IOR/L/PS/20/FO31

The volume consists of published copies of correspondence between the Foreign Office, the India Office, the Government of India, the Admiralty, British administrative and diplomatic staff, foreign governments and their staff, and private companies and individuals. It was printed for use by the Foreign Office.

The volume contains the following publications:

• ‘Part I. Correspondence Respecting the Affairs of Arabia. January and February 1905.’ (ff 4-86)
• ‘Part II. ‘Further Correspondence Respecting the Affairs of Arabia. March and April 1905.’ (ff 87-154)
• ‘Part III. Further Correspondence Respecting the Affairs of Arabia. May and June 1905.’ (ff 155-199)
• ‘Part IV. Further Correspondence Respecting the Affairs of Arabia. July to September 1905.’ (ff 200-247)
• ‘Part V. Further Correspondence Respecting the Affairs of Arabia. October to December 1905.’ (ff 248-293).

The correspondence primarily concerns events in the Arabian Peninsula, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, and Turkish Arabia [Ottoman Iraq]. Specific topics covered include:

• The First Saudi-Rashidi War, including troop movements and the appointment of Abdulaziz ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] as ruler of Nejd [Najd] on behalf of the Turkish [Ottoman] Government
• The death and replacement of the Grand Shareef [Sharīf] of Mecca
• Ongoing negotiations between British and Ottoman officials regarding the boundary between the Aden Protectorate and the Ottoman Vilayet of Yemen
• Naval actions taken by British and Ottoman vessels against alleged pirates in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea
• The anti-Ottoman rebellion in Yemen, including the capture of Sanaa by rebels loyal to the Imam [Imām] of Yemen, the levying and dispatch of Ottoman reinforcements to the area, and the defeat of the majority of rebel forces by Ottoman troops
• The proceedings of the Muscat Arbitration Tribunal established to resolve a diplomatic dispute between Great Britain and France, including the selection of arbitrators, the convening of the Tribunal in The Hague, and the application of its decision at Muscat
• The erection of flag-staffs at Elphinstone Inlet [Khawr ash Shamm], Telegraph Island [Jazīrat al Maqlab], and Al Ghanam Island [Jazīrat Umm al Ghanam] by the Royal Navy
• Competition between the British and Ottoman governments for influence over Koweit [Kuwait], including British demands that an Ottoman military post be withdrawn from Bubiyan Island
• Assaults on Persian [Iranian] and German subjects in Bahrein [Bahrain] committed by subjects of the Shaikh of Bahrein
• A recommendation made by the Government of India that a Protectorate treaty should be made with Sheikh Ahmed bin Thani [Shaikh Aḥmad bin Muḥammad Āl Thānī] of El Katr [Qatar].

Material written in French is present throughout the volume. This material primarily consists of diplomatic correspondence between Ottoman, British, French, and Persian officials. A table of contents is included before each publication.