IOR/R/15/2/37

This file contains correspondence between British officials at Bahrain, Baghdad, Bushire, Kuwait, Sharjah and the Government of India, as well as correspondence with ‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd (Ibn Sa‘ūd), Ḥamūd bin Suwayṭ, headman of the Dhafir (Āl Ẓafīr) tribe, and Hāyif bin Shuqayr, Amir of Qaraiyah.

Throughout the file there are details of Ibn Sa‘ūd's subsidy arrangements and his relations with Shaikh Sālim al-Mubārak Āl Ṣabāḥ, Ibn Rashīd of Ḥā’il, the Imam Yahyá Muḥammad Ḥamīd al-Dīn and Sharīf Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī of Mecca and his sons, ‘Abdullāh and Fayṣal. In addition, there are details throughout regarding Britain and France's involvement in Syria, Palestine, Transjordan and Iraq (for example, folios 2-6).

Much of the file concerns the 1920 mission of Khan Sahib Syed Siddiq Hasan, Indian assistant of the Bahrain Agency, visiting Ibn Sa‘ūd at Riyadh, accompanying Najd pilgrims on hajj and negotiating between the representatives of Ibn Sa‘ūd and Sharīf Ḥusayn. There are 'Instructions to Khan Sahib Syed Siddiq Hasan (Proceeding to Riyadh)', dated 21/23 July 1920 (folios 144-148); various memoranda and demi-official correspondence from Siddiq Hasan at Riyadh in July and August 1920 (folios 9-10, 45-67, 69-83, 324-325); reports regarding the agreement reached on 5 September 1920 (folios 123, 198-204 and 218-250); and correspondence between Ibn Sa‘ūd and Aḥmad Thāniyān and the suggestion that he should be awarded the CIE (Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire) for his role in the Najd Mission to Mecca (folios 337-339).

In addition, there are details of rising tensions between Ibn Sa‘ūd's Ikhwān forces and the subjects of Shaikh Sālim on Kuwait-Najd border and at al-Jahrā’ (folios 153, 160, 177-186); thanks conveyed by Ibn Sa‘ūd for the congratulations offered to his son, Fayṣal, on the occasion of his wedding (folios 27-29); a discussion of practicalities of buoying at al-Uqayr (folios 187, 216 and 274), a possible survey of al-Qaṭīf harbour (folio 215) and a steamer service to Hasa (al-Aḥsā’) (folio 273); the donation of an Arabian Oryx by Ibn Sa‘ūd to King George V (folios 205-210); and the protection of Ibn Sa‘ūd's subjects in Sharjah and Dubai (folios 294-300).