IOR/R/15/2/79

The file relates to the political affairs of Shaikh Abdullah bin Qasim al Thani (there are various spellings in the file) [‘Abdullāh bin Jāsim Āl Thānī], Ruler of Qatar: especially relations with Bahrain, the British Government, and Bin Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd], Ruler of Najd and Hejaz.

The correspondence is mainly between the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf and the Political Agent, Bahrain (also spelled Bahrein), but also includes correspondence with the Shaikh of Qatar; Claud Cranbrook Lewis Degrenier, Director of Customs, Bahrain; and Yousef bin Ahmad Kanoo [Yūsuf bin Aḥmad Kānū]. Enclosures to correspondence between the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf and the Political Agent, Bahrain include correspondence between the Political Resident and the Government of India.

The papers include: correspondence concerning relations between Shaikh Abdullah and Bin Saud, January - December 1922 (folios 7-35); letter from the Political Resident, Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Prescott Trevor, concerning the treatment of slaves in Qatar, 10 February 1923 (folios 36-37); memorandum written by the Political Agent, Bahrain (Major Clive Kirkpatrick Daly) concerning events in Qatar, particularly the prohibition by Bin Saud of the export of arms and ammunition from his territories to Qatar, 7 April 1923 (folios 39-40); copies of Political Residency papers dated 1924-26 relating to a request by the Shaikh of Qatar for arms and ammunition, 23 February 1926 (folios 45-57); papers relating to the forcible abduction of a manumitted slave by subjects of Qatar from the boat of a Bahrain pearl merchant, July 1927 (folios 83-107); letter from Captain Reginald George Evelyn William Alban, Political Agent, Bahrain to Lieutenant-Colonel Lionel Berkeley Holt Haworth, the Political Resident discussing a proposed state visit to Qatar by Shaikh Hamad [Shaikh Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah], Deputy Ruler of Bahrain, 7 August 1927 (folios 108-109); papers concerning a report that the Shaikh of Qatar had been selling ammunition imported for his personal use, May - July 1929 (folios 115-116); several letters from the Political Agent, Bahrain (Captain Charles Geoffrey Prior) to the Political Resident concerning Qatar and its affairs, August 1930- August 1931; and note by the Political Agent (Prior) giving a historical summary of affairs in Qatar since 1907 and summary of present political conditions [1931] (folios 126-129).

Although the main date range of the file is 1922-31, there are also some enclosed copies of correspondence, which is earlier than this date, for example the letter dated 3 November 1916 on folio 44.

The Arabic language content of the file consists of correspondence to and from the Shaikh of Qatar, and documents relating to the case of the abducted slave mentioned above.