File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [‎143v] (297/995)

1
4
r
(14) It is held by many here both British and native that I made a mis
take in not dealing with prominent agitators here drastically before the move
ment had reached its present dimensions. This however is a matter of opinion.
An Administration of this sort at such juncture must necessarily have great
difficulty in deciding at what point a constitutional movement becomes so sedi
tious as "to demand or justify repression. Impracticable as are their aims they
have for the most part been endorsed at one time or other in official pronounce
ments of His Majesty’s Government and having regard to the wording of
Article 22 of the League of Nations Treaty I doubt whether we shoiild have
been justified in arresting those who now declare themselves to be unwilling to
accept a British mandate so long as their attitude did not endanger public
order.
Copy posted to India.
Telegram—
From Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
To—India Office, London.
No. 9703. '
Dated 12th August, 1920.
The following Proclamation has been issued by Brig.-‘General Sanders,
G.O.C., Baghdad Defences, in the name of the G.O.C.-in-Chief : —
To
The People of Baghdad. •
Ever since Ramadhan, certain evilly disposed persons have been in the habit
of summoning Mauluds every Friday night, ostensibly for religious purposes,
but really in order to inflame the mind of the public against the Government
and to stir up disorder. In order to avoid giving ground for the belief that it
wished to suppress free public discussion, the Occupying Authority has hither
to refrained from interfering in this matter, but as it now appears that the
freedom allowed has been abused and that the ignorant are led astray by the
audacity of the agitators who make speeches at the mauluds, it is hereby noti
fied that the holdings of mauluds is forbidden and that the holding of meet
ings for political purposes otherwise than in accordance with the Turkish Law
on the subject and with the permission of the Military Governor and Political
Officer, Baghdad, will be punished with the utmost severity.
A Military Court has been established to try all offences against public
order.
Telegram—R. Pty.
From—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
To—Secretary of State for India, London.
. No. 9752.
Dated 13th August, 1920.
My telegram 12th August 9703.
Simultaneously with issue of this Proclamation I gave orders with approval
of G.O.C.-in-Chief for the arrest of Yusuf Suwaidi, Jafar Abu Timman, Ali
Bazirgan and Shaikh Ahmad Daud. Owing to extreme difficulty of effecting
these arrests in middle of crowded town by agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. of local police it was neces
sary to take step at very short notice under very difficult circumstances and
police were only successful in arresting number four who will be sent to Hen-
jam. Attempts are being made to trace the first three but I have little hope
that they will be apprehended. They have probably already left Baghdad for
Kadhimain or to join the tribes who are almost all hostile N.E. and W. of
Baghdad. Further arrests will be made of other leading agitators. Search
of houses of above mentioned persons has produced some interesting docu
ments, and a bomb was found ready for use at short notice in desk of number
three who was head master in “ Nationalist ” School for boys.
There was a certain amount of hostility shown by men in houses near first
named and police were heavily fired on, who replied effectively killing several
and arresting others who will be tried by military court.
Momentary effect produced has been excellent in Baghdad itself and ex-
Turkish deputies Committee and other representative persons do not disguise
their satisfaction.
The stalwart attitude of Arab Police in Baghdad and of Arab Levies in
Hillah and in certain other places, and steadiness of most Arab officials of
Civil Administration, particularly in Education Department, is an encourag
ing feature of situation.
r* I
wt j 7