File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [‎211r] (432/995)

6 . It now became clear that we bad backed the wrong- horse, Nahi, and
the Political Officer in consequence addressed Majun offering following- terms :
500 rifles and outstanding- revenue to be paid into Government; Rs. 1,000 blood
money for the two levies killed; his son to be detained as hostage pending com
pletion of these terms. Majun sent in his son to hear the terms, who a few
days later after visiting- his father himself came in with portion of the fine in
cash and some 40 useless old rifles, Majun however declined fo come to definite
terms and ceased further payments.
7. The action of Majun began to react on other tribes to the north, whose
attitude commenced to be evasive both in matters of maintenance of order and
payment of revenue, which in this district is probably on a lower scale than any
other in Mesopotamia and the A1 Barakat commenced to adopt similar tactics.
8 . The whole matter was discussed afresh on the spot in February with
the Revenue Secretary on my behalf, and it was agreed that we should have
no option but to take fresh action by air against Majun.
About this period I received representations from the Director of Railways
reporting- a marked increase in thefts and acts of violence in the neighbourhood
of railway camps and stations in this area, and he urged me to take more drastic
action against the tribes concerned. Had we been in a position to take
action then and there, it is probable that the trouble which was steadily
spreading would have been nipped in the bud, but in reply to my request for
aeroplanes on the 1st March, I was informed that in the present state of the
R.A.F. it was not possible to send any aeroplane to operate in the Samawah
area but that it was hoped that action might be possible when more pilots had
arrived from England.
9. I again pressed on the 7th April, but with no result owing to shortage
of pilots and aeroplanes. On the 15th May, I reported that there was a distinct
increase of lawlessness in the Samawah district and urged early action by air.
I added that the trouble was spreading* up slowly from Sufran tribe north
wards, and that the Shaikh of the tribe Albu Jayash immediately south of
Rumaitha, stated plainly that he was losing control of his tribe owing to our
inability to deal effectively with the Sufran.
An A.P.O., who was measuring crops of the Albu Jayash tribe was threat
ened by armed men of the neighbouring section, A1 Antar, who had been
infected by the lawlessness of the A1 Barakat who lie immediately to He south,
and a few days later the A.P.O. at Samawah was shot at while sitting at an
open window in his house.
10 . On the 16th May, it was reported to me that one of the Rumaitha
tribes, A1 Ajib adjoining the Albu Jayash has attacked a friendly and pacified
tribe, the Albu Hassan, whom we had disarmed the previous year. Their
headmen had been summoned and had declined to come in.
11. Operations by air were eventually started on the 24th May, but the
area of disturbance was by this time greater and more widespread than ctmld
effectively be dealt with by the means at our disposal.*
12. Two days before operations began Majun himself died a natural
death, but the information did not reach us until two days after the raid had
finished.
Majun’s son, Nahi, found himself unable to control the tribe, and although
the fine was reduced to 300 rifles and the revenue demand was reduced to
Rs. 1.000, he was unable to obtain compliance. Representatives of the tribe
came in on the 20th May, accepted the terms and started surrender of rifles
and pavment of some portion of the cash but up to the end of June less than
half had been paid and it was unfortunately clear that the operations had only
been partly successful.
13 On Julv 1st, a further outbreak occurred, this time at Rumaitha,.
which is now being dealt with.
A. T. WILSON, Lieut. -Cor., I.A.,
Ag. Civil Commissioner in Mesopotamia^
Rtiuter, July 18f//, 1920.
London, July 13th. Replying in Commons to Ormsby Gore Cburchill
stated that Arabs on 2nd July, attacked Government buildings at Kumaitha
on Euphrates, killed Arab guard and cut railway Reinforcements were sent
from Basrah and small column sent out to Rumaitha suffered casualties owing
to cutting of canal and was unable to reach town. further reinforcements
were sent, from Baghdad and punitive measures were being taken by troops and
\ir Force Rising appears fo be local m character and was probably due to
religious agitation. Immediate cause was civil authorities arresting local
Shaikhs who had been inciting trbesmen to rebel. Garrison of Rumaitha was
Hill holding out and columns had been sent from Baghdad to assist it.