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'Mosul Question, Lausanne 1922-1923 and after - Papers, despatches, speeches - Hotel de la Mer at Lausanne - Correspondence about oil' [‎19r] (37/501)
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'Mosul Question, Lausanne 1922-1923 and after - Papers, despatches, speeches - Hotel de la Mer at Lausanne - Correspondence about oil' [‎19r] (37/501)

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'Mosul Question, Lausanne 1922-1923 and after - Papers, despatches, speeches - Hotel de la Mer at Lausanne - Correspondence about oil'
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Ref: Mss Eur F112/294

The record is made up of 251 folios (1 file). It was created in 15 Nov 1922-3 Nov 1923. 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. .

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[9181] R
J
\ 4 [This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Government.]
; n “
Printed for the Cabinet. December 1922.
SECRET.
C.P. 4339.
CABINET.
SITUATION IN IRAQ.
Memorandum by the Secretary of State for Air.
I CIRCULATE a note on the situation in Iraq by the Air Staff and corre
spondence with Sir John Salmond, the Air Officer Commanding. I would ask the
Cabinet for an early decision upon the point that is raised in these papers.
S. H.
Air Ministry, December 5, 1922.
Note by the Air Staff on Sir John Salmond's Proposal for a Forward Policy in the
event of Turkish invasion of Iraq or a Resumption of Hostilities with Turkey.
1. IN the event of a resumption of hostilities with Turkey, we must be prepared
to face the possibility of a Turkish invasion of Iraq. To meet such a situation,
Sir John Salmond's proposals are, briefly, that, of the nine Imperial battalions at
present in Iraq, four should be concentrated in a battle position north of Mosul, the
remainder to be placed, two north of Baghdad, two at Baghdad and one at Shaibah.
At present there is only one battalion at Mosul, and all positions north of Mosul are
held by native forces.
2. The reasons for the adoption of the forward policy are as follows :
(a.) The country north of Mosul, on left bank of the ligris, and on lines of
probable enemy advance, lends itself to effective defence.
(b.) The holding of these forward positions, in the strength proposed, will make
it possible to maintain the action, which may well be decisive, of strong air forces
based on Mosul and Kirkouk for a prolonged period, since retirement of the ground
forces covering the air bases will not be necessitated at an early stage.
The number of squadrons would, it is proposed, be raised from one to five.
On the other hand, if our policy were to evacuate Mosul, air action would have
to cease altogether during the period when the main Turkish forces would be
vulnerable i.e., while they are still in difficult country, and would not restart until
the enemy came within striking distance of a more southerly air base. For the
purpose of any air action on a considerable scale, the first practicable base is
Baghdad, from which point Mosul itself is only just within striking distance of the
majority of our aircraft.
(c.) From these positions the ground forces would be able to protect air bases,
and thus enable the air squadrons to hammer the enemy’s main forces and his bases,
such as Jazireh and Mardin.
(d.) With a strong air contingent we shall have early intelligence of all enemy
movements, and thus avert any probability of land forces being cut off owing to the
action of Turkish forces.
(e.) Lastly, and above all, it must be remembered that in dealing with an
Oriental people the appearance of facing the enemy is a factor of paramount value.
For this reason the northward move of our forces will have a stabilising effect not
only upon the tribes of the Mosul Vilayet, but on the moral of the whole country.
On the other hand, a withdrawal from Mosul would in itself be interpreted as a sign
of defeat. It would render hostile not only all the tribes who are now “sitting on
the fence ” to see what will happen, but also many of those who are at present well
disposed.
3. The Air Staff are in entire agreement both with the conclusions of the Air
Officer Commanding and the premises on which they rest. It appears to them that,
for the present, two possible military situations require consideration :—
(a.) On the assumption that the Turks made the European front their main
objective, a weak attack on Mosul might be launched on a scale which the resources

About this item

Content

Letters and papers on the frontier between Iraq (also written as Irak in the file) and Turkey, with particular reference to Mosul and questions concerning oil. The file consists mainly of correspondence between Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs George Curzon, and officials in the Foreign Office, Air Ministry, Colonial Office and Ismet Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. [Mustafa İsmet İnönü]. The contents of the file are as follows:

Following documents are undated:

  • Lord Balfour to League of Nations. Speech: The frontier between Turkish territory and the territory of Iraq
  • The President of the League of Nations. Reply: after Speech by Balfour
  • Typewritten report: The question of Mosul
  • Typewritten report: The Question of Mosul

The file also includes handwritten notes by Curzon on the Mosul vilayet and groups residing there.

Extent and format
251 folios (1 file)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 251; 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.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'Mosul Question, Lausanne 1922-1923 and after - Papers, despatches, speeches - Hotel de la Mer at Lausanne - Correspondence about oil' [‎19r] (37/501), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F112/294, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100130546285.0x000026> [accessed 16 June 2026]

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Reference
Mss Eur F112/294
Title
'Mosul Question, Lausanne 1922-1923 and after - Papers, despatches, speeches - Hotel de la Mer at Lausanne - Correspondence about oil'
Pages
1r:28v, 28ar:28av, 29r:72v, 91r:167v, 170r:218r, 218r:251v
Author
East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
Usage terms
Open Government Licence