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File 978/1917 Pt 1 'Mesopotamia: administration; occupation of Baghdad; the proclamation; Sir P Cox's position' [84r] (172/402)
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.
of a serious attempt on the part of Japan to secure a commercial and thereby
a political foothold in the Gulf. With the disappearance of Turkey from the
Gulf, and with it the elimination of German ambitions, coupled with that
better understanding with Russia to which we may perhaps look forward, the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
might have been expected to drop out finally from the region of
high politics. Japan’s designs in this direction, however, of which we have had
more than one indication, threaten to introduce a new element into the case,
which unless carefully handled from the outset on both sides of the Gulf in strict
accordance with one uniform policy may lead on to far-reaching consequences.
In the second place, there is the imperative need for perfect co-ordination of
policy on both sides of the Gulf and in both spheres on land, with regard to the
arms traffic, which though dead for the moment, is likely to revive in a more
threatening shape after the war, when all the belligerent powers will find
themselves in possession of large stocks of surplus arms of which they would
gladly dispose. And in general, it will doubtless be recognised that it is
essential for us to be kept fully informed of all important developments not
only in the Gulf but also in Mesopotamia and the other areas now to be trans
ferred from our administration, in order that we may be able to gauge the
political situation in the Middle East.
13. As regards Southern Persia we are quite ready to accept an
extension of our responsibilities, provided our position is clearly defined. Por
we are very conscious of the awkwardness and general inadequacy of the
existing arrangements under which the Government of India has, as it were,
been for many yfjars past but a fifth wheel in the Persian coach, exercising
responsibility without authority, and providing troops without an adequate
voice in the direction of the policy. We beg therefore that before a final
decision is made, we may be informed what the exact status of the Govern
ment of India is to be in the extended sphere to be assigned to them.
14. Einallv, we will deal briefly with the more important financial
aspects of the case. We must postulate that, as the Government of India are
to have no share in the eventual administration of Mesopotamia, they will not
be called upon to make any contribution whatever towards either the civil
or military expenditure of Irak. We must similarly postulate that the
Government of India will be relieved of all expenditure now borne by them in
the Agencies on the Arabian side of the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
which it is proposed to
transfer to the authority administering the Basrah Vilayet.
We also consider that, when once the control of Aden and its appanages
is transferred to the Eoreign Office, the whole charges, both civil and military,
of these areas should oe borne by His Majesty’s Government. We have not
overlooked the fact that Lord Curzon’s Government, in their Despatch
No. 66 (Secret) of the 14th May 1903, offered, in consideration of being
relieved of the Administration of Aden, to continue a contribution of £77,000
a year to His Majesty’s Government, i.e., the average cost of the Aden
Administration minus £100,000 contributed by His Majesty’s Government.
This otter appears, however, to have been prompted mainly by a desire to be
rid of Aden in circumstances quite different from those at preseot under
discussion, and we do not consider tnat, having regard to the interests of the
Indian taxpayer, we should now be justified in repeating it. If India is to be
absolved from all administrative responsibility at Aden, she cannot, in our
opinion, equitably be called upon to bear any share of the cost.
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' [84r] (172/402), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/666, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100075826204.0x0000ad> [accessed 14 March 2025]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- 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