Skip to item: of 982
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

Coll 17/10(1) 'Internal: political situation; relations with HMG' [‎101r] (206/982)

This item is part of

The record is made up of 1 volume (487 folios). It was created in 4 Nov 1932-14 Jan 1937. 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.

Apply page layout

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
EASTERN (Iraq).
July 6 , 1936.
— 4 —
Section 1.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[E 4162/3089/93]
Copy No.
Mr. Bateman to Mr. Eden.—(Received July 6 .)
(No. 312.)
Sir,
Bagdad, June 25, 1936.
WITH reference to Sir A. Clark Kerr’s despatch No. 297, I have the honour
to transmit to you herewith a translation of an ordinance concerning the Royal
family which was issued on the 13th June last.
2. The ordinance, in addition to defining the conditions of membership of
the Royal family, provides for the establishment of a council which is empowered,
in certain circumstances, to deprive members of the Royal family of their rights
and titles.
3. It is expected that steps will now be taken to deprive Princess Azzah of
such rights as she inherited as the daughter of King Feisal. There is
considerable head-shaking amongst the wiseacres of Bagdad as to the legality
of any such procedure. There is even a fear expressed that, as the Princess is
now an Italian subject, the Italian Government may have something to say if
any attempt is made to deprive the Princess of her inherited properties.
4. Meanwhile, the King’s household is being purged of what are considered
to be its undesirable elements. Tahsin Kadri, the Master of Ceremonies, has
been posted as counsellor to the Iraqi Legation in Tehran, and replaced in the
palace by Dr. Naji-al-Asil. The military aides-de-camp have all been sent back
to their units, and successors carefully chosen for their integrity and high moral
standards. Below stairs there has been a clean sweep of the servants and new
ones have been engaged, who, it is hoped, will not encourage or facilitate the
repetition of the delinquencies which have given rise to so much criticism of the
palace over the past three years.
C. H. BATEMAN.
Enclosure.
Royal Family Ordinance No. 75 of 1936.
(Published in the local papers of June 16, 1936.)
IVliiliSLei UJL U
berebv order the enactment of the following ordinance .
[756 f—1]

About this item

Content

The volume contains correspondence and memoranda regarding relations between HM Government ( HMG Her or His Majesty’s Government in London. ) and Iraq following independence, and private arrangements for the supply of information to HM Ambassador in Baghdad from British advisers to the Iraqi Government. The records also document 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, and their concerns over the possible impact on British and Indian commercial interests in Iraq.

The following events are documented in the file:

  • 1932. Opening of the Iraqi parliament, formation (and change) of cabinets, arrangements for conservancy of the Shatt al-Arab.
  • 1933. The death of King Faisal [Fayṣal bin 'Alī al-Hāshimī], the accession and policy of King Ghazi [Ghāzī bin Fayṣal al-Hāshimī], cabinet crises, and protests against the continued relationship between HMG Her or His Majesty’s Government in London. and the Government of Iraq.
  • 1934. Political appointments and commercial development.
  • 1935. Opposition group activities in Iraq, tribal revolts in the Middle Euphrates area, cabinet crises, Yezidi disturbances in Mosul, and discussion of the Assyrian question.
  • 1936. The controversy surrounding the marriage of Princess Asa [Azza] to a Christian porter in Athens, and the proposals of the Iraqi cabinet that she be murdered, or the marriage annulled; suppression of tribal activity in the Rumaitha district; the coup d'état, and instigation of a new cabinet under Hikmat Suleiman.

The bulk of the volume consists of correspondence between the Foreign Secretary and HM Minister in Baghdad. A number of communications and official statements from the Government and King of Iraq are also present. The volume also contains the following items of particular interest:

  • Record of a conversation between Sir Francis Humphrys and Yasin Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. Al Hashimi, ff 426-427.
  • English translation of a letter of condolence from Amir Abdullah I bin al-Hussein, King of Jordan, to King Ghazi, ff 403-406.
  • Notes on the economic benefits accruing to Britain in Iraq, ff 357-359, 367-369.
  • Memorandum regarding the commercial interests of the British India in Iraq, with a list of commercial enterprises, ff 346-351.
  • Letter from Humphrys to King Ghazi regarding the continuation of private arrangements to ensure the transfer of information between the Government of Iraq and HMG Her or His Majesty’s Government in London. , f 312; with corresponding letter from King Ghazi to Humphrys, f 298.
  • Communication sent by Archibald Clark Kerr to the Foreign Secretary (Viscount Eden), on the coup and its aftermath, ff 26-30.

The volume includes dividers which give lists of correspondence references contained in the volume by year. These are placed at the end of the correspondence (folios 4-5).

Extent and format
1 volume (487 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in rough chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 489; 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 present in parallel between ff 4-486; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

Coll 17/10(1) 'Internal: political situation; relations with HMG' [‎101r] (206/982), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2860, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100049057336.0x000007> [accessed 4 April 2025]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100049057336.0x000007">Coll 17/10(1) 'Internal: political situation; relations with HMG' [&lrm;101r] (206/982)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100049057336.0x000007">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000602.0x000192/IOR_L_PS_12_2860_0206.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000602.0x000192/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image