Papers of the Interdepartmental Conference on Middle Eastern Affairs [‎135v] (270/290)

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troops at Kasvin would be able to deal with them. Sir Percy Cox
would, therefore, proceed to England, his route being dependent
upon circumstances. He was an able man, and it was to be hoped
that lie would prove successful in Mesopotamia. The question to
what extent the views he had formerly expressed would make it
difficult for him to carryout the policy of His Majesty’s Government
in that country could ouly be answered after conversation with him.
All reports agreed that his return to Mesopotamia would be ^welcomed
by all classes, and that his personality would be a very powerful
factor in establishing satisfactory relations with the Arabs. What
ever his own views might be, he was an absolutely loyal officer, and
would faithfully accept whatever policy were decided upon. He was
convinced that if Sir Percy Cox found it impossible to carry out that
policy, he would decline the post. Subject to Mr. Montagu’s con
currence, he would be disposed to authorise the immediate announce
ment in Mesopotamia of Sir Percy Cox’s impending return.
Mr. Montagu assented, and the Conference decided—
1 hat the announcement should be made forthwith.
Turning to the question of the proposed Constitution, the
Chairman said that Sir Edgar Bonham-Carter’s Committee had
recommended two bodies :
(i.) A Council of State composed of eleven persons, of whom
.. 81x y^re to be British and five Arab; and
(n.) A Legislative Assembly, which was to be purely Arab.
The Secretary of State for India accepted the proposed Legisla
tive Assembly, but suggested a different Constitution for the Council
o State. He thought that this should be restricted to six heads of
Departments, of whom four might be Arab. He would leave it to
ffie Civil Commissioner to dec.de which Department should be in
shouldTf in th ra f m f ers ’ but . he suggested that appointments
■should be in the form of nominations by the President actino- in
consultation with the Civil Commissioner. The Arab’ Ministers
would have British Secretaries, as provided for in Sir Edgar Bonham-
Carter s scheme, and if the advice of the Secretary were disregarded
, b 7 C 6 . 4 raI ; Minister the Secretary would have the right of access to
Presiden t. SS10ner> ^ * he bought "fit, CoT thl
What he was himself anxious to avoid doins was to set „n „
Constitution which would become stereotyped during the two years
ssr t ^V ich wouii be
Mesopotamia would he se t up’by^he'org^nic^Law^ There^were°four
questions which came to his mind mq fi ^ were tour
iw «. sssst
Departments of government. He was anxious lest there I f l
grow up in Mesopotamia the idea that certain n * ' sl ' ouId
reserved for the British. It was unnecessary for W6re
the difficulties which we had experienced in I. r ° e ' 1 aige upon
was made to admit Indians to the chime of 1 ' a wl ' ei * !4n attempt
which had previously
asked whether it was wise or necessarv durino- tv • * ec . 0n ^
to hand over Departments to individual's whether thtv^A
lanrish. Thirdly, he feared that the Arab President^ tf ’ °i
of State might acquire or imaffinp I , ^ nt °} Council
importance that by the end of the two vp \ aC ac 4 uire d 5 so much
as ‘the inevitable^rdidato fo ' t^rof ruZ ,limSelf
Fourthly, it appeared that Sir E dgar Bon m cj^
Committee were not working eitlier with , 1 . V te l and lus
disposal or on the lines which°we propose to foil 0 ™ atlon at our
from their reading of the term “ Mandate,” which was ve’ryffiffetni