Skip to item: of 746
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

File 2182/1913 Pt 4 'Persian Gulf: Policy towards Bin Saud (Capt. Shakespear's Mission)' [‎195r] (391/426)

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.

Apply page layout

n
' f M !/' to \J<^vy '
'M ; .- , /t^
:> y^ 1 Zf (/fi
No.ii^ty
Private. [Reference my telegrams 1062 and 1085.
Government have decided to take action therein indi
cated. The force mentioned should be emoarke: so as
to sail on tenth together with expedition A. its real
destination being only communicated by sealed orders
after ships have sailed. Suggest you sending a special
Staff officer with O.C. force who will be able to
communicate your instructions and hand over books maps etc
Admiralty consider that no escort is requireu from
Karachi onwards, nor from B 0 mbay if they leave with the
main body, but on this point final decision should rest
with Haval 0 in C who as officer on spot has best in
formation. Please telegraph which Brigade and Commander
will be sent also which Mountain Batteries.
After Eorce has sailed get ready remainder
of si>tth Division for despatch hut with idea that they
are destined for Europe or Egypt. Secrecy can be popped
after leading Brigade has reached Shatt-el-Arab.
-ill telegraph more pre.ise instructions to-morrow as
..ti™ t... ^
(fj Ifcoi Vv^virl-W^tr.

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:

Extent and format
1 item (211 folios)
Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

File 2182/1913 Pt 4 'Persian Gulf: Policy towards Bin Saud (Capt. Shakespear's Mission)' [‎195r] (391/426), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/387/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100034341125.0x000001> [accessed 5 June 2026]

Link to this item
Embed this item

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_100034341125.0x000001">File 2182/1913 Pt 4 'Persian Gulf: Policy towards Bin Saud (Capt. Shakespear's Mission)' [&lrm;195r] (391/426)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100034341125.0x000001">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00011a/IOR_L_PS_10_387_0400.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

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_100000000419.0x00011a/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image