IOR/L/PS/18/B305

A summary of the British Position in the Persian Gulf detailing the rulership and ownership of the coastal territories and the agreements made between their rulers and Great Britain.

The territories and areas described in the summary include:

• The Trucial Chiefs: Rasel Kheimah [Ras al-Khaimah], Umm al-Kawain [Umm al Qaywayn], Ajman, Shargah [Sharjah], Debai [Dubai], and Abu Dthabi [Abu Dhabi]; includes details of their treaties and agreements with Britain, and the inclusion of El Katr [Qatar] as a Trucial Chief from 1916 onwards.
• The Persian province of Arabistan, including details of the assurances given to him by both the Persian and British Governments.
• The Islands of the Gulf, in particular Kishm [Qeshm] and Henjam [Hengām].
• The coast of Persian Baluchistan, giving details of the overland wires of the Indo-European Telegraph Company that run through the area, and the agreements made for detachments of Indian troops to be stationed at Jask on that coastline.
• The Arab state of Muscat, detailing the recognition of its independence in 1862 and the British influence over the state.
• Koweit [Kuwait] including the agreements made with the Shaikh in 1899 and 1907, and the recognition of Kuwait as an independent principality under British protection in November 1914.
• Bahrein [Bahrain], including the steps taken there to protect British interests.

The summary goes on to describe the British position and responsibilities with regards to the waters of the Gulf, including the Indian Marine's commitment against slavery in the nineteenth century; its struggles to prevent Piracy, which led to the establishment of treaty relations with the Arab Chiefs; the surveys of the waters and shorelines undertaken by Naval Officers of the Indian service; the development of British trade and foreign commerce; the protection of pear fisheries; and the maintenance of the submarine cables of the Indo-European Telegraph Company.

The summary concludes with a brief description of the strategic importance of the Gulf, particularly in relation to threats to India; the threat to the British position by the Turkish Government in the years leading up to World War One, and the actions taken by the British Government to nullify it; and Great Britain's role as an arbiter and guardian of the Persian Gulf.

There are two copies of the summary, the author of which is unknown.