File 2182/1913 Pt 6 'Arabia Relations with Bin Saud' [83r] (174/547)
The record is made up of 1 volume (270 folios). It was created in 3 Dec 1916-30 Dec 1917. 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
Incidentally our failure (for obvious reasons) since our occupation of
Bagdad to open pilgrim routes and allow free trade, is not understood and
has caused disappointment and adverse comment.
Another difficult}’ for Bin Sand is that the money lavished on the tribes
by the Sherif from our handsome subsidies has spoilt the market for Bin
Baud who cannot compete and finds it difficult to keep his chiefs contented.
Bin Sand’s potential value from military point of view has never been
over-estimated here and he himself has always maintained that unless
assisted with artillery and personnel he was not in a position to attempt to
capture Hail. In January last I think we were all agreed it would have
been mistaken policy to [group omitted?] any project beyond his powers in
which he might have suffered disaster ; and though it is true we have
presented him with three machine guns and two mountain guns yet we were
unable to give him any personnel from here and without it they are of
doubtful use. In short it is clear if we require to make more military use of
him we must really approach subject seriously and lend him an Egyptian or
Indian battery with £ 2 —-—Jto run it for him. I myself doubt whether
game would be worth the candle, but Egypt may have other views.
In any case, however, 1 think it would be for the common good if we
were now to send a mission to him consisting of a Political officer from here
and one from Egypt in whose opinion Sherif would have conlidence together
with a military staff officer, preferably a gunner, who could see the country
and make proposals in accordance with practical possibilities. Short of
giving him such material assistance and personnel, we pnay depend on his
loyally doing his best on the allowance that we make him to keep his tribes
together and to harass and seduce Bin Rashid’s adherents as opportunity
offers, but I do not think we can expect much more. Above sent with
cognisance of Army Commander.
From Sir P. Cox, Bagdad, 30th September 1917.
(Repeated to Foreign, Simla, and High Commissioner, Cairo.)
(Received 1st October, 10 a.m.)
(P.) 4045. Reference to my telegram 4035.
Following telegram since received from
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.
, Bahrein :—
“ Verbal message for you from Bin Sand has been given me by brother
of his Agent here just returned from Riyadh. Sand says he is in difficulties
as he has to pay his men five or six liras a month (Turki’s force alone costs
him 10,000 a month) and he has to give large presents to Bedouin and others
who visit him. His men are being attracted away by higher pay offered by
Sherif, Latter collects revenue from Harb Ataibah from whom he used to
collect it. He has taken no counter action only because of his friendship
with us. Sherif is not in his heart friendly to him. He is extremely anxious
for visit of special officer whom you promised to send to him.”
About this item
- Content
This volume contains part 6 of the subject 'Persia Gulf'. It concerns British relations with Bin Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd]. Much of the volume's correspondence discusses whether the British should offer Bin Saud inducements (in the form of money, titles, arms or personnel) to take action against both Shaikh Saud bin Abdul Aziz bin Rashid, Amir of Hail [Saʿūd bin ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz Āl Rashīd, Emir of Ha'il, also referred to by the British as Bin Rashid and Ibn Rashid] and the Turks. The volume includes the following:
- a copy of an article on Bin Saud by Gertrude Bell;
- copies of translations of correspondence between Bin Saud and Bin Rashid, and a copy of a translation of an agreement between the two men, dated 10 June 1915, in which they agree to respect each other's territories;
- a note entitled 'Relations With Ibn Sa'ud', prepared by the Arab Bureau's Iraq section, which provides a British perspective on Britain's relations with Bin Saud from 1899 onwards;
- copies of reports sent to 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. in January 1915 from the late Captain William Henry Irvine Shakespear, regarding his meetings with Bin Saud;
- reports of Harry St John Bridger Philby's meetings with Bin Saud in December 1917, as part of a political mission.
The volume features the following principal correspondents:
- Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Zachariah Cox, corresponding both as 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. and as the Chief Political Officer, Indian Expeditionary Force D;
- Secretary to the 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. 's Political Department (Sir Arthur Hirtzel, succeeded by John Evelyn Shuckburgh);
- Bin Saud;
- High Commissioner, Egypt (Sir Francis Reginald Wingate);
- Viceroy of India [Frederic John Napier Thesiger];
- Foreign Office.
The volume also contains copies of correspondence between 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. , Aden (Major General James Marshall Stewart) and both Saiyid Mohamed bin Ali bin Idris, the Idrisi [Sayyid Muḥammad bin ‘Alī Āl al-Idrīsi] and Imam Mahomed Yahya bin Hamid-ul-Din [Yaḥyā Muḥammad Ḥamīd al-Dīn].
The part includes a divider that gives the subject and part number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references contained in the part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (270 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.
The subject 2182 (Persia Gulf) consists of 8 volumes: IOR/L/PS/10/384-391. The volumes are divided into 12 parts with part 1 comprising the first volume, part 2 comprising the second volume, part 3 comprising the third volume, parts 4-5 comprising the fourth volume, part 6 comprising the fifth volume, parts 7-8 comprising the sixth volume, parts 9-10 comprising the seventh volume, and parts 11-12 comprising the eighth volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 269; 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.
The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the one leading flyleaf.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
File 2182/1913 Pt 6 'Arabia Relations with Bin Saud' [83r] (174/547), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/388, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100035784054.0x0000af> [accessed 7 April 2025]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100035784054.0x0000af
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_100035784054.0x0000af">File 2182/1913 Pt 6 'Arabia Relations with Bin Saud' [‎83r] (174/547)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100035784054.0x0000af"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00011b/IOR_L_PS_10_388_0174.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
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_100000000419.0x00011b/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/388
- Title
- File 2182/1913 Pt 6 'Arabia Relations with Bin Saud'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:i-v, 1r:187r, 188r:226v, 228r:268v, ii-r:ii-v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence