‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 14. PART II. (From 16th to 30th September 1915.)’ [‎62r] (128/276)

Letter No. 860—5 Q., dated ICth September 1915. APPENDIX 335
(Received 2lst September.) ^°' 22129)
Prom—The General Officer Commanding, Force D, ” Basrah,
To—The Chief of the General Staff.
I have the honour to submit for the information of^ the Government of
India, a report (Dy. No. S-12330) by Lieutenant Stoddard, I. A. 31. (Special
Irrigation Officer), on 44 The possibilities of the Development of Irrigation in
the Basrah District,” together with a forwarding letter by Brigadier-General
Rimington, It. E., and a note by Sir Percy Cox, Chief Political Officer.
2. Lieutenant Stoddard discusses the Basrah Barrage project, which was
the scheme definitely put forward for this area by Sir W. Willcocks m his
Report on Irrigation in Mesopotamia,” but owing to the lack of information
and details he has been unable to formulate a workable scheme. Moreover,
the work would be very costly, with only the prospect of a very moderate
return on the outlay.
He consequently discards this project in favour of one which gives promise
of being very successful and remunerative, viz., the reclamation of 100,000
acres of land west of Gurmat Ali, annually flooded by the spill waters of the
Tigris and Euphrates.
3. This scheme was only lightly touched on by Sir W. Willcocks in his
report as one that was suitable for development by local enterprise. Prom i s
favourable financial aspect, and from the fact that it would not interfere wi
the Barrage Scheme if that should be undertaken later, it appears to me to be
one worthy of further investigation and as such I would recommend it tor
consideration.
4. At the same time, I would remark that as Sir W. Willcocks has I ^ a ^ e
a very thorough study of irrigation prospects in Mesopotamia, and has e -
nitely put forward certain schemes, it would appear to. be only fair to mm, an
also very desirable in the interests of the State, that his opinion on the su jec
he sought. It is very probable that he could provide further information w ic
would throw quite a different light on the Barrage project.
)\
5 . I submit that the undertaking of a large irrigation scheme for the
benefit of the country would have the best possible effect in establishing a sense
of peace and security and would afford an earnest of our intention to promote
the welfare of the people.
Note by Sir P. Z. Cox, Chief Political Officer, dated 6th September 1915.
Please see your office memorandum No. 860—4-Q. and original papers for
warded therewith, which I now return.
I have studied Lieutenant Stoddard’s report and Sir William Willcocks’
proposals in so far as they are available. To generalize for a moment. My be
lief is that until the duration of our stay in Basrah and the extent of the country
which we intend to control is decided for certain, the Government of India will
not take into lively consideration any project involving large outlay, unless. it
be strongly justified for strategical as well as economic reasons, connected with
the occupation of Basrah, and can be shewn not to conflict with any more
comprehensive scheme. On the other hand, Government will no doubt agree as
to the importance of having our views and plans crystallized, so that as soon as
the word is given, no time need be lost in putting them into execution.
Acrain, as you probably know, Sir William Willcocks is a person of strong
views and’ an‘enthusiast in regard.to irrigation. .1 know he holds the opinion
that the irrigation of Mesopotamia is a humanitarian pioblem of world-wide
interest and significance, and that the handling of it as a whole on the lines best
calculated to benefit mankind concerned should be prejudiced by no secular. or
secondary interest. In irrigation circles he occupies too prominent a position
to be ignored. In any project, therefore, which we may put forward we must
have his approval or must be prepared for his expert criticism. As a layman I am
not in a position to express any useful view as to whether Sir William’s Basrah
Scheme has reasonable prospects of proving a paying concern, but I feel con
vinced that Government would not in any case commit themselves to it at the
present stage of our occupation of Basrah.