Papers of the Interdepartmental Conference on Middle Eastern Affairs [‎141r] (281/290)

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Mr. Montagu suggested that, on the assumption that the Cabinet
decided to remain in Mesopotamia, the announcement authorised in
India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. telegram of the 7th June should be made forthwith, and
* that Colonel Wilson should be informed that His Majesty’s Govern-
j , ment disagreed with his proposal that Sir Percy Cox should pass
f through Mesopotamia incognito, and desired him to remain in
^ ^ Baghdad to consult local opinion.
Colonel Godwin drew the attention of the Conference to
telegram No. x/t 11 of the 12th June from General Haldane, which
had been sent from Kasvin. In this telegram General Haldane
expressed the view that Colonel Wilson’s telegram No. 6948, as
worded, might convey an exaggerated impression, and promised to
telegraph further on his arrival in Baghdad on the 18th June.
The Conference decided —
1. That the Secretary of State for India should draft a
telegram to Colonel Wilson for the concurrence of the
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, directing him to
invite Sir Percy Cox to remain in Baghdad pending a
further communication, which could not be made until
after the Cabinet decision of the following day.
2. That in the event of the Cabinet deciding that His Majesty’s
Government should remain in Mesopotamia the announce
ment authorised in India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. telegram of the 7th June
should be made forthwith in Baghdad, and that the
Civil Commissioner should be informed that His Majesty’s
Government wished Sir Percy Cox to remain in Baghdad
to consult every shade of Mesopotamian opinion,
including, if necessary, such Mesopotamians, not at
present in the country, as were responsible for the
existing unrest on the frontier.
3. Bombing of
Towns outside t he
Mesopotamian
Frontier.
Colonel Godwin invited the Conference to concur in a draft
telegram to the General Officer Commanding in Mesopotamia
directing him not to bomb Jeziret Ibn Omar, as it was in the French
sphere, or the actual town of Dair-az-Zor, except for some local
military purpose.
Mr. Montagu pointed out that, Dair-az-Zor being in the Arab
sphere, the bombing of that town would be tantamount to a dec
laration of war on Feisal.
The Chairman asked whether the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. had any confir
mation of Colonel Wilson’s repeated assurances that the raiding
parties on the Mesopotamian frontier were led by Sherifian officers.
He did not know exactly what this expression meant.
Mr. Shuckburgh said that the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. had telegraphed to
Colonel Wilson asking for fuller information on this point, and for
any evidence which might be in his possession to show that the Arab
Government was responsible for the action of these individuals.
The Conference —
Approved the draft telegram with the exception of the last
sentence, as it would not now be necessary for the Foreign
Office to be consulted.
4. Questions to
come before the
Cabinet Conference,
Mr. Montagu, replying to questions by the Chairman, said that
he did not see how the control of Mesopotamia could be handed over,
either to the Foreign Office or to another Department, until the
mandate for Mesopotamia had been decided upon. The League of
Nations were not in a position to approve the mandate, and would