File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [‎228v] (467/995)

P
20
We should also, even in parts of the country directly under our adminis
tration, go slowly, and refrain from forcing on the people town councils,
improvement trusts, drainage and water supply, and