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'File 9/50 (B 16) The Debai Incident' [‎3r] (12/492)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (238 folios). It was created in 25 Dec 1910-7 Aug 1912. It was written in English and Arabic. 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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IEL EGRAM
Prom Oolonel Cox, Dibai
To Foreign, Calcutta
Date 29 December 1910.
Following telegram has been sent by Commander—in~
Chief to the Admiralty in consultation with me. Begins -
Ihe 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. and I have carefully gone into
the cause of the fighting at Dibai, and we are of opinion
that it was the culmination of a growing feeling of
hostility to the measures enforced for the suppression of
the arms traffic on this coast.
The immediate cause was resentment at the attempted
search of two houses. On previous recent occasion on
which Sheikh had been asked to have a house searched, he
did so in such a perfunctory was as to make operation a
farce. On present occasion though called upon by Commander
of landing party to meet him and search certain houses with
support of our men, he failed to comply and did not appear
until trouble had begun.
The impression conveyed by several reports of British
officers is that he allowed trouble to commence either by
apathy or intention, but that when he saw that it had gone
too far he exerted himself to stop it and showed that he
was able to control it when he chose.
The Sheikh came on board h HYACINTH m at Dibai on
* ' • S
28 December under a safe conduct to interview Political
Resident and myself.
He altogether repudiated complicity in the firing on
our men, and alleged that the latter had started the
firing. His statements generally were altogether contrary
to the

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Content

This file contains reports and correspondence relating to an attack on British soldiers by Arab inhabitants of Dubai. The reports and correspondence are mainly between Lieutenant-Colonel P.Z. Cox ( 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. and His British Majesty's Consul General), The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department at Calcutta and Sheikh Butti-bin-Soheil (Chief of Dubai) and discuss the reparation terms demanded by the British.

The file includes a naval report of the landing at Dubai by armed British soldiers and seamen led by Major Heriot of the Royal Marines Light Infantry, dated 25 December 1910, together with two pencil sketch maps of Dubai drawn from memory, showing buildings, the shore line, military positions and direction of fire during the attack, dated 26 December 1910 (folios 18-25).

The file also includes several letters in Arabic, mainly from Sheikh Butti of Dubai to Colonel Cox, together with English translations. Among them is a witness statement containing an account of the incident, together with the signatures and seals of 83 principal residents of Dubai attesting to its veracity, dated 5 January 1911 (folio 60).

Extent and format
1 volume (238 folios)
Arrangement

The papers in the file are arranged chronologically. There is a rough handwritten subject index on the inside of the front cover.

Physical characteristics

There are two different foliation sequences in the file.

Original foliation sequence: every folio in the file, except two folios at the start and end of the file, have been numbered sequentially in the top right hand corner, starting at the front of the file. Folios 1 to 115 are numbered in pencil, folios 116 to 197 in red crayon and folios 198 to 241 in blue crayon.

Second foliation sequence: every folio in the file has been numbered sequentially in pencil, in the top right hand corner, starting at the front of the file.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'File 9/50 (B 16) The Debai Incident' [‎3r] (12/492), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/235, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023517481.0x00000d> [accessed 7 April 2025]

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