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File 301/1921 'MESOPOTAMIA: INTELLIGENCE REPORTS' [95r] (200/586)
The record is made up of 1 volume (289 folios). It was created in 15 Nov 1920-31 Oct 1921. 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.
j PRESS SUPPLEMENT.
Al ‘Iraq, No. 321, June 18.
^lie first article consists of the official communique.
Svecond article, entitled: The Splendid National Meeting in the Boyal Cinema.
of Baghd“d n t“coMider the’preparate forcfe* aD il ; vitati »“ w ™ ld issued to all Notables
were issued by the paSiot NaTC al Suwaidf T^" 1 ° ( the Amir Paisal - Tlle Stations
departure of HH thp ArmV TT'e,ic !Q i q- -i S . r , er ’ A y a tffiiah baiyid Hasan, intimating the
of the Hiiaz andfrom yZf bToV / « " ‘ e e ^ ama had been received from H.M. the King
will be a ^esTof th“S a 00^41^™?’ t * e n grea ? ^ atio " al Leader ' As Hi s Highnel
duty in a worthy manner*’ “ The * lS for ? ts hospdahty, the people must carry out the
cipality will perform thdr nar^ bnt P thf a “ provisional government and the Mayor and Muni-
inhabitante h^ mrt tdeS’how ^ shouS S hV' o" ^ aS pa i‘ o( the
personal. We must carry it thn^irh^rl
par fi es °r official societies nor any cLlt^ wWcSigW sTnd “present
H K ihe rtU S0 “ e -° f the v n0tables ma y wish t0 so to Basrah. I haveiriSorm you that
is'aware ^/the'dXrtme^of’IlH 1 ’ 1 ’!? 1611 Y° mm f ti V le s ^e that the British Government
Nationalists hut nil Reoent , eTC ?ts have weakened the endeavour of some
iMationaiists but all must realize that now is the time to work. All will have comnleto liWtv
n writing, speaking and meeting in connection with the affairs of the country.” 7
was rtad ae0 wZ^.vt- e th» eeCh an r w™ 6 ““o.torward to give their names. The communique
the audienee^appiauded! 6 Dame HUSam the Co^ituent Assembly were mentioned
We congratulate our countrymen on this occasion and hope for success.
Al ‘Iraq No. 323, June 21.
Telegrams between H.H. the Naqib and H.M. King Husain.
From—King Husain.
Having regard to the needs of the nation and the desire of the inhabitants my son Faisal
has left for your region. Owing to our relationship I must say to you that it behoves us ail to
unite so as to give rest to the land, fulfilling its hopes and safeguarding its future. All this
wrU come to pass through your good intentions and your religious and national sentiments.
May Hod prosper you.—Husain.
From—The Naqib.
We received your kind message which intimates the arrival of H.H. the Amir Faisal and
we were much pleased by this good news and we ask God that he may arrive safely. We anxious
ly await his coming. By the help of God when he comes we shall do what is necessary to serve
f im, as the ancient relationship demands. But as to your request that we should all promote
the peace of the country, we adhere to this project for the interests of our fatherland.—Naqib
Ashraf, Baghdad.
The Arab Questions and Great Britain.
The solution of the Arab Question can-only be by the union of Arabs which Great Britain
has done wed to promote. The Arabs will form a line of defence against any trouble arising
in the Near East. Great Britain is acting in accordance with her democratic principles guided
by the pressure of circumstances. The two nations will be able to reap the fruits of their
endeavours.— (Signed) Al Tsami.
Al ‘Iraq, No. 324, June 22.
Copy of a telegram sent by Saiyid Baud Gilani to H.R.H. the Amir Faisal, care of Ja‘far
Pasha
An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
at Basrah:
I present to H.H. the Ajnir Faisal my excuses at the delay in seeing the prophet-like
features which I am most anxious to gaze upon, with my hands in the altitude of prayer. May
God grant us your blessed arrival, accompanied with good fortune and success, for he is the
answerer of prayers.—Baud Bhiya al Bin Gilani.
Al ‘Iraq No. 325, June 23.
