IOR/R/15/2/91

The file deals with political relations between the King of Hejaz and Najd [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] (commonly referred to in the papers as Bin Saud or Ibn Saud) and the states of Iraq and Kuwait, particularly in terms of raids by Akhwan [Ikhwān] tribes from Najd, and Bin Saud's efforts to control the Akhwan.

The correspondence is mainly between the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; the Political Agent, Bahrain (Major Cyril Charles Johnson Barrett); the Political Agent, Kuwait (Lieutenant-Colonel James Carmichale More), and the Secretariat of the High Commissioner for Iraq, Baghdad. There is also correspondence between British officials and Bin Saud. Enclosures to correspondence from the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf include copies of correspondence with the Political Agent, Kuwait; the Secretariat of the High Commissioner, Iraq; the Colonial Office, London; the Government of India; the Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf; and other British officials in the region; enclosures to correspondence from the Political Agent, Kuwait include correspondence with the Secretariat of the High Commissioner for Iraq, and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; enclosures to correspondence from the Secretariat of the High Commissioner, Iraq, include reports from Captain John Bagot Glubb, Administrative Inspector, Southern Desert.

The papers cover: diplomatic contact between the British and Bin Saud; list prepared by Political Agent, Bahrain of estimated Nejd [Najd] population likely to obey a summons from Bin Saud, 8 April 1928 (folios 18-19); action by Bin Saud against the Akhwan; raids by Akhwan tibes, especially Mutair and Ajman; involvement of Hafiz Wahab [Shaikh Hāfiẓ Wahbah]; Iraqi frontier posts; reports of intended raids; movements of desert tribes; defensive measures; movements of British naval forces; references to Dawish [Fayṣal al-Dawīsh]; Bin Saud's negotiations with leaders of Akhwan, 6 May 1928; report by Political Agent, Bahrain on economic and political implications of blockade of Hasa [al-Aḥsā’] ports, 28 November 1928 (folios 118-123), and further, December 1928; attempts by British to preserve frontier peace (e.g. folios 132-135); reports by Captain John Bagot Glubb, Administrative Inspector, Southern Desert, November 1928, March 1929; reports of Riyadh Conference, December 1928; reference to 'jihad', 24 January 1929 (folio 181); United States (US) missionaries caught up in raids, January 1929 (folios 184-186); reported successes of Bin Saud against Akhwan, April 1929; report by Political Agent, Kuwait on attitude of Shaikh of Kuwait [Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ] to Ikhwan raids, 29 March 1929 (folios 291-300); discussion of need to assist Shaikh of Kuwait to expel refugees defeated by Bin Saud from Nejd, May 1929; Iraq to refuse asylum to Akhwan rebels, May 1929 (folio 332).

The Arabic language content of the file consists of approximately twenty-five folios, with translations in English, mainly copies of correspondence between the Political Agency, Bahrain and Bin Saud.

The date range indicates the covering dates of the main run of correspondence. However, the earliest document in the file is a copy of an enclosure dated 27 March 1928 on folio 9.