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‘File 61/31 IV (D 120) Anglo-Saudi frontier negotiations’ [‎62r] (134/512)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (255 folios). It was created in 30 Sep 1935-24 Mar 1936. 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. .

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0/35 Mo So
'ER TSIEGRaM from tlie Secretary
ie Colonies to the
Resident, Aden*
Sent 10 p<,m s 9th October, 1935*
! , ’
Addressed to Aden liOoSO. Copy by bag to Jedda^
Your secret despatch No.263 of 20th August* South-eastern
Boundaries of Saudi Arabia*
His Majesty* s Government have carefully considered
position reached in negotiations and see little prospect of reaching
settlement, which they regard as very desirable, more especially in
view of existing international situation in Red Sea area, unless far
more extensive offer is made to Ibn Saud, than that hitherto
contemplated * They have never denied that Murra tribe was
predominantly under Saudi influence and propose now to accept
Ibn Saud® s authority over this tribe as one of main factors in the
situation* 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. , Kowcit, has now received information
from Beduin with Murra connexions which shows (a) that great number
of wells on Fuad Hamza's list are probably Murra wells; (b) that
dira cf Murra tribe extends in south-east to Mi jora which is
not shown on maps but appears on sketch-map furnished by Political
Agent as approximately at intersection of parallel 20 and meridian
54 o From this point tribal boundary runs in south-westerly curve
to point apparently twenty to twenty-five miles south of Shanna
whence it proceeds in north-westerly curve cutting violet line a
2c In these circumstances His Majesty's Government consider
Ibn Saud might now be offered an area which in north, east and
south will correspond closely with Murra dira* It is not proposed
to offer him sovereignty over Murra dira as such but rather to
make latest information basis of new and final offer while
advancing

About this item

Content

The volume’s contents relate to ongoing negotiations between the British and Saudi Governments over the formal establishment of Saudi Arabia’s southern and eastern borders. The volume, which is a continuation of correspondence found in IOR/R/15/1/605, focuses on land which is covered by the Qatar Oil Concession, and is disputed by King ‘Abd al-‘Azīz Āl Sa‘ūd (Ibn Sa‘ūd) of Saudi Arabia and Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Jāsim Āl Thānī of Qatar. The volume’s principal correspondents are Lieutenant-Colonel Trenchard Fowle, 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 Percy Gordon Loch, 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. in Bahrain, and Andrew Ryan, British Minister at Jeddah.

Contents of the volume include:

  • Correspondence relating to the arrangements and outcome of a Royal Air Force (RAF) aerial reconnaissance survey, conducted in October 1935, over Qatar’s projected southern boundaries;
  • A map showing the reconnaissance route (folio 74B), a number of aerial photographs (folios 75-81), and a report of the reconnaissance (folios 72-73) are included in the volume;
  • The Saudi Government’s response to the signing of an oil concession between the Shaikh ‘Abdullāh and the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company;
  • British objections to direct communication between Ibn Sa‘ūd and Shaikh ‘Abdullāh, with the assertion that such communication contravenes treaties signed with the British Government; discussion over the extent of Abu Dhabi’s territory, including a telegrammed report, written by Loch, dated 4 November 1935, of a conversation with Shaikh Shakbut bin Sultan of Abu Dhabi over his territories (folios 92-94);
  • An RAF sketch map of the Qatar Peninsula (folio 146);
  • A report of a conversation in January 1936 between Loch and Shaikh ‘Abdullāh concerning Qatar’s southern boundaries, with a sketch map included (folios 190-95);
  • Suggestions of an earlier agreement between Qatar and the Saudi Kingdom predating Britain’s 1916 treaty with Qatar.
Extent and format
1 volume (255 folios)
Arrangement

The volume’s contents are arranged in approximate chronological order, from the earliest items at the front of the volume to the latest at the end. There is a set of office notes at the end of the volume (folios 235-44) that mirror the chronological arrangement. An index at the front of the volume (folio 2) lists key topics covered, with a folio number which refers to the original uncircled pencil foliation system used throughout the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: There are two incomplete foliation sequences and one complete foliation sequence. The complete sequence is circled in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of each folio. It begins on the first folio after the front cover, on number 1A, and ends on the last folio of writing, which is f 245. The following foliation anomalies occur: ff 1A-D; ff 74A-B.

Other characteristics: The volume contains a number of photographs (folios 75-81) which are housed in transparent polyester sleeves.

Written in
English in Latin script
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‘File 61/31 IV (D 120) Anglo-Saudi frontier negotiations’ [‎62r] (134/512), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/606, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100050152383.0x000087> [accessed 4 April 2025]

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