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File 2182/1913 Pt 4 'Persian Gulf: Policy towards Bin Saud (Capt. Shakespear's Mission)' [7r] (9/426)
The record is made up of 1 item (211 folios). It was created in 22 Sep 1914-17 Jan 1916. 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.
10
Y
From General Force “D” Basra, 5th January 1916.
(Addressed to Chief of General Staff, repeated to Secretary of State and
Egypt.)
No. I.G. 1912, 5th. Sir P. Cox had long interview with Bin Sand at
Qatif near Bahrein on 26th December. Full note of the interview being
posted you, meanwhile resume is as follows :—“ Though Turks are no doubt
taking advantage of recent developments in Europe and of suspension of
our advance on Baghdad to endeavour to re-kindle tribal and religious
feeling against us in Central Arabia, Bin Sand does not anticipate much
result, lie thinks explanation of rumour of intended purchase of 40,000
camels by Turks, is that Turks are endeavouring to bribe tribal Sheikhs
to co-operate with them, and are offering bribe in shape of an advance for
investment in camels or horses in case Turkish Government requires them.
He himself received similar overtures few months ago. He does not
believe Bin Rashid would dare to advance far towards Koweit or Nasiriyah
for fear that Bin Sand should cut in against (?) in his rear, and that in any
case absence of rain and grazing puts advance of any large force at
present out of the question. Bin Sand’s present relations with Shereff of
Mecca are quite normal and friendly but he characterises Shensi essentially
unstable, trivial, undependable. Bin Saud discredits any active under
standing between Shereff and Bin Rashid. Regarding general question of
Caliphate, in the event of Turkey breaking up, Bin Saud says nobody among
ruling chiefs cares in the least who calls himself Caliph, and even if Shereff
claims title they would no more accept control from him than they do now,
but each chief would continue to control his own tribes and welcome
immunity from Turkish oppression.”
On 31st December Sir P. Cox interviewed new Sheikh of Koweit, viz.,
Jabar Bin. Mubarak at his capital. Jabar’s news of Bin Rashid was that
he is now weakened and most unlikely to move towards Koweit or Zusigr. ?
He was emphatic in view that neither he (Jabar nor his dependents) takes
any interest whatever in question of Caliphate. And Cox says that is
general impression he has gained from all tribes this side of Arabia since
start of war.
\
f
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About this item
- Content
Part 4 primarily concerns British policy towards Bin Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd], following the outbreak of the First World War. It includes the following:
- discussion regarding Bin Saud's relations with the Ottoman government, and the need for the British to secure Bin Saud's goodwill, especially in the event of the Ottoman government entering the war on the German side;
- details of Captain William Henry Irvine Shakespear's mission (as a political officer on special duty) to meet with Bin Saud, with the aim of ensuring that, in the event of hostilities between Britain and the Ottomans, no assistance is offered to the latter by Bin Saud;
- translated copies of letters from Shaikh Mubarak [Shaikh Mubarak bin Ṣabāḥ Āl Ṣabāḥ], Ruler of Kuwait, to Bin Saud, urging the latter to side with the British Government;
- details of a proposed preliminary treaty between the British and Bin Saud;
- reports of Captain Shakespear's death;
- reports on Bin Saud's military engagements against Bin Rashid [Saʿūd bin ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz Āl Rashīd];
- a copy of a draft of a preliminary treaty between the British government and Bin Saud;
- details of proposed gifts from the British to Bin Saud of arms and ammunition captured from the Ottomans, plus a £20,000 loan.
The principal correspondents are the following:
- Secretary of State for India [Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe];
- Viceroy of India [Charles Hardinge];
- Foreign Office;
- 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. ;
- War Office;
- Permanent Under-Secretary of State for India, Thomas William Holderness;
- 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. , Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Zachariah Cox;
- 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 (Lieutenant-Colonel William George Grey);
- Secretary to the Government of India's Foreign and Political Department [Alfred Hamilton Grant];
- Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart George Knox (on special duty in the absence of 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. );
- Captain William Henry Irvine Shakespear;
- Bin Saud.
- Extent and format
- 1 item (211 folios)
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/387/1
- Title
- File 2182/1913 Pt 4 'Persian Gulf: Policy towards Bin Saud (Capt. Shakespear's Mission)'
- Pages
- 3r:23v, 24ar, 24r:45v, 48r:63v, 64ar, 64r:85v, 85ar:85av, 86r:119v, 120ar, 120r:120v, 121ar, 121r:212v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence