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File 301/1921 'MESOPOTAMIA: INTELLIGENCE REPORTS' [267ar] (546/586)
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.
19
1 No. 146, dated 22nd November, 1920, contains a leader on the national
force for ‘Iraq and states that it is desirable to form such a force out of the
people of the country, for the ‘Iraqis would receive a native army with greater
respect, and its existence will be a proof of Great Britain’s confidence in the
‘Iraqis. It is very easy to create such a force in ‘Iraq, for most of the ‘Iraqi s
have formerly seen service and many officers have graduated m the military
schools, there being at present a sufficient number to create a national army
at the earliest convenience. It quotes Mr. Montagu’s acknowledgment of the
success achieved by the native forces and it also quotes Mr. Churchill who
announced that 100 armoured cars were being manufactured for service in
‘Iraq.
The “ Sharq ” (No. 57, dated 16th November, 1920), publishes a leading
article urging upon the people to support the Cabinet “ which is composed
of a chosen number of ‘Iraqis ” as its failure in grappling with affairs would
prove the inability of the ‘Iraqis to do their duty with regard to public
affairs.
The same paper (No. 58, dated 17th November, 1920), publishes a leader
dealing with the relations between England and ‘Iraq. It states that the
British Government has used all its endeavours to win the hearts of its Moham-
madan subjects, introduced reforms in India, assisted Turkey as far as it
could and altered its policy in ‘ Iraq, having decided to establish an independ
ent Arab empire. This empire, however, requires many organisations which
will need heavy expenditure, and while the British taxpayer pays 6 shillings
and 6 pence in the pound, it is not possible for Great Britain to bear that
expenditure. It is the time for the ‘Iraqis, therefore, to use all their efforts
in utilizing the services of their material wealth; they should obtain the
assistance of Great Britain and repose their confidence in her.
All the local papers have published the texts of the telegram from II.M.
Government and from the Viceroy to H.H. the Naqib congratulating him o"
his acceptance of the premiership.
Extracts from Foreign Press.
The “ Lisan-al-Arab ” (Damascus), No. 290, dated 5th October, .1920,
publishes a brief article under the heading ‘ ‘ Mosul News ”; it states that it
learns “ on reliable authority ” that the Briish sent six armoured cars to the
‘Abdah section of the Shammar. 'The cars were received as guests but they
had evil intentions and suddenly arrested four of the tribal shaikhs whom
they deported to an unknown destination. On learning this, the tribesmei
prepared to retaliate and pursued the cars in innumerable force led by Shaikh
Daham ihn Hadi and succeeded in releasing the Shaikhs.
The same paper (No. 293, dated 9th October, 1920), states that reports k
from Constantinople indicate that the Allies representatives are being |
brought to believe that Sharif ‘Ali Haidar is more entitled to the throne o<' I
the Hijaz than King Husain, and that there are close relations between the \
Sharif and Inn Sa‘ud. '
The “
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.
” (Mecca) publishes an interview with Amir ‘Abdullah,
who contradicts the report that there had been any arrangement between
him and Amir Faisal to exchange thrones. It states that Mecca has wit
nessed a great assembly of Arab Chiefs, having been visited by deputations
from the Ibn Rashid, Ibn Sa‘ud, Imam Yahya, the Idrisi, and other Arab
potentates, who have been entertained by the King as his guests. All oi
them appeared to have determined to avenge the wrongs done to the Syrians.
It publishes a translation of Colonel Lawrence’s letter to the “ Times ’’
on Mesopotamia and the oil available there. This is followed by an editorial \
note saying that as to the fear expressed by the British with regaid to then
interests in Mesopotamia and with reference to oil, etc., the Arabs are pre- |
pared to effect an alliance with them for protecting those interests m return j
for their evacuation of ‘Iraq, as long as those interests do not clash with f
freedom and independence. 1
S.G.P.Bd.—1555—2402—00 -17 12-20
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' [267ar] (546/586), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/962, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100111165836.0x000093> [accessed 22 June 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
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:ii-v, 1r:11r, 12v:13r, 20r:26v, 32v:34v, 35v:49v, 53v:57v, 59r:61r, 70v:74r, 75r:79r, 88r:94v, 99v:103v, 105r:112r, 113v:125v, 127v:128v, 129v:150v, 154v, 155v:171v, 178v:181v, 183v:190v, 192v:219v, 222v:246v, 249v:260r, 261r:264v, 265v, 267v, 267ar:267av, 268r:284v, iii-r:iv-v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence