Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎152r] (303/544)

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APPENDIX (A).
E.C.-2104.
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Mesopotamia.
Draft Instructions to Commission.
(Circulated by 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. ).
1. HIS Majesty’s Government have decided—
(i.) That no part of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia shall in any circum
stances be restored to Turkey.
(ii.) That no part of it shall be annexed to the British Crown.
2. The policy of His Majesty’s Government is to set up an indigenous Arab
administration or administrations to govern with British assistance the area included in
the Turkish vilayets of Basra and Baghdad. r
The main object that His Majesty’s Government have in view is the progressive
development of the country under Arab Government administered in Arabian interests,
and as far as possible through an indigenous agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , in accordance with local ideas.
3 The foreign relations of the new State will be conducted by the British
Government. . f ,
4. It is for consideration what relation, if any, the ruler or rulers ot the
Mesopotamian State or States shall bear towards the King of the Hejaz, and what
position, if any, the State or States shall occupy in the confederation ot Arab States,
supposing such a confederation to he brought into existence.
5. His Majesty’s Government desire to give the Commission a wide discretion m
conducting their investigations, rather than to tie them down to particular lines o
enquiry. n The following, however, are some of the points to which special attention
may suitably be directed :—
(i.) Port of Basra. — Some special measure of administrative control may be
necessary in the town and port of Basra. Its position as a port of call for
ocean-going steamers, and the large sums expended by the British Govern
ment on port improvement, place it in a different category from the rest ot
the occupied territory. , . .
(ii.) Jurisdiction over Europeans.—It will probably be necessary to keep this in
exclusively British hands. The provision of courts that will command the
confidence of Europeans is a corollary to the policy of encouraging British
firms to interest themselves in the country. ...
(iii.) Mosul vilayet —The question of the future status of the Mosul vilayet will
have to be considered. Captain Wilson has recently argued in favour of
placing Mosul under the same administration as Baghdad. _
(iv.) The question of the future strength, disposition, &c., of British troops m
Mesopotamia is reserved for discussion with the Government of India. But
“ His Majesty’s Government would be glad of a provisional expression of the
Commission’s views on this point. _ ,
(v ) Economic and Agricultural development. -PEs Majesty’s Government attach
special importance to this, and desire to encourage British firms ot high
standing to interest themselves in the country. Ihey consider, however,
that progress in this direction should be carefully regulated in accordance
with the capacity of the Arab population to keep pace with it. 1 ley
would be opposed, for example, to any measure necessitating the importation
of foreign labour on a considerable scale.
,j The Commission will consider and report to His Majesty’s Government on the
best means of giving practical effect, at as early a date as possible, to the policy
outlim d above.
The following additional paragraph is also circulated for consideration :
8. It is essential at all times, and more particularly during the initial stages, that
British control over the new administration should be as complete and effective as