File 301/1921 'MESOPOTAMIA: INTELLIGENCE REPORTS' [‎260r] (530/586)

, +• xi rJie + lde f- 18 a . s ()ld tl } e J lllls . the present uncertainty and hopelessness
o ie situation m Central Asia may give it a new impetus. 'Even our old\
time supporters must find a “ Watan ” somewhere.
. hashid al Khojah, a man who has a high reputation among Baghdad
Nationalists for rectitude and patriotism, has returned from Syria across the
desert. He joined the Arab Government there after the! Armistice. He is
urgent m pressing for the repatriation of the ‘Iraqis whoso wretched condition
m Syria and Arwad he represented, adding that the need for their help in
Mesopotamia was pressing. The High Commissioner had already telegraphed
to His Majesty s Government on November 27th warmly advocating their
return. Both Rashid and Ja‘far are anxious for the return of Yasin Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. * on
the ground that his intelligence and capacity cannot be dispensed with. Rashid
al Khojah declares that Yasin has learnt a bitter lesson in Syria and is
himself eager to come back to Mesopotamia and co-operate with the British
Government. Whether this change of attitude on Yasin’s part is genuine is
doubted by British Officers here who knew him in Syria.
9. Saiyid Talib Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. has been coquetting with the Young Arab National-(
ists of Baghdad. His relations ydth the founders of the Tafayyudh School,
described in the Police reports, opened the game. It is probable that he has
convinced himself that the British authorities are not prepared to impose him
on the ‘Iraq as Amir and has decided that he must look elsewherd for aid. He
is therefore seeking to conciliate the advanced Nationalists. His attempted
resignation from the Cabinet was a step in the same direction. He realizes
that the present Provisional Government lias not fully satisfied the aspiration
of the extremists and wishes to enlist the suffrages of'the Young Aral/Party.
The dominating personalities in the Cabinet are undoubtedly Saiyid Talib
and Ja‘far Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. . That they are fundamentally hostile to one another is pro
bable, but they have recently been working together in the matter of expediting
the return of refugees and deportees, and indeed in general.
10. Provincial opinion is not as yet favourable to the new Government. !i
It is reported from Kut that the formation of a Provisional Government- has
evoked much criticism among the Shi‘ah community. In spite of the fact that
two Shi‘ahs from the Kut Division have been given seats in the Council, the
predominance of the Sunnis gives dissatisfaction, though no suitable Shi‘ah
candidates are mentioned. The concensus of opinion is that British, administra- •
ton is preferable to Arab Government, aaid no one expects the latter to endure.
Much the same views are said to be held by the Shi‘ah tribes round Kar
bala.
‘Ajil Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ibn ‘Ali Samarmad, of the Zubaid, who after considerable hesi
tation accepted a seat on the Council, roundly expresses his disbelief in Arab
Government. He is by education and training pro-Turk, a predeliction he has
never attempted to conceal. In his view the Arabs are not capable of govern
ing themselves and cannot provide the material out of which to form an admi
nistration. At the same time he admits that the tribes suffered at Turkish
hands and aired their grievances by constant rebellion against the Ottoman
administration. He offers however no constructive criticism and contents him
self for the present with putting in occasional attendances at the Council.
The opinion of Basrah as voiced by Ahmad Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. al Sani‘ who has just 1
come op to take his seat on the Council, is in strong opposition to Baghdad.
The Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. who has never before visited Baghdad, condemns the folly and ignor
ance of the views he hears expressed. The Baghdadis, he declares, did not
know a good thing when they got it, and he has no better hope for his town than
that it should be permanently detached from the Mesopotamian State and left
under British administration. The natural jealousy which exists between the
two cities, and the fact that Ahmad Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. is not a prophet when he is out of his
own country and feels the difference in his position, must be taken into account,
but his views may serve as a useful corrective.
11. With regard to Shi‘ah feeling the question of giving a Portfolio to a
member of the sect was pressed by Haji Mirza ‘Ali Shahrestani and Saiyid
‘Abdul Husain Tabatabai (See No. 1, para*. 22) in conversation with the High
Commissioner. The Naqib took the opportunity of their presence in Kadhi-
main to enter into relations with them, and they paid him a visit during which
the matter was discussed. The Naqib pointed out that a Portfolio was still to
be allotted (that of Public Works) and was indeed in reserve for a Shi/ah when
one could be found and asked them to suggest to him one or two persons whose
appointment would be generally agreeable to Shi‘ahs. They promised to do so
after consultation with Karbala and Najaf, but as yet no suggestion has been \
received from them, and it is reported that they cannot agree on any individual. '
12. Constant reports have been received that Yusuf Effendi Suwaidi and
Saiyid Muhammad al Sadr reached ‘Anah via the Shamiyah desert early in
November. These have been confirmed by a Baghdadi recently returned from
Syria who states that he met them at ‘ Anah accompanied by other leaders of the
extremist party.