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Coll 17/10(4) 'Internal: political situation; relations with HMG' [27v] (54/1031)
The record is made up of 1 file (515 folios). It was created in 10 Apr 1941-19 Mar 1947. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
10
the disappearance of the Minister of State’s office has given colour to the
impression that the negotiations between the Arab League and the outside world,
including Great Britain, are conducted exclusively through Egyptian media.
41. A grave political crisis was precipitated in February by the omission
to invite either the Regent or the Amir Abdullah to meet President Roosevelt
and Mr. Winston Churchill in Cairo. The fact that not only King Ibn Saud
and King Farouk, but also the President of Syria, were invited to confer witl^
the two statesmen, whereas the Hashimites were pointedly excluded, nearly led l<w
the abdication of the Regent. Only the receipt of a gracious personal message
from the King restored the situation.
Saudi Arabia.
42. Relations with Saudi Arabia have not been of the happiest owing to the
antagonism of Ibn Saud to the Hashimite family and the appearance in Saudi
Arabia in September of Rashid Ali al Gailani, leader of the 1941 revolt, who had
been sentenced to death in absentia by an Iraqi military court in January 1942.
The defeat of the Iraqi plans for the Xrab League by a Saudi-Arabian/Lebanese
combination has been mentioned above. The arrival of Rashid Ali in Saudi
Arabia was a severe shock to the Regent personally and to the Iraqi Government.
Despite the advice of His Majesty v 3 Government and the personal representa
tions of the Regent and of the Amir of
Transjordan
Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan
, Ibn Saud has felt himself
bound by the Arab code of honour to grant protection to Rashid Ali. No progress
had been made towards a solution of the problem at the end of the year.
United Nations. INInternational Relations.
43. The Iraqi delegation to San Francisco was headed by Arshad al Umari,
then Minister for Foreign Affairs. They were assisted by Mr. H. I. Lloyd,
formerly a British official in the employ of the Iraqi Government. In common
with other Arab delegations they took strong exception to the provisions of the
Charter relating to Trusteeship, and Arshad al Umari refused to sign the docu
ment. The necessary powers were therefore conferred on Dr. Fadhil al Jamah,
Director-General of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
44. Iraq was represented at the meeting of the United Nations Preparatory
Commission that took place in London at the close of the year by the Iraqi
Charge d’Affaires and a secretary to the Iraqi Legation in London.
United States of America.
I 45. The Americans have been in bad odour with the Iraqi Government
and all political circles during the past year. The Iraqis view with suspicion
the American attempts to extend their economic influence in the Middle East,
despite the fact that Iraq is anxious to purchase many American products, and
they are bitterly indignant at the open Zionism of many leading figures in United
States politics. As a result, American visitors, and to some extent the American
diplomatic representatives in Iraq, are inclined to the belief that British influence
is poisoning the minds of the Iraqis aganst them.
46. American attempts to persuade the Iraqi Government to set up, or
allow American interests to set up, a direct radio telegraphic link between
Bagdad and the United States have met with a refusal. Repeated and insistent
endeavours to obtain unrestricted “Fifth Freedom” rights for United States
airlines have so far resulted in nothing more than temporary and restricted con
cessions to two American airlines.
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
47. The Soviet Legation in Iraq has so far confined its activities to observa
tion and some small social activity. The Minister has toured the southern
provinces, maintaining a very discreet attitude. Nevertheless, all things Russian
are viewed with the deepest suspicion by Iraqi politicians, and the Russian
manoeuvres leading up to the establishment of an “independent” Azerbaijan
touching the frontier of Iraq have caused apprehension and dismay.
V.— Conclusion.
48. The most serious problem that Iraq has to face in the immediate future
is one of internal security. If the Kurdish rising, which is confidently expected
in early summer, can be met effectively by the Iraqi army, trained and reorganised
by the British Military Mission, there is good hope of stability and progress.
About this item
- Content
This file is a continuation of IOR/L/PS/12/2862. It contains correspondence and memoranda regarding relations between HM Government ( HMG Her or His Majesty’s Government in London. ) and the Government of Iraq, and documents the reaction of 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. and Foreign Office to political developments within Iraq. The file opens with descriptions of the situation following the coup d'état of Rashid Ali al-Gaylani, and documents the build-up to the Anglo-Iraqi War (2-31 May 1941), including the arrival of British and Indian troops in Basra (under rights granted in the Anglo-Iraq Treaty of 1930), arrangements to evacuate the Regent 'Abd al-Illah, British attempts to shore up support from the Turkish and Egyptian authorities, and Axis propaganda in Iraq. The papers then contain communications regarding the progress of the war, including reports on troop movements, the dispatch of war materials, the actions of Germany, Italy, France and Turkey, and Indian public opinion regarding the conflict. These papers consist of dispatches sent by the British Ambassador to Iraq (Sir Kinahan Cornwallis) to the Foreign Office, as well as numerous copy communications between the Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , the Commander in Chief of the East Indies Section, the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. Kuwait, the Viceroy of India, and HM Ambassador to the United States.
From the end of the war the file consists primarily of dispatches from Cornwallis to the Foreign Office, reporting on the return of the Regent, the pogrom against the Jewish community, the breaking of diplomatic relations with Vichy France and Japan, the trial of the coup supporters, the Iraqi declaration of war against Germany, Italy and Japan, the possibility of Iraqi membership of the United Nations, and the release of political prisoners from the Ammara [̔Amāra] concentration camp. The regular dispatches also contain details of various cabinet crises, and details of the domestic economic and military situation. The file contains a small amount of material for the years 1944-1946, including annual reports submitted by Cornwallis and his successor, Sir Hugh Stonehewer-Bird.
The file includes dividers which give lists of correspondence references found in the file by year. These are placed at the end of the correspondence (folios 2-4).
- Extent and format
- 1 file (515 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in rough chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 515; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 2-514; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2863
- Title
- Coll 17/10(4) 'Internal: political situation; relations with HMG'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:15v, 17r:86v, 90v:105v, 107r:119v, 121r:298v, 300r:304v, 307r:373r, 379r:401v, 405r:515v, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence