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Coll 6/43 'Pan Arab Congress 1933. Attitude of H.M.G. to a Pan Arab Movement' [231r] (462/1144)
The record is made up of 1 file (570 folios). It was created in 21 Dec 1932-5 Mar 1948. It was written in English and French. 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. .
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ENCLOSURE NO.3 ,
Co'P7/ of Des-patch No. 282 dated 4th October, 1941
from Sir K• Cornwal1is, Bagdad, to the Se cretary
- of State for Foreipyi Arfairs .
Sir, . ' . .
With reference to your despatch No.103 (E.4761/53/65;
of Avigust 27th, I have the nonour to submit herewith some
observations on the question of Arab federation.
2. I should like to say first of all that it seems to me
improbable that Hafiz Wahba in speaking to you as he did on
August 13th was acting on instructions from hing Abdul Aziz .
His Majesty's position in the Arab world is-in. fact one of
the big problems that face those who seek to bring the
principal Arab countries, closer together and he has not
in the past shown any real desire to further Arab federation
except insofar as such federation might serve his own*
dynastic ambitions. I am disposed tnerefore- to think that
Hafiz Wahba, in the manner common to many of Ibn Saud's
representatives abroad, was expressing hi sown rather than
his master's views. '
3. Tne High Commissioner has stated in a.recent note on
this subject that among the Arabs in Palestine interest in
federation is waning because they suspect the motives of
the Jews wno are pushing it. In Syria tne. free Irehch
nave set up ,a Government which enjoys little, favour-with
the nationalist party, who appear to be far too bus-y with
internal matters to show any immediate interest in plans,
for Arao federation. Moreover as, according to many.. ;
accounts the Syrian nationalists are under German -influence,
it would seem probable that as a matter of principle they
would oppose any action taken by the present .Syrian
administration and would prooably be unwilling to-
cooperate with us in tni s matter. "
4. In Egypt interest in Arab federation is at the best
luke-warm and apparently confined to a-few enthusiasts and
in Iraq internal politics are tne dominant interest of, the
moment. In all reports which have, reached me there, has /'
been no hint of a desire that we should take the initiative.
5. I have no doubt that the question of Arab f ederat.ion. i s
of great and urgent importance to all Arab nationalists but
it seems that at present there is no general movement in the
Arab countries in favour of raising it and rj see no advantage
indeed many disadvantages, in our setting, the ball rolling.
In Iraq pan-Arab activity has in the past-been closely
associated with anti-British propaganda and has invariably
led to a feeling of unrest and to demonstrations of ill-will.
towards/
About this item
- Content
This file concerns the British Government's response to the Pan-Arab movement during the 1930s and 1940s. Much of the correspondence refers to the prospect of an Arab federation, although the use of the word 'federation' is noted in some of the correspondence as being a mistranslation of the original Arabic expression, which would be more accurately represented by the words 'unification' or 'unity'.
Significant subjects of discussion include:
- Arab party politics in Palestine.
- Iraqi-Egyptian relations.
- Italian propaganda in the Middle East.
- The future of Palestine.
- Britain's post-war policy in the Middle East.
- Whether the Arab states should be induced to make a wartime declaration in favour of the democracies (i.e. the Allies).
- The formation of the Arab League (also referred to as the Arab Federation in the correspondence).
- Details of the Pact (also referred to as Covenant) of the Arab League, signed in Cairo on 22 March 1945.
- Whether representatives of the Arab League should be present at the Palestine Conference in London, in 1947, in addition to representatives of Arab states.
Notable correspondents include the following: the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; the High Commissioner for Iraq; His Majesty's Ambassador in Baghdad; the High Commissioner for Egypt; His Majesty's Ambassador in Cairo; the High Commissioner for Palestine; His Majesty's Minister at Jedda; the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; the Minister of State in the Middle East; officials of the Foreign Office, the Colonial Office, 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. , the Commonwealth Relations Office, and the Indian Political Service The branch of the British Government of India with responsibility for managing political relations between British-ruled India and its surrounding states, and by extension the Gulf, during the period 1937-47. 's External Affairs Department; Noury Said [Nūrī al-Sa‘īd], Prime Minister of Iraq; George Antonius, Lebanese-Egyptian author and diplomat.
Also included with the correspondence are the following:
- Extracts from Palestine police summaries dating from 1933 to 1936, produced by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Jerusalem.
- A printed copy of a paper on Arab federation by the Foreign Research and Press Service, dated 20 June 1941.
- Copies of documents produced by the War Cabinet's Standing Official Sub-Committee for Questions Concerning the Middle East (also referred to as the Middle East (Official) Committee), including minutes of meetings (1941-1942) and a copy of a report on Arab Federation, dated January 1942.
- A copy (in French) of the Protocol of the Preparatory Committee for the Arab Congress, dated 7 October 1944.
- Copies of the Pact/Covenant of the recently formed Arab League (consisting of a printed copy in French, distributed by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and an English translation of the full Arabic text, which includes a passage that was omitted from the French version).
The French material consists of the aforementioned Protocol and Arab League Pact, plus one item of correspondence and a copy of a newspaper extract.
The file includes two dividers which give a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. These are placed at the back of the correspondence (folios 2-3).
- Extent and format
- 1 file (570 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 571; 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. Two previous foliation sequences, which are also circled, have been superseded and therefore crossed out.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Coll 6/43 'Pan Arab Congress 1933. Attitude of H.M.G. to a Pan Arab Movement' [231r] (462/1144), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2110, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100047229911.0x000041> [accessed 15 July 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2110
- Title
- Coll 6/43 'Pan Arab Congress 1933. Attitude of H.M.G. to a Pan Arab Movement'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:6v, 9r:24v, 27r:59v, 61r:62v, 73r:78v, 82r:93v, 95r:103v, 105r:106v, 111r:111v, 113r:115v, 118r:120v, 122r:132v, 134r:152v, 158r:199v, 201r:265v, 273r:354v, 356r:381v, 384r:394v, 398r:407v, 410r:516v, 518r:565v, 567r:571v, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence