File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [‎210v] (431/995)

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that state until the future of such territory is defined. Therefore until that
time Ottoman Law should be enforced in this country, and every project should
have legal basis, so it may be built on a firm foundation; therefore, we can
enforce the rules which apply to the election of members of general Assembly
to the formation of the preliminary Committee which will have one of its
members as President vide, the aforesaid proclamation.
This Committee will consider the projects mentioned in the said notifica
tion. This Committee will adopt such rules from the said Ottoman Law of
election, which will suit the formation of the Mesopotamia Convention.
This will, therefore, be in accordance with the wishes of the people and
the Anglo-French declaration, which was published formerly “ The British
and French Governments do not contemplate forcing the people of
Mesopotamia and Syria to adopt special rules and regulations ’’
We, therefore, hope that you as representative of His Majesty’s Govern
ment, will grant our request.
We file this petition on behalf of the Committee of representatives and
beg to present our best respects.
——— 4
Wo. 21257.
Office of the Civil Commissioner,
Baghdad, the 20f/> July, 1920.
To—C. G. S., G.H.Q. (2 copies) sent to 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. , Simla, under my Wo. 21256
July,'20th, 1920.
MEMORANDUM.
I have the honour to report as directed on the events which led up to and
necessitated bombing of the Sufran tribe on May 24th, 1920, and succeeding
days.
2. On 12th September, 1919, the Political Officer at Diwaniyah reported
that he was having great difficulty in dealing with this tribe, who were inacces
sible by land either to troops or to local levies. They had repeatedly raided
peaceful tribes in neighbouring districts, including Afek, rendering it difficult
for the Political Officer concerned to prevent outbreak of general inter-tribal
•disorder which might spread with results which it was impossible to foretell.
The Shaikh of the tribe, named Majun, had three times refused to come
in to discuss the best means of settling his tribe, and Avhen formally summoned
by the Political Officer in charge of the Division himself, again refused.
4. With the previous approval of General Headquarters, after some three
months had passed in fruitless endeavours to come to an amicable arrangement,
Majun was warned to come into Samawah in person under safe conduct within
10 days, and to surrender 500 rifles and pay arrears of revenue totalling
Bs. 5,000 preparatory to settlement in accordance with tribal law of the points
nt issue between him and his neighbours, failing which he would be made the
object of an attack by air. The raid was in due course sanctioned and took
place on the 30th September, 1919. The tribe at once dispersed into the
neighbouring areas and scattered amongst other nomad tribes j the effect on
the general situation was good but temporary.
Tribes on the Wasiriyah side who had suffered from raids by the Sufran
refused them access to their grazing grounds and expressed their satisfaction
that this troublesome tribe was at last being dealt with by Government.
4. Wahi a brother of Shaikh Majun was approached by minor leaders of
the tribe with a view to becoming Shaikh and entering into an arrangement
with Government which was apparently acceptable to all concerned? He
Proved however unequal to the task, and although the Pol'tieal Officer under
took to treat the tribe with special leniency in the event of a satisfactory
Shaikh being selected and supported in his position by the minor leaders, the
tribe failed to come to any agreement as to its leaders and remained dis
organized, but defiant.
5. On the 28th November, 1919, a further incident in connection with
this tribe occurred. Nahi, came in to see Major Daly, and begged for addi
tional support by Government in order that he might be in a better position
to exercise influence on the tribe. He represented that several weeks had
elapsed since his appointment but that he had made no progress towards
enforcing his authority.
The Assistant Political ‘ ffficer was accordingly authorised to send 30 levies
for a few days to sit at the headquarters of Nahi', who was engaged in endea
vouring to collect the rifles which were to be handed in to Government as part
of the terms arranged. The Arab officer in charge of the Sowars was however
somewhat oyer-zealous and forced the Shaikh’s hand by insisiting on imme
diate collection of rifles and by himself assisting with his men in their forcible
collection. A fracas occurred in which two levies and two tribesmen were
shot, and some rifles were taken.
I