File 301/1921 'MESOPOTAMIA: INTELLIGENCE REPORTS' [‎77r] (164/586)

?l DamaS ® US Camel Cor P s u nder Haddad Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. . It may fairly be argued
tdat these arrivals and requests are not indicative of a great belief in Turko-
0 . iuviivauivc ujl d great ueuei m inrKO-
Sanusi success.
21. Pamphlets in Urdu purporting to come from the Amir of Afghanistan /
have been found at Zakho. They are undated. One bears at the top of the page
a reproduction of a golden seal inscribed with the name of Amanullah Khan,
Amir of Afghanistan. It orders all Pathan officers serving with the British
Krrces to desert and join the Turkish forces, and states that Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Sultan
Ahmad Khan has been sent to Angora as the Amir’s representative to look after
them and arrange for communications with their families. It is sealed with the
seal of the Minister of War. The second, under the seal of the Indian Patriots
Committee, is a letter addressed to Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Sahib complaining of the treatment
meted out to all Moslems by the British and prophicying- that the Euphrates
and Tigris will flow with British blood. On receipt of this letter all officers
serving in the ( Iraq forces under the British are to join the Turkish army.
22. The following communique appeared in all Mesopotamian papers on
July 7th:—
“We are given to understand that His Excellency the High Commissioner
has found it necessary to reconsider the distribution of the personnel of the
British Advisory Staff; and that in connection therewith Mr. H. St. J. Philby,
c.i.e., i.c.s., has, in accordance with His Excellency’s instructions, handed over
the duties of Adviser to the Ministry of the Interior to Mr. J. S. Thomas, i.c.s.
It has not yet transpired how the able services of Mr. Philby will in future
be utilised.”
23. The tone of the local press continues to be most satisfactory. When
gravelled for want of matter editors are apt to resort to the popular device of
an attack on the French, but a word from the British authorities has induced
the Lisan al ‘Arab to abandon this line of country, and the Dijlah has been
given a warning which, it is hoped, will suffice. The case of the' Lisan at Arab
is particularly gratifying. During the last year, as a Damascus paper, it has
delivered ceaseless attacks on Great Britain; if it can be prevented from
similar animadversions on France when issued from Baghdad it will add an
arrow to our diplomatic quiver. The Dijlah is still somewhat sticky, but with
the resignation of Hasan Chasibah from its staff, on July 5, it is likely to im
prove. The editor in his issue of July 12 announces, with a frankness which
is as rare among his tribe as it is, under the circumstances, reassuring, that he is
waiting to see bow public opinion turns before making known the attitude of
his paper!
24. The Mutasarrif of Karbala sends an interesting appreciation of
public opinion in his district, the salient points are as follows:
(a) The shaikhs imprisoned in Hillah, who were released under the
amnesty, all visited Karbala and held the ‘ Id of Bairam there
before returning to their homes. They were one and all grateful
for the pardon which had been extended to them and anxious to
win back the confidence of Government which they had lost during
the disturbances. They feared that their adversaries (i.e., in
many cases men who had stepped into their place after the cessa
tion of hostilities) would make it their business to prevent them
from recoveering their position with Government.
(&) The amnesty was received with great rejoicing in the Liwah. One
or two persons who feared the return of personal enemies alone
were dubious, together with a few of the ‘ IJlama at Karbala who
are in such close relations with the Mutasarrif’s Office as to be
known popularly as the Office ‘Ulama. These last said that they
had hoped to see the remaining bad characters deported.
(c) The townsmen, especially in Najaf, criticise the partiality of the
Government for tribesmen.
( d ) On the whole Karbala is adverse from the holding of elections, fear
ing that they may cause disturbances. In Najaf the moderate
advanced party would welcome elections if they were conducted
in an orderly manner; the extremists are against elections on the
ground that they would be rigged by the British. But if elections
are held, there is a universal desire to see a majority ot bhi ans
are pro-n-rao vrovei amcm, tue umci, * , i , -n v
of the Bani Hasan, are against Arab Government but will be
guided wholly bv Ttri+isb advice.
nee this was
Baghdad and .
fidence and support of the High Commissioner.