مجموعة ١٧ / ١٠ (٤) "شؤون داخلية: الوضع السياسي؛ العلاقات مع الحكومة البريطانية" [و‎‎٤‎٨‎٧] (١٠٣١/٩٧٣)

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FROM FOREIGN OFFICE TO ANG
No*_802.
April llth, 1941
Do 6. 45V prfiftr—14rfeh“*At>ril, 1941*
Repeated to Bagdad No. 270
Cairo No»1066
Government of India No*5985
Jerusalem No*551 „
h h h b h h
IMMEDIATE
SECRET
f 77 «> Your telegram No a 790 , [of April 8th: Iraq]*
To us too Rashid Ali has tried to make out that he is
friendly and that recent coup is matter of internal politics
only. He has publicly announced his intention of fulfilling
Iraqi obligations under the 'Treaty and has made all sorts of
specious promises if only we will give him our support.
However we know beyond all doubt that he has long been in
touch with the Axis Powers and that he is determined to pursue
a policy directed against the Anglo-Iraqi Alliance. We are
also convinced that he would be really dangerous once he was
firmly in the saddle, which at present he is not. Unwelcome
as this development is, His Majesty's Government have therefore
come to the conclusion that it is impossible to have any
confidence in him and his assurances, and that we must base
our attitude tov/ards him on the known fact of his complete
! unreliability.
I
2. Please inform the Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs
accordingly in strict confidence, after thanking him for the
offer of his good services. You should go on to say that one
of our main considerations is to secure the safety of the
Turkish line of communications through Basra and that in view
of the great attention which is always paid in Iraq to the
attitude of the Turkish Government we aftach special value to
their cooperation with us. What we would recommend is that
they should in all their dealings with the present Iraqi
regime shew complete scepticism of any friendly assurances,
exnress grave anxiety both at the illegal developments in
Iraq and at the dangerous strain on Anglo-Iraqi relations,
make clear their complete solidarity with us and generally
keep the Iraqis guessine: S-s to their intentions.
3. You should of course impress on him that
relationship of Iraqi Minister at Angora with Rashid All
makes snecial caution in dealing with him essential. in
particular we do not repeat not think it desirable that
Rashid Ali should receive any indication yet whether
we are or are not prepared to treat with him, still less
any light on the steps which wo may have to take in the
circumstances which nave arisen.
*
m*:*. POL. f>*pT.
11APR 941
INDIA OFFICE