File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [‎219r] (448/995)

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Telegram— R. Ordinary.
From—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
To—India Office, London.
No. 7453.
Dated 20th June, 1920.
My telegram of 19th January 751 and my telegram of 10th March 3494.
Local Government concerned have insisted on return of Bowman Marrs and
Philby all three admittedly experts in the affairs of country, and all of them I
believe anxious to be employed here and there is reason to fear that the few
remaining Political Police Irrigation and Agricultural Officers whose services
I have obtained from India will be likewise before long withdrawn or forced
to return by threats of supersession or loss of prospects.
I deduce from the fact that H.M.G. have never felt able to intervene
officially to retain the above or other Officers in Mesopotamia, that they have
no statutory power at present to obtain loan of expert assistance for a manda
tory area from Provincial^tevernments. If this is the case I venture to
suggest that statutory powers should be obtained and vested in the appropriate
Ministry for if Provincial Governments continue to withdraw their officers
public opinion here will before long declare openly wJiat instructed people
have for some time been thinking namely thgt Great Britain is neither able nor
willing to provide the expert assistance to this country promised in Article 22
of Treaty.
(Translation.)
Baghdad, 30th June, 1920.
To—The Military Governor and Political Officer, Baghdad.
We have received with pleasure your esteemed letter, dated 20th June,
1920. with which vou have enclosed a copv of the Announcement of his
H.M.G.
In going through the Announcement it is observed that they emphasised in
it the decision passed by the League of Nations regarding the independence
of ‘Iraq and the organisation of its Government.
We had previously asked for the formation of an “ Iraq General Council ”
representing the nations of ‘Iraq, the members of which to be elected by the
population of Mesopotamia on constitutional and Civil Rights, but Great
Britain suggested the postponement of its formation until the approaching
Autumn.
As you are aware of the anxiety of the people of ‘Iraq it is essential that
such a Council be promptly formulated with a view to setting their minds at
rest. We have therefore considered it necessary to ask you to assist us in
starting the election of the said Council in order to realize the end prescribed
by the League of Nations with which H.M.G. are in concurrence after long
and matured consideration.
The other particulars embodied in the Announcement will be carried out
after the organisation of this Government. We repeat our request for a
speedy formation of the Council referred to as we are being urged by the mhabn
tants.
Names of Signatories.
Saiyid Muhammad al Sadir al Din, Yusuf al Suwaidi, ‘Abdul Wahab al
Naib, Mudarris Imam al A‘dhamiyah Sa‘id, Saiyid ‘Abdul Karim al Hasani
al Saiyid Haidir, Rif‘at al Chadirji, ‘Abdul Rahman al Haidan, Fuad al
Daftari, Shaikh Ahmad al Shaikh Daud, Ahmad al Dhalnr, Yasm al Khud-
hairi, Saiyid Muhammad al Mustafa Khalil, Haji Ja‘far Haji Daud al Abu-
Timmin, ‘Ali Bazirqan.
Telegram—Cypher Pty. R.
From—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
To—India Office, repeated Simla, Tehran, Cairo and Constantinople.
No. 8042,
Dated 4th July, 1920.
My telegram of 28th June 7835.
On July 2nd tribes near Rumaithah who have for some time past been
incited by agitators from Najaf to rebel attacked Government building at
Rumaithah killed Arab guards and forcibly released Shaikh who had been
imprisoned with my approval on previous day for inciting his people to rebel
lion. Railway line has been cut above-and below Rumaithah and below
Samawah and considerable damage done.