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'The Seven Independent Arabian States [Yemen, ‘Asir, Hijaz, Najd, Kuwait, Jabal Shammar and al-Jawf]' [138v] (276/680)
The record is made up of 1 file (10 folios). It was created in May 1935. It was written in English. 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.
scrupulously and faithfully observe the conditions of the said bond," under which
the Sheikh had pledged himself, his heirs and successors, not to receive the agent
or representative of any Power or Government at Koweit without the previous
sanction of the British^Government, and not to cede, sell, lease or mortgage, or
p -ive for occupation or for any other purpose, any portion of his territory to the
Government or subjects of any other Power without the previous consent of His
Majesty's Government. ^ i ^ ,
2. By article 9 of the Secret Agreement of the 15th October, 1907, for the
lease of the Bunder Shweikh foreshore, 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.
intimated that he
was " duly authorised on behalf of the precious Imperial English Government to
promise, and do hereby promise, that the town of Koweit and its boundaries
likewise belong to Sheikh Mobarak-us-Suba, Ruler of Koweit, and to his heirs
after him, and that all Sheikh Mobarak's arrangements in the matter of
customs, &c., and all his arrangements at the present day shall remain in the
hands of Sheikh Mobarak-us-Suba, Ruler of Koweit. and of his heirs after him.
and . . . In consideration of this promise the Sheikh undertook not to levy
customs dues in excess of 4 per cent, on goods imported or exported by the
subjects of the aforesaid p:nglish Government," save with the approval of that
Government.
3. The undertakings given in writing to the Sheikh on the 3rd November,
1914. in return for his co-operation against the Turks, contained an assurance
that " Koweit shall be recognised as an independent principality under British
protection."
(B) —Construction of the Undertakings given to the Sheikh.
4. As will be seen, the engagements entered into by His Majesty's Govern
ment with the Sheikh are in rather general terms, and it is perhaps desirable
briefly to record the construction placed upon them at various times by His
Majesty's Government.
5. In 1901, when there was a Turkish threat to Koweit, the \ iceroy was
informed (Secretary of State's telegram No. 45 of the 4th December, 1901) that
this "appears to constitute a distinct violation of the Sultan's promise" (to
respect the status quo), " and in these circumstances His Majesty's Government
are prepared to support the Sheikh, and will not tolerate an attack by Turkish
troops or ships upon Koweit. The Sheikh should not leave Koweit, and should
continue to observe his engagement with us.' The assurance given is clearly
limited by the words " in these circumstances " to this particular case. More
over, it is not conditional on, and is independent of the Sheikh's observance of
his agreement of 1899. %
6. On the 21st March, 1902, Lord Lansdowne, then Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, in a memorandum on the situation in Kowert, remarked that our
obligations toward the Sheikh were '' as ill-defined as the boundaries of his
principality. We have distinctly announced that he does not enjoy British
' protection '; on the other hand, we once made him a present of £1,000, and
promised him our ' good offices,' whatever that may mean. When we made this
promise we were, I feel,no doubt, thinking of Koweit proper, if there is such a
thing, and not of Boobyan or other outskirts over which the Sheikh has rights
of one sort or another We might, it seems to me, explain (1) to the
Porte; (2) to the Sheikh; and (3) to the foreign Powers immediately interested
the objects of our policy. I should be inclined to say that our engagements to
Koweit do not extend beyond the district adjoining or close to the bay of that
name, and to endeavour to obtain the adhesion of the Porte and of the Sheikh
to our approximate definition of that district "
7. Later, in 1902, it was reported that Ibn Rashid was making energetic
preparation for attacking Ibn Saud, then the Sheikh of Koweit's friend, and the
Sheikh was warned not to take any action likely to bring him into difficulties
with either Nejd or Turkey. About the same time the Sheikh informed us that
Ibn Saud had with him a gun presented by the Turks, and asked for a gift oi
two or three guns, which it was understood were wanted for Jehara to protect
Koweit against land attack. The Viceroy (telegram No. 39 of the 3rd October
1902) proposed to reply that the Sheikh's request could not be granted, but
that, provided he complied with the injunction conveyed to him in pursuance o
your telegram of the 4th December, 1901 (see paragraph 5 above), His Majesty
3F7^!
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About this item
- Content
This confidential memorandum, printed by the Foreign Office in May 1935 is a report by William John Childs concerning the seven independent Arabian states or autonomous areas. The report contains an introduction that states that the 'purpose of the paper is to give a brief outline each of the seven independent Arabian states', listed on folio 316, 'at the time of the Arab rising against the Turks in June 1916'.
The report is divided into sections covering each state as follows:
- 'The Imamate of Yemen ruled by Imam Yahya [Yaḥyá Muḥammad Ḥamīd al-Dīn]' (folio 316);
- 'The Principate of Asir ruled by the Idrisi [Sayyid Muḥammad bin ‘Alī al-Idrīsi]' (folios 316-317);
- 'The Emirate of Mecca (or the Hejaz) ruled by Husein [Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī], Emir and Sherif of Mecca' (folios 317-319);
- 'Emirate of Nejd [Najd] ruled by Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd], Emir of Riyadh' (folios 319-323);
- 'The Sheikhdom of Koweit [Kuwait] ruled by the Sheikh of Koweit [Mubārak bin Ṣabāḥ]' (folio 323v);
- 'The Emirate of Jebel Shammar [Jabal Shammar] (or Hail [Ḥā’il]) ruled by the Emir of Hail [Sa‘ūd bin ‘Abd al-‘Azīz Āl Rashīd]' (folios 323-324)
- 'Jauf-el-Amir [Jawf al-Amīr, under the rule of Nūrī bin Sha‘lān]' (folio 324v).
A footnote on folio 316 records: 'This memorandum was prepared by the late Mr. William John Childs and found among his papers. A few modifications and additions have been made to bring it up to date'.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (10 folios)
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The foliation for this description commences at folio 315, and terminates at folio 325, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, a re circles, 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. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between folios 4-327; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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'The Seven Independent Arabian States [Yemen, ‘Asir, Hijaz, Najd, Kuwait, Jabal Shammar and al-Jawf]' [138v] (276/680), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/B446, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023898367.0x00004e> [accessed 26 February 2025]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/18/B446
- Title
- 'The Seven Independent Arabian States [Yemen, ‘Asir, Hijaz, Najd, Kuwait, Jabal Shammar and al-Jawf]'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:315v, 310r, 316v:339v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence