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'Mosul Question, Lausanne 1922-1923 and after - Papers, despatches, speeches - Hotel de la Mer at Lausanne - Correspondence about oil' [‎21v] (42/501)
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'Mosul Question, Lausanne 1922-1923 and after - Papers, despatches, speeches - Hotel de la Mer at Lausanne - Correspondence about oil' [‎21v] (42/501)

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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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o
6
The advantages of a forward policy, as defined, are as follows :
Paragra'ph 1.—That the country north of Mosul on left bank of the 1 igris and
on line of probable enemy advance lends itself to a protracted defence, and also to
counter-offensive against an enemy force equal to, or slighly superior to, the one it
is proposed to maintain there.
Paragraph 2.—The terrain is eminently suited to rearguard actions in the
event of an advance of great superiority of enemy numbers, Mosul itself being one
of the bounds in such a rearguard action, which, if necessary, would be continued to
Baghdad and Basra. Unless it is the intention of His Majesty’s Government to
despatch reinforcements it is not proposed that the force should remain at Baghdad
to become invested.
Part III.
Paragraph 3.—Owing to the early intelligence provided by the Air Force the
probability of our forces being cut off is infinitesimal.
Paragraph 4.—Behind a retiring force of these dimensions a much larger con
centration of air forces can be made than behind a force of the size of the existing
garrison of Mosul carrying out a similar operation.
[ ? Paragraph 5.]—The initial move of our troops north will enhance our prestige
among the tribes and raise their moral.
Paragraph 6.—In that there is every possibility of the enemy’s advanced
echelon [ ? word omitted 1 such severe hammering that he might never recover while
the air forces co-operating deal with the remainder of his body reaching back to
Jazireh-ibn-Omar, and with that base itself, it contains the germs of success. I
I would ask that, before submitting an alternative scheme as required in your
letter under discussion, the above appreciation be carefully considered as I see no
vast success in any other alternative with number of forces under my command at
the present time.
It is most essential for me to know, if I am to consider further the close defence
indicated, the prospects of reinforcements, if any, which His Majesty’s Government
have in mind, their approximate numbers and the date after outbreak of war on
which the first echelon bargained for is expected to reach Basra. This summary of
the situation is concurred in by His Excellency the High Commissioner.

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' [‎21v] (42/501), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F112/294, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100130546285.0x00002b> [accessed 19 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