Papers of the Interdepartmental Conference on Middle Eastern Affairs [‎137v] (274/290)

o
6
&
3. Mandate for
Mesopotamia.
that Arab Ministers would learn to stand on their, own feet more
readily in a system whereby the British worked with them rat iei
than in one whereby they were kept as a distinct advisory )()< j •
Generals Nuri and Haddad Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. were continually pressing tor
co-operation rather than advice. Co-operation would result n two
British Ministers were to sit at the same table with tour Am >
Ministers.
The Chairman did not see why the Cabinet should he restricted
to six. There were probably Arab gentlemen without the technical
knowledge to undertake a portfolio who would at the same time hf
of great value as members of the Council. In the.same way there
were probably British officials who were not available to act as
Ministers of Finance or Public Works, but whose local experience
would be valuable. He suggested that the Council should include
Ministers without portfolio.
Colonel Gribbon thought it important that we should be in a
position to say that whatever Organic Law was eventually set up
had been chosen by the Arabs themselves, otherwise we should he in
the position of having forced a Constitution upon them against their
will, and there would be a continual agitation against us.
The Chairman thought there was considerable force in this,
and that provision should be made for it in the drafting of the
Organic Law.
Sir George Tarstow asked what was the financial bearing of the
interim Constitution. Wbo would be responsible for the framing of
the budget ? Would it be the six Ministers sitting as a body or would
it be the Civil Commissioner ?
The Chairman asked whether the Council of State were to sit
in entire independence of the High Commissioner who would be a
Duke of Devonshire to an Arab Sir Robert Borden.
Mr. Shuckburgh thought that the High Commissioner would have
to be given full powers. It had never been suggested that he should
be a mere figure head, and for the interim period at least he must be
the supreme authority in the country.
Sir George Barstow pointed out that all effective power would
thus be taken out of the hands of the Arab Cabinet.
The Chairman said that the first thing to do was to announce
the return of Sir Percy Cox. This announcement should be com
bined with a statement of the steps that would be taken on his
arrival towards the formation of a provisional Council of State and of
a Legislative Assembly for the purpose of assisting in the adminis
tration of the country and of advising the Mandatory Power in
the forming of an Organic Law. He said that he should himself
communicate with Sir Percy Cox as to the best route for him
to return by to England. He would probably not be able to go to
Mesopotamia before September or October, as he would require some
leave. He suggested that 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. should draft a telegram
to the Civil Commissioner, Baghdad, embodying the main points of
the discussion, informing him of Sir Percy Cox’s return, and
authorising him to announce it, and outlining so far. as po.-sible the
steps which Sir Percy Cox would take on his arrival in the country.
The Conference decided that —
The Secretary of State for India should draft a telegram in the
sense suggested by the Chairman.
The Conference continued the discussion of the draft Mandate
from the point which was reached at the 39th Meeting. Articles \ III
to XI were discussed and revised.
(Initialled) C. of K.