Foreign Office Annual Reports from Arabia 1930

Foreign Office Annual Reports from Arabia 1930–1960

ISBN: (13) 978-1-85207-345-9 Extent: 4 volumes, 2,400 pages
Editor: R. Jarman Published: 1993
Paper: Printed on acid free paper
Binding: Library bindings with gilt finish

See sample pages: not available

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RESUMÉ

The collection has been established with an introduction by Robert L. Jarman, former consultant to the Bahrain National Museum. The collection establishes the complete series of available Ambassadors´ Reports for the Arabian peninsula up to 1960.
In 1930 the British Legation in Jedda was the first diplomatic post in Arabia to produce an Annual Report on Hejaz-Nejd. Thereafter, Annual Reports were sent from all British diplomatic representatives in Arabia, including Ambassadors, Ministers and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf. Reports are found for Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The Annual Reports cover all events of significance in each country, details of trade and economic activity and external relations with other Arab states, Britain and other powers

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

British diplomats overseas sent local trade reports to the Foreign Office in the later 19th century, but there was no series resembling the political annual reports submitted to the Government of India. Following instructions originally issued in 1906 by the Foreign Office, London, to its missions abroad to write an annual report, in 1930 the British Legation in Jedda was the first diplomatic post in Arabia to produce an Annual Report on Hejaz-Nejd. Annual reports followed from British diplomatic representatives in Arabia, including Ambassadors, Ministers and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf. The Annual Reports cover all events of significance in each country, details of trade and economic activity and external relations with other Arab states, Britain and other powers.
The publication also includes certain special economic reports, such as an early economic survey from Saudi Arabia dated 1923, a precursor to the annual reports, valedictory reports by departing ambassadors, and Foreign Office instructions regarding the reports which are of particular archival interest. The historical value of the Annual Reports lies partly in the record of events and partly in the disclosure of policy and diplomatic assessment.
The Annual Reports are composed according to the following general guidelines: introduction; review of foreign relations: with Arab states/ with UK/ with US, European and other powers; each country's position vis-à-vis international agencies such as the League of Nations/United Nations; review of treaties recently concluded, sometimes with tabular summary; internal affairs: constitutional affairs /civil administration /finance /economy /development; communications including roads and ports; commerce including references to leading companies; military, naval and aviation affairs; press; legislation; education; health. In addition there are sections on special local matters, for example on the Hajj in the Saudi Arabia Reports. There are a few gaps in the later years of the series, where reports are still officially withheld.

KEY DOCUMENTS

This publication establishes the complete series of available Ambassadors´ Reports for the Arabian peninsula states up to 1960 including:

Iraq: Annual Reports from 1932;
Jordan: Annual Reports from 1946;
Kuwait: Annual Reports from 1959;
Persian Gulf: Annual Reports from 1948 (Before 1948 the Government of India had been responsible for British relations with the Arab states of the Gulf.)
Saudi Arabia (Hejaz-Nejd): Annual Reports from 1930;
Yemen: Annual Reports from 1951.