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Coll 6/16 'Future of: Royal Family. Probable happenings on the death of Ibn Saud.' [‎161r] (322/440)

The record is made up of 1 file (218 folios). It was created in 30 Sep 1931-7 Oct 1949. 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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P„Z.6999/34
Extract from Kuwait Intelligence Summary,No.10 of 1934
For the period from 1st October to 31st October,1934.
Rashaida .
West of Subaikiyeh and in Kuwait Neutral Zone.
NOTE. A notewortbsreTent connected with this tribe took
place in June of 1934. Ibn Musaillim, paramount Shaikh of
the tribe with some 60 tents transferred his allegiance from
Bin Saud to the Shaikh of Kuwait (See para.34 (Yi) of
Intelligence Summary No.3 for May 1934). Ibn Musaillim has
been given a plot of land in Kuwait town, behind the Shaikh 1 s
palace and has already built a residence for himself and
immediate followers with the assistance of the Shaikh of
Kuwait. The incident is interesting, as showing that Bin
Saud* s hold over his Bedouin tribes is growing weaker and may
be put down to the result of the Yemen campaign.
A year ago this move would not have been possible.
For the information of those who do not know local
politics, the Rashaida ( a serf tribe of the Mutair) have
always been looked upon as a Kuwait group and the particular
fighting men of the Shaikh of Kuwait. When the Mutair
became good n Akhwan n and were taken by Bin Saud from Kuwait
the Rashaida who own much property in Kuwait Town refused
to follow* During the troubles of 1920-27 when Kuwait was
being raided almost daily by the Akhwan of Bin Saud, the
Shaikh of Kuwait unable to protect the large flocks of
sheep and camels belonging to his Rashaida, gave Ibn
Musaillim a free hand to join the Akhwan if by so doing
he could save his animals. Ibn Musaillim accepted the
offer, went over to Bin Saud with 2/3 of the Rashaida and
so saved the tribal wealth.
Neither he nor his followers ever became true
Akhwan, and always maintained secret allegiance to the
Shaikh of Kuwait and promised to come hack when the chance
offered.

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Content

This file relates to Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] and the future of Arabia in the event of his death.

The file largely consists of copies of Foreign Office correspondence, which have been forwarded by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the Under-Secretary of State for India. Also included are copies of correspondence addressed 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. and the Government of India's Foreign and Political Department by 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. (Lieutenant-Colonel Trenchard Craven William Fowle, succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Geoffrey Prior).

The correspondence begins with 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. 's response to the Foreign Secretary to the Government of India's remark that British influence in the Middle East seems largely to depend on the life of one man: Ibn Saud.

Related matters discussed in the correspondence include the following:

  • The effect that Ibn Saud's death, or fall from power, might have on Kuwait.
  • The designation of Amir Saud [Sa‘ūd bin ‘Abd al-‘Azīz Āl Sa‘ūd] as Ibn Saud's heir apparent in 1933.
  • Rumours of tense relations between Amir Saud and his brother Feisal [Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Sa'ud].
  • Arab public opinion on Ibn Saud, following the Saudi-Yemeni war.
  • Reports of Ibn Saud and Amir Saud having been attacked by would-be assassins in Mecca in 1935.
  • Amir Saud's visit to India for medical treatment in 1940.
  • Reports of the arrest of ninety persons suspected of being involved in a plot to assassinate Ibn Saud in 1940.

Other prominent correspondents include the following: 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. , Kuwait (Harold Richard Patrick Dickson, succeeded by Gerald Simpson de Gaury); 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. , Bahrain (Hugh Weightman); the British Minister at Jedda (Sir Andrew Ryan; Sir Reader William Bullard; Hugh Stonehewer Bird); His Majesty's Chargé d’Affaires, Jedda (Albert Spencer Calvert); officials of 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. , the Foreign Office, the Colonial Office, and the Government of India's External Affairs Department.

In addition to correspondence the file includes the following:

The file includes two dividers which give a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. These are placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 file (218 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 219; 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. An external leather cover wraps around the documents and the front inside of this cover has been foliated as folio 1. A previous foliation sequence, which is present between ff 2-218 and is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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Coll 6/16 'Future of: Royal Family. Probable happenings on the death of Ibn Saud.' [‎161r] (322/440), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2082, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100038375480.0x00007b> [accessed 4 June 2026]

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