'Despatch from Civil Commissioner, Mesopotamia, to Secretary of State for India' [‎92v] (9/22)

8
I mentioned that the bamshments had been made at . the 1 Zadaffnd
magnates, I was met with the rejoinder that families like the ^aqib Zadah and
the Jamil Zadah are of no account with the younger group oi politicians
There has recently been a split in the Ahd al Jraqi by three Baghdadis, all
of whom I met. Isma'il Haqqi, a man of about 35, was a divisional commander
in the Arab army and is now head of the Technical Department. Subhi Ha im
who may be 5 years younger, is Mudarns al Mukakim al Askanyah, ^alar al
Dm of the Bait Mamun, aged about 25, is in civil employment in Damascus Ihese
three told me that they deeply regretted the universal discontent with British rule
which they believed to exist in Mesopotamia. They recognised that the country
cannot do without our help and protection, and they offered to come themselves to
Baghdad to serve as intermediaries between ourselves and the inhabitants. Tney
would expect to be given office as they would be obliged to reliquish the positions
they hold in Syria. They expressed a hope that Sir Percy Cox would return to
Mesopotamia as High Commissioner when civil government was instituted. I was
told by all Political Officers in Syria that they believed from what they heard from
the 'Iraqis who are with Faisal that 'the appointment of Sir Percy would do more
than any other measure to allay their mistrust. The Amir Zaid said the same
thing ' He too spoke to me with great earnestness of Mesopotamian grievances,
his chief source of information being the reports brought back by Naji Beg buwaidi.
I do not think that the Mesopotamian League is a negligible factor. As long
as the Arab State continues it will carry on an active propaganda which might at
any moment raise difficulties in our path, and if, on the withdrawal of troops from
Syria, disturbances occur in that country it will be the first object of the more
extreme among its members to advertise their grievances by inciting Mesopotamian
malcontents to open revolt against a British mandate. Judging by the experience
of last January it would be impossible to say with confidence that efforts in this
direction would meet with no success in Baghdad, Karbala, and Najaf. It must
always be remembered that in the rural districts it has not up to now produced any
apparent results. At the same time I feel certain that the propaganda proposed by
the cave would be of no use to us. I was favourably impressed by Isma'il Haqqi,
but, to the best of my belief, neither he nor his friends have any personal influence
in Baghdad, while if they took office under us their opinions would at once be
discounted.
With Yasin Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. I had two long conversations. I asked him to explain to me
what his programme would be for the future government of 'Iraq. He replied that
he would give me his personal views, but that he thought we should find it necessary
to consult all leading Arab politicians, especially those who had had experience of
self-government in Syria. It was obvious that Mesopotamia could not for the next
10 years be left without foreign guidance, and equally obvious that no foreign
nation except England had any claim to act as adviser. In that respect the country
had a great advantage over Syria. No one gives anything for nothing, and if we
provided for immediate requirements we should ask for guarantees. This is to say r
we must for the present control the administration. Economic developments would
be easy and rapid. He refused to believe that Great Britain would not be in a
position to furnish unlimited capital, and he brushed aside the objection that the
local population was not sufficiently numerous to carry out the vast scheme which he
contemplated. An Arab Amir must be set up as head of the State and whatever
existing opinion might be, Abdullah would sweep the board the moment he appeared
in Mesopotamia. It was true that Sir Percy Cox was at present better known there
than any of the sons of the Sharif, and even possible that he had a greater name,
but that was only because he had lived and worked in the country for 3 years.
He should be appointed High Commissioner. The Amir would be assisted by an
advisory council appointed by himself with the advice of the High Commissioner.
This council would consist mainly of British officials, but there was no reason why
suitable Arabs, if such were to be found, should not find a place upon it. The
ministers would all be Arabs appointed by the Amir with the advice of the council
The country was not ready for representative institutions; nevertheless in the
provinces an Arab Wali, with a British Adviser, might well be assisted by an elected
majhs, it being clearly understood that the powers of the majlis were strictly
limited to local matters. These councils would train the people in the uses of repre
sentation and in time lead up to a central elective assembly. It was probable that
there was not yet in Mesopotamia a sufficient number of trustworthy and capable
men to fill the high offices of the State, but that difficulty would be met by calling in