A leader on the 'Iraq Question and British Policy pointing out that Great Britain is ful
filling her promises towards the Arabs and appealing to the Arabs to unite and take the respons
ibility of administering their country.
About this item
- Content
This volume contains the Intelligence Reports of Sir Percy Cox, High Commissioner for Mesopotamia [also written as Iraq in this volume], based in Baghdad, covering the period 15 November 1920 to 15 September 1921. They largely relate to: the political situation in Mesopotamia and the surrounding region; the formation and proceedings of the provisional government; the events leading up to the creation of Mandatory Iraq [also known as the Kingdom of Iraq under British Administration] and the election and appointment of Faisal [Fayṣal bin Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī] as the first King of Iraq [Fayṣal I].
The Intelligence Reports are numbered and appear to have been issued at two-week intervals. This volume contains the reports numbered 1-3, 9-19 and 21. There is no explanation in the volume regarding the reason for the absent reports. The format of the reports is a mixture of printed and copy typescript. Each report is preceded by a covering circular issued by the office of the High Commissioner indicating the British Government departments and the officers and departments in the Middle East to which the report was copied.
Report Nos. 1-3 are preceded by an assessment of the political situation described in the Intelligence Report, written by Major R Marrs.
The reports generally comprise the following sections:
- A summary of the report (from report No. 14 onwards only)
- An account of the proceedings of the Council of Ministers
- Analysis of current public opinion and allegiances, (notably an analysis of public opinion on the Amir [Emir] Faisal and his arrival in Mesopotamia, including a reference to his 'personal magnetism', f 88), in report Nos 16-19
- Notes on provincial affairs
- Notes on the situation at the frontiers
- Extracts of 'Iraq Police Abstracts of Intelligence' (reports No. 9-14 only).
Other subjects notably covered in various reports include:
- Assyrian, Armenian and Urumiyan [Urmian] refugees (report Nos. 2 and 19)
- Perceived foreign influences in Iraq (report Nos. 2 and 3)
- The withdrawal of Saiyid [Sayyid] Talib Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. [Sayyid Ṭālib bin Rajab al-Naqīb] from the Government and Baghdad (report No. 12)
- Kurdistan (report Nos. 12-14)
- Turkish and Kurdish Frontiers (report No. 12)
- Dair al Zor [Deir ez-Zor] (report Nos. 1 and 12)
- Notes on 'Internal Affairs' (Nos. 18 and 19)
- Analysis of the referendum result which confirmed the election of Faisal as Iraq's first monarch (report No. 19)
- The formation of King Faisal's first cabinet (report No. 21).
Appendices are included with some reports, usually comprising copies of the High Commissioner's proclamations or communications 'to the people of Iraq' or documents relevant to the particular report (notably 'Provisional scheme for the re-organisation of the law courts' and 'Report of the committee constituted for studying the irrigation problem in Mesopotamia' in report No. 9).
Each report is concluded with a Supplement or Press Bureau Report, comprising extensive summaries and extracts of newspaper articles published in the local and 'foreign' (local region mainly) press. Notable publications cited are: Al 'Iraq , Al Fallah Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. , Al Dijlah , and (Syrian publication) Lissan al 'Arab.
The volume 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 end of the correspondence (front of the volume).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (289 folios)
- Arrangement
The reports are arranged mostly in numerical/chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume. Report No. 18 is followed by Report No. 21 and then Report No. 19 which is the last report in the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 284; 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. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the two leading and two ending flyleaves. The sequence contains one foliation anomaly: f 267a.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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File 301/1921 'MESOPOTAMIA: INTELLIGENCE REPORTS' [95r] (200/586), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/962, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/mirador/81055/vdc_100111165835.0x000001> [accessed 5 July 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/962
- Title
- File 301/1921 'MESOPOTAMIA: INTELLIGENCE REPORTS'
- Pages
- 191r:192r, 174r:176r, 172r:174r, 151r:154r, 126r:127r, 112v:113r, 104r:104v, 95r:97r, 84r:85r, 62v:64v, 50r:50v, 16r:17r
- Author
- al-Iraq xx Al-'Iraq
- Usage terms
- Public Domain