File 301/1921 'MESOPOTAMIA: INTELLIGENCE REPORTS' [‎261r] (532/586)

Unconfirmed information lias been received that there recently arrived in
Kadhimam ti\o messengers from Baku named Saiyid Mir al Afghani and Sat- \
wat Bey, carrying letters from Anwar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. and Jamal Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. for the ‘Alims of I
‘Iraq. They are stated to have left Najaf on 18th November.
On the 15th November a performance of “ Wufud al Na'inan ‘Ala Kisra
Anuslnrwan (the deputation of Al Nat man to Kisra Anushirwan) was given
hy the Tafayyudh School—the school which lias replaced the National School
of Jiad Hasan Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. Quarter, Baghdad.
Amin ‘Ata Effendi, Arabic Teacher, opened with, a speech on behalf of the
School. He explained the various scenes of the drama. The boys of the school
then sang a patriotic song and the drama commenced. Some new patriotic
verses were introduced, including not a few of the old Ramadhan “ Qasidafis ”.
The performance ended with the singing of patriotic songs. There was con
siderable “ emotion ” but no disturbances.
The absence of British Officers was remarked upon, although invitations
had been issued (for which however the Officer was expected to pay Rs. 15).
Saiyid Talib Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. al Naqib rose and contributed Rs. 1,000 on his own
behalf and Rs. 1,500 on behalf of Basrah.
The following are extracts from the Basrah Police Confidential reports for
the period ending 30th October, 1920:—
News of the attack of the Akhwan on Kuwait is being received in Basrah.
It is said that the Akhwan ha've sent a letter to Shaikh Ibrahim of Zubaif order
ing him to forbid drinking and smoking in Zubair, to turn out all non-Moslems
and to cease building tombs over graves. Many people believe that the Akhwan
may threaten Zubair and Basrah and are alarmed.
The usual talk against the British Government goes on in the ‘ ‘ cliwans ’ ’ of
Haji Mustafa and Rif‘at Effendi at ‘Ashar, where newspapers are read and
discussed, and news from Najaf and Karbala spread. The people attending
these meetings, are mostly e.r-Turkish Officials and are really of pro-Turkish
sympathy.
When the news of the formation of an Arab Government was received here j
there were several applicants for nationalisation papers (British) who staked |
it was evident that the British were going to leave the country and that unless \
they could get the protection of the British Consul at Baghdafd their lives and
property would be in danger.
NOTES ON PROVINCIAL AFFAIRS.
15. During the past fortnight the pacification of the insurgent tribes has
been almost completed. In the Shamiyah all remaining tribes have made sur
render, but ‘ Ibadi, one of the leading shaikhs of the Fatlah has not yet come in,
and Marzuq al ‘Awwad of the ‘Awabid, after offering to surrender if his life
were spared, wrote on November 18 declaring that he had decided witii many
other shaikhs, to migrate from the ‘Iraq “ to al place from which we can make
known our grievances to the civilized world ’ ’. The Khaza‘ il shaikhs were given
a free pardon and sent to the points of hostile concentration to encourage sur
render. Their conduct has been satisfactory; among other services they are
said to have compelled the surrender of ‘Abdul Wahid of the Mishkhab Fatlah.
Troops visited Abu Sukhair on November 14 and found it completely de
serted. Ja‘arah, a mile or two further south, was almost as empty of inhabi
tants, but further south, as far as Turumah, fourteen miles N.W. of Shinafiyah,
the country was found to be thickly populated and cultivation is being carried
on energetically.
16. Terms were imposed on the town of Najaf on November 16th (see
No. 1 para. 24). Among the conditions it was required that four persons should
present themselves before the Political Officer who would give them the orders
of the High Commissioner. Their personal security wafi guaranteed. The in
dividuals were Shaikh Jawad Sahib al Jawabir, Hasan Agha, the son of the
Shaikh al Shark ah, Saiyid Muhammad Riclha Safi and Shaikh Jawad Jazairi.
A fine of 3,000 rifles was demanded from the town together with ammunition,
within a time limit. Other points related to the restoration of Government pro
perty unlawfully acquired during the disturbances, the recall of emissaries
engaged in propaganda, the apprehension of fugitives from justice and cessation
of commercial or other intercourse with insurgent tribes unfill further orders.
Three of the persons named surrendered at once, and the fourth, Saiyid Muham
mad Ridha, was handed over on the 18th. All have been sent to Baghdad ajnd
thence have been allowed to go on pilgrimage to Samarra.
By November 20th, the day of the expiry of the time limit, only some 400
rifles had come in; it was therefore necessary to resort to further measures
of compulsion. Forty-three promirent citizens were held responsible lor
the surrender of rifles and detained as hostages.