[Saldana, J.A.]

An extremely rare secret British intelligence report on Kuwait and the Persian Gulf region between 1896 and 1904, providing important information regarding the emerging Gulf states and dynasties in the neighbouring countries of Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

According to the preface Kuwait was drawn into the vortex of regional political affairs involving the British and Ottoman empires and their interests in the wake of the murder of Sheikh Muhammad of Kuwait in 1896. According to one source quoted here the coup was due to his objection to an alliance with Jassim Al Thani, sheikh of the tribes around Qatar (p.8), though this is denied by another (p.10, para 27). This report records Kuwait's history preceding this upheaval, followed by in great detail the regional events of the succeeding years, up to 1904. These include reports of Sheikh Jassim collecting Bedouin tribes to launch an attack on Kuwait in 1897 (p.16) and his defeat of the Turkish in the capture of the battalion at Bidaa (p.17).

A considerable section deals with the emergence of the modern Saudi state as "affairs at Koweit tended to become further complicated by its connection with the disturbances in the interior of Arabia" (p.31), dealing as it does with the conflict between Sheik Mubarak of Kuwait (who had given protection to the Al Sauds) and Ibn Rashid, the Amir of the Nejd.

Of particular interest and importance is the long and detailed report by the Assistant Political Agent in Bahrein (written in Arabic and translated into English), of Abdul Aziz ibn Saud's capture of Riyadh in January 1902 (p.60-61), which marked the beginning of Saudi rule in Arabia. "The people of Nejd, Bedouins as well as settled residents, are all unanimously in favour of Bin Saud and would readily uphold his cause as soon as they are convinced that he is sufficiently strong" (p.61).

"In the month of Ramzan, while at the village of Waisa near Hasa, Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman devised a plan of going to Riadh, but he did not aquaint his followers with the project.  He told them that on the 5th of Shawal he would lead a marauding expedition against the Bedouins of Nejd.... He however left with 80 followers on the 26th Ramzan or ten days before the fixed date, for the south so as to put the people off the scent, and no one could sumize what would be his ultimate destination. 

It seems possible only 30 copies of this report were printed (page 112 bears the numbers 16-11-04.-30, indicating the date of printing, and probably the number of copies). This copy bears "No. 4" on the upper cover in manuscript.