564/1062), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2071, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100061765165.0x0000a5> [accessed 4 December 2024]

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