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File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [118v] (247/995)
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.
12
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Telegram—P. Clear Line.
Prom—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
To—India Office, London.
Ts T o. 10223.
Dated 24th August, 1920.
Your telegram of 23rd August, 872,* reference deletion from published
Reuters of Prime Minister’s Speech.
Items are deleted from Reuters not by me but by G.H.Q. at their discre
tion. I have in practice however been chary of reproducing Reuters abstracts
as they have several times been found to be highly misleading.
The text of the Speeches of Prime Minister and of Lord Curzon reached
us last week and is being carefully translated for publication.
Telegram—R.
From—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
To—Secretary of State for India, London.
Ko. 10551.
Dated 31st August, 1920.
My telegram of 24th August, 10223.
On further enquiry I find that fairly full summary of Mesopotamian
Debate was published in “ Baghdad Times ” of August 10th, and whole
debate was published in extenso in General Circulars of August 23rd, by my
directions and on the same date in Arabic journals in Baghdad, which are
however not now under direct Government control.
I trust that it will be realised from the above that this Administration is
not a party to any suppression of announcements regarding Government’s
policy in Mesopotamia.
Telegram—R.
From—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
t
To—Secretary of State for India, London.
No. 10552.
V \
Dated 31st August, 1920.
Whilst public in Mesopotamia are kept fully posted with what is being
said in Parliament and thought in England regarding Mesopotamia, public
at home are not equally well informed as to actual facts of situation in Meso
potamia nor are steps taken to correct numerous misapprehensions on points
of administrative policy which collectively must have an important effect
upon opinion of public and of House of Commons. I venture to suggest that
Marrs, Tyler, Balfour or some other competent officers with recent knowledge
of Mesopotamia be invited to write to press to contradict gross errors contained
in letters of Mr. T. E. Lawrence, and to enlighten public generally pending
publication by His Majesty’s Government at their discretion of General
Report on the whole question.
Telegram.
From—Dobbs, Foreign, Simla.
To—Sir Arnold Wilson, Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
No. nil.
Dated and received, 17th September, 1920.
As you are about to relinquish control of Civil Administration of Mesopo
tamia members of Department of which you belong desire to convey to you
their admiration of indomitable energy and courage both personal and moral
with which you have sustained for two and half years heavy burden of
responsibility thrown upon you amid immense difficulties which are fully
appreciated here we hope that long overdue leave which you are now taking
will restore your health and enable you to add to conspicuous services which
you have already rendered to Empire.
Not reprinted.
f
r
.
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
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File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [118v] (247/995), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/761, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100137804986.0x000030> [accessed 7 June 2026]
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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