![File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [‎76r] (160/995)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00028f/IOR_L_PS_10_761_0160.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [‎76r] (160/995)")
File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [76r] (160/995)
The record is made up of 1 volume (491 folios). It was created in 28 Jun 1920-11 Feb 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.
2
alone to fight out their own squabbles and where possible
to indulge in brigandage♦ Any Government that governs
is bound to be unpopular with them* The Kowanduz district
can only be properly controlled through a very strong
tribal leader or local Agha such as the late Suayid Beg (Late
Governor of Bowanduz) Ismail Beg (Governor of Kowanduz) had
the people behind him for a time but he lacked strength of
character and forfeited all jocularity^sympathy by the murder
of Huri^s(above) brothers* It was these murders that brought
on the situation and it is quite possible that Huri would
have been content to remain in exile if they had not taken
place*
The case of the Khuahnao and Koi Sanjaq is very dif
ferent* Our troubles there are due to intrigues on the
part of the Begzadas and Aghas and I am pretty sure the
people as a whole both tribesmen and townsmen are favourably
disposed to the Government, but I will discuss the matter
more fully below*
When Captain Littledale attacked Batas Bowanduz had
already been evacuated* Ismail Beg(above) had called on the
surrounding tribes to assist him* They came in but adopted
a hostile rather than a friendly attitude* Shaikh Muhammad
Agha (Principal Chief of the Balikh) arrived and advised
Captain Hutchison to clear out to the Balik country at once,
which he did, appparently leaving a portion of the Levies
behind* With the remainder he made his way to Lerbend
(17 miles S*W* of powanduz) via Walash (17 miles E- of Bowanduz)
Pull reports have not yet been received from Captain
Hutchison and Mr* Turner* It is unfortunate that Captain
Littledale was in Arbil at the time of the troubles*
It is easy to be wise after the event but it is probable
that if the Levies had descended to the Desht-i-Harir
immediately on hearing of the Surchi attack they would
have come through safely and been able to prevent the
trouble spreading* I think, however, that Captain Littledale
About this item
- Content
The volume consists of correspondence, memoranda, drafts, and departmental notes relating to rebellion against British mandatory rule in Mesopotamia [approximately corresponding to present-day Iraq], later known as the Iraqi Revolt of 1920.
The volume covers the period from the start of unrest in May 1920 to British imposition of control in October of the same year. The majority of the volume comprises reports from political officers across Mesopotamia on the situation in their respective divisions and districts.
Other matters discussed within the volume include:
- The suspected causes of the uprising, including fears of ‘Bolshevik’ and pro-Turkish influence
- Settlement of the border between Syria and Mesopotamia
- Military strategy and operations, including the need for reinforcements
- The severing of British lines of communication, particularly rail
- The efficacy and principles of the use of armoured cars and air raids as means of control following numerous cases of misidentification and disproportionate force that resulted in the deaths and injuries of innocent people
- Political and civil policy in the region
- Identification and arrest of some of the leaders of the rebellion
- The prominence of events in Mesopotamia in the British press
- The question of disarming the tribes following the suppression of the rebellion.
Principal correspondents include officials at: the 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. ; the Office of the Civil Commissioner in Mesopotamia (from November 1920, the High Commissioner); the War Office; General Headquarters of the military in Mesopotamia; and the Government of India, Foreign and Political and Army departments.
The volume contains cuttings from several publications, including: The Times , The Statesman , The Observer , The Daily Herald , The Daily Mail , The Baghdad Times , and The Near East .
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 back of the correspondence. A second divider is included, for File 4722/1918 Part 7, entitled ‘Mesopotamia: Sir A. Wilson’s invitation to Syrian Baghdadis’. This was transferred to File 5268/20 Parts 1 and 2 (see IOR/L/PS/10/913).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (491 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume is arranged in approximate chronological order, from the rear to the front.
The subject 4722 (Mesopotamia) consists of ten volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/755-764. The volumes are divided into twelve parts, with parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 12 comprising one volume each. Part 10 is missing. Part 7, entitled ‘Mesopotamia: Sir A. Wilson’s invitation to Syrian Baghdadis’, was transferred to File 5268/20 Parts 1 and 2 (see IOR/L/PS/10/913).
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 489; 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. Multiple intermittent additional foliation sequences are also present. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves. The sequence contains one foliation anomaly, f 89a.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [76r] (160/995), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/761, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100137804985.0x0000a1> [accessed 12 June 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100137804985.0x0000a1
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100137804985.0x0000a1">File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [‎76r] (160/995)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100137804985.0x0000a1"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00028f/IOR_L_PS_10_761_0160.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00028f/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/761
- Title
- File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:i-v, 1r:89v, 89ar:89av, 90r:113r, 114v, 118v:120r, 121v, 127v:169v, 173r:192v, 194r:211v, 213r:223v, 225r:227r, 229r:261v, 262v:263v, 266r:279v, 280ar, 280r:293v, 294v, 295v:317v, 318ar, 318r:333v, 334v:341v, 342v:359v, 360v:400v, 404r:424v, 425ar, 425r:489v, ii-r:ii-v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence