File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [‎226r] (462/995)

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A\ e shall have by autumn 3 divisions in the country who will depend
entirely on civil departments for Railways, Posts, Telegraphs, Works, Electric
Light, Roads and Bridges. I am directly responsible to the Military author
ities to maintain these departments subject to recovering of proper proportion
of cost from them in every case. The military position being what it is I can
m no way afford to dispense forthwith with European stalf. Our financial
position already compels heads of departments to reduce the number of Euro
peans to lowest figure and there is no one here who wishes to employ more than
tie can possibly help.
Substitution of Arab for Indian personnel is proceeding rapidly in many
departments hut we have not yet reached the stage when we can find a sub
stitute for British personnel. In Syria, Palestine and Egypt his place is taken
by the Levantine and Southern European, a type which does not exist here.
The Turk introduced him and with the Turk he fled and will not return till we
have railway communication with the Mediterranean.
1 am reporting on each department separately by post. Meanwhile I beg
that you will permit recruitment to continue and accept my assurances that
pending the submission of a full report there will be no unnecessary additional
recruitment. If stoppage is insisted on I shall have no option but to ask the
Military authorities to resume charge of certain departments the continuance
of which is of vital importance.
It may interest H.M.G. to know that there are at least as many British
motor mechanics in the employment of local firms in connection with motors
as in the Civil Administration and that the tendency both of British and Native
firms in Baghdad and Basrah, during the past 18 months has been greatly to
increase their British mechanical staff owing to the important role which
mechanical transport now plays in this country and in all branches of the
Administration.
Telegram —P.
From—F.M. Lord Allenby, Bacos Ramlah.
To—Foreign Office, London, repeated to C.C., Baghdad.
No. 638.
Dated 1st and received 3rd July, 1920.
Jafar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. in whom I have complete confidence, lias offered to resign,
his position in Faisal’s army and proceed to Baghdad to remove misunder-
standngs, regarding attitude of Faisal’s Government towards the Meso
potamian Administration and to help in clearing up situation in regard to
Ajaimi. He states that Ajaimi has in no w„y been assisted or incited by
Faisal’s Government who have no control whatever over him, but that he has
collected a number of Baghdad Officers of Turkish Army who have been unable
to find employment elsewhere. Jafar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. would undertake to get into touch
with such officers and utilize them for Mesopotamian Administration.
I strongly recommend that he should be asked to go as soon as possible to*
Baghdad where I am sure he would be of great assistance.
Do you agree ?
Telegram—R.
From—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
To—India Office, London, repeated High Commissioner, Cairo.
No.. 8039. *
Dated 3rd July, 1920.
High Commissioner telegram of 1st July 638. I shall be very glad to
see Jafar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. at Baghdad hut in present circumstances I am inclined in his
own interests to recommend that he should go via Mipsul or by sea. If the
former he should come via Tel Afar and give us previous warning in order to
prevent possible misunderstanding.
I should mention that I am only waiting for authority to make the
announcement referred to in my telegram of 20th June 7431 in order to tele
graph its purport through Egyptian authorities to Damascus and Aleppo
and to invite selected Baghdadi officers to come here to assist in discussions on
subject namelv electoral law. I should mention that for some time past
Ajaimi has not been heard of prominently on this side and I have no recent
knowledge of his whereabouts. Until Jafar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. has visited Baghdad he
would do well not to enter into negotiations with such doubtful elements as
the officers referred to.”
Addressed 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. , repeated High Commissioner, Cairo.