File 11 Saudi Arabia

The Bahrain Political Agency confidential files on Saudi Arabia chiefly concern the relationship that Saudi Arabia and its Ruler 'Abd al-'Azīz bin 'Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa'ūd (also known as Ibn Sa'ūd) had with British-administered Bahrain, Qatar and the Trucial shaikhdoms. The British Government's protracted negotiations over the eastern boundaries of Saudi Arabia, which took place both before and after the Second World War, occupy a large proportion of the files (IOR/R/15/2/465-467). These files touch upon the extent of the Arabian American Oil Company's (Aramco) concession areas close to Qatar and Abu Dhabi, and Aramco's activities in Saudi Arabia are covered in other files, including: Aramco construction projects (IOR/R/15/2/475); economic development (IOR/R/15/2/483); proposals for an Indian Vice-Consul at al-Ẓahrān to support Indian Aramco employees (IOR/R/15/2/476). Other subjects covered in the files include: the treatment of Shiahs in al-Aḥsā' (IOR/R/15/2/461); proposed extradition treaties between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain (IOR/R/15/2/462); the activities of Saudi Arabians in Bahrain (IOR/R/15/2/463); anti-Saudi activities in the Persian Gulf (IOR/R/15/2/464); the circulation of currency in Saudi Arabia (IOR/R/15/2/468); arms control and regulations in Saudi Arabia (IOR/R/15/2/469); plans to open banks in Saudi Arabia (IOR/R/15/2/470); the Amir of al-Ẓahrān (IOR/R/15/2/471); clearance for Saudi Arabian aircraft to land at Bahrain (IOR/R/15/2/472); visits by Political Residents to Ibn Saud (IOR/R/15/2/473); jurisdiction over Saudi residents in Bahrain (IOR/R/15/2/474); access for Hindu traders to the ports of Al-Qaṭīf and Al-Jubayl (IOR/R/15/2/477); postal services between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain (IOR/R/15/2/478); a visit to Saudi Arabia by a Roman Catholic priest (IOR/R/15/2/479); the death of a Saudi Arabian trade agent (IOR/R/15/2/480); foreign agents in Saudi Arabia (IOR/R/15/2/481).

The Saudi Arabia files are arranged by file and part number, by which, for example, the reference 11/5 II is composed of the file (= series) reference 11 (Saudi Arabia); the file number 5 (Negotiations with Ibn Saud regarding boundaries of Saudi Arabia); and the part number II [2]. The references of the surviving files indicate likely gaps in the series.

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