Coll 17/10(1) 'Internal: political situation; relations with HMG' [‎465v] (935/982)

2
economic development. He ZZtt
subject of the development of railways and the raising of loans for productive
7 This gave me an opportunity to speak to His Majesty about recent
nolit cal events in Bagdad. I said that I had had valuable consultations with
financial and technical experts in London, and had returned with suggestion^
which I would offer to His Majesty in due course. It seemed to me, however, that
as Parliament had been dissolved, practical progress with these schemes would
he verv much delayed, particularly as the new Cabinet were not familiar with the
preliminary work which had already been done. It was I went on to say a great
disappointment to me on my return to Bagdad to find the Government which had
done so much good work for the country, and the Chamber which had supported
it in their task, both summarily dismissed. Apart from the difficulties and delays
which would arise from these circumstances in legard to carrying out the schemes
of development which we had mentioned, the change of Government and the
dissolution of Parliament which had been suddenly effected that morning would,
I feared, create new obstacles to the early settlement of a number of important
matters, such as the conclusion of the Tripartite Agreement with Persia about
the Shatt-al-Arab and the formation of the Railway Corporation, which I had
hoped to take up immediately after my return. Moreover, I felt that it would be
exceedingly difficult for me to explain to my Government how it came about that
the Government and Parliament which had concluded and ratified the Treaty of
Alliance of 1930 were dismissed immediately the treaty came into force. At
Geneva, too, these events were likely to be regarded with misgiving, since they
would quite probably lead to the general conclusion that the Government which
had obtained Iraq's admission to the League and had given the undertakings
required by the League enjoyed neither His Majesty’s confidence nor popular
support, and that they had been removed to give place to others who would
endeavour to modify or even to reverse the policy of their predecessors.
8. The King readily seized my point, but assured me most categorically that
the change of Government had no connexion whatever with foreign policy. His
dissatisfaction with Nuri Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. had arisen entirely from the latter’s handling
of internal affairs. He appreciated the great work which Nuri Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. had done
for Iraq during his period of office in the matter of the Treaty of Alliance with
Great Britain and the admission of Iraq to membership of the League of Nations,
but for a considerable time he had had serious differences with him in regard to
his policy in home affairs. Nuri Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. had, contrary to His Majesty’s advice,
persistently promoted and appointed to posts of responsibility in the Administra-
tion men without either ability or integrity; men whose sole claim to the Prime
Minister s patronage had been that they were his personal supporters. This,
although perhaps not known to me, was only too commonly known to the man in
n S S eet ’ anC ^’ consec l uence ; Nuri Pasha’s Government had fallen into disrepute
and the prestige of the Administration had suffered. In spite of His Majesty’s
requent exhortations the Prime Minister had refused to change his tactics, and
, e A, 1 e diveigence of their views over this question was the principal reason for
e rune Minister s resignation. He was confident, however, that the new
oyernmen , by their programme which would be published in a few days, and by
^/J U i bS T ent i a f tS ’i WOuld / a P idl y dis P el an y misgivings which I might feel in
^ th f R olltlcal significance of Nuri Pasha’s resignation. They had been
nrevimiQ rwm and a none, excepting the Prime Minister, had had
resnormiMp r> m( f fP e y kad all proved their ability and honesty in
emohasispH S fi! n - Administration. Moreover, and this, His Majesty
allep-iance to anv virtue, none brought with him the contamination of
anegiance to any political party or creed.
referred. A HisTrS a ti he tdf!L ! ! 1 u d i ealin ? W. th . the questions to which I had
I?- thought that no legislation concerning them was likely
e elections
tterrupt the
t His Maje
have been wiser"and7afer ^ 7 COuld n °tMielp^feeling that it would
anw^ ent , bef0 n e ‘ he electioM were over and that in conse-
I said fdat i • 1 not leally interrupt their settlement in any way.
would be fulfilled,* bu^^the^^^^-h 3 ^^ 18 Af a J est y s optimistic anticipations
10 .
wish to enter into a ° ]ia ^ e moved less precipitately. Although I had no
of His Majesty and of w'LkrTPf' 68 ' 1 felt ’ toc ’.’ as an old friend both
been found to enable tt>A mt/ " f ’ t ^ ia . t was a g l ‘eat pity that means had not
enable the latter to resign with less apparent evidence of His
)W l
most
welfa
that,
if his
near!}
1
disagi
persoi
deares
Legat
Nuri.
7, 1!
j/hadtt
The I
b
mentk
Goven
which
Iraqi
would
front!
i:
Minist
wassu
of the
discuss
Toreig:
U
refer il
of Bah
For hi;
Majest
suppor
of this
Minist
days’ t:
thatFf
15
agreed
I was
to win
mainj
I assu:
interes
Britisl
me im
hut in
rontin
This (
would
e ''ents
he