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File 978/1917 Pt 1 'Mesopotamia: administration; occupation of Baghdad; the proclamation; Sir P Cox's position' [66r] (136/402)
The record is made up of 1 volume (195 folios). It was created in 6 May 1917-8 Oct 1919. 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.
1 See footnote to paragraph 3.
claim to infallibility I am consequently brought to opinion that'it
iw o “"h o s £ at u a ihat f th r H t s Majest r s ?r v “’ - *11 -
ei to each ot us that the former should receive reo-ular and
frequent reports winch will both keep them posted in regard to
progress of their policy, and will incidentally enable them to° satisfy
themselves that a just balance is being maintained between military
rl P ent r CIV P lnteres h In short, as regards question of reports
n entirely in favour of it, more especially in view of probability
that military situation during the coining winter will preclude
assembly of the proposed Commission 1 as early as was expected.
Sir P. Cox’s telegram ended as follows :—
My sole concern is that the civil and political interests of Government
shall be adequately safeguarded. In regard to these interests
wliatever may be my nominal title or status vis-a-vis the Army
Commander, and notwithstanding his supreme authority, the mere
tact of my having been here throughout the period makes it impossible
that I can be divested completely of personal responsibility whether
present or ultimate.”
10. The Government of India
1917:—
telegraphed on the 30 til July
“ W© trust His Majesty’s Government realise that these difficulties
have arisen between Maude and Cox simply through Cox’s desire to
carry out loyally and faithfully policy indicated by His Majesty’s
Government. Events have proved immediate carrying out of that
policy is impossible : and we have no hesitation in regarding Maude’s
arguments as unanswerable. Until military position in Baghdad
Vilayet is completely secured, General Officer Commanding must
obviously concentrate on military problems untrammelled by con
troversial political or civil considerations. We feel sure Maude
appreciates enormous value of Cox’s advice on civil and political
questions as much as we do, and will be guided by it so far as
military position admits. But we trust that His Majesty’s Govern
ment will agree to drop the proposals put forward in your telegram
under reply, so as to leave Maude free from all extraneous
preoccupations until situation clears.”
11. On the 1st August 1917 Sir William Robertson wrote to
Mr. Montagu suggesting that, in view of the Government of India’s
telegram of the 30th July (see paragraph 10) “ the matter of civil admini
stration in Mesopotamia be dropped for the present.” He agreed that
“ General Maude must be left free to devote his whole time to the fighting
“ which we are expecting to take place.”
i2. The actual points at issue between General Maude and Sir
T Cox are not altogether easy to define, but there seems no reason
o conclude that their views are entirely irreconcilable. General Maude
las not taken formal exception to the proposed change of Sir 1. Box s
lesignation to “ Civil Commissioner ”; nor has he raised ? objections
n principle to Sir P. Cox reporting direct to 'His. Majesty s Govern-
nent. His opposition to the arrangements, proposed is based on the tear
bat “ civil considerations which may conflict with military interests will
3 e constantly urged upon him, thereby distracting Ins attention from the
nain military problem; and that his labours will be great y increased
3 y the recurring necessity of formulating his views on the civil Tiithon le
3 roposals in such a way as to render his attitude fully intelligible to
About this item
- Content
This volume contains correspondence, reports, telegrams and minutes regarding negotiations and administration, largely between 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. , Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Cox, and the Government of India, after the occupation of Baghdad (Fall of Baghdad) on 10 March 1917. The negotiations concern the administrative organisation and political control of Mesopotamia, as well as the external and internal boundaries of Iraq (also spelled Irak in the volume).
Related matters of discussion include the following: the text of the Baghdad proclamation; the future administration of the territory by the Foreign Office instead of the Government of India; the regulation of the new territory; the responsibilities of the Chief Political Officer in the new territory; the Turco-Persian frontiers. The correspondence in the volume is internal correspondence between British officials. The principal correspondents are as follows: Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Cox; Lieutenant-General Sir Stanley Maude; the War Office; the Secretary of State for India; the Political Department, 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. ; the Under-Secretary of State for India; the Viceroy of India; the Government of India’s Foreign and Political Department; the Foreign Office; the Government of India.
In addition to this correspondence, the volume contains reports of the War Cabinet's Mesopotamia Administration Committee, as well as the following documents: memoranda on external frontiers and internal boundaries of Iraq (ff 17-18) (ff 20-25); a map of Arabia and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (f 28);
The file includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the front of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (195 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.
The subject 5320 (Mesopotamia Negotiations) consists of two volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/666-667. The volumes are divided into two parts, with each part comprising one volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 197; 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 3-195; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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File 978/1917 Pt 1 'Mesopotamia: administration; occupation of Baghdad; the proclamation; Sir P Cox's position' [66r] (136/402), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/666, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100075826204.0x000089> [accessed 21 December 2024]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/666
- Title
- File 978/1917 Pt 1 'Mesopotamia: administration; occupation of Baghdad; the proclamation; Sir P Cox's position'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:27v, 29r:111v, 113r:120r, 121r:133v, 134ar:134av, 134r:139v, 140ar, 140r:145v, 149r:154v, 155ar, 155r:196v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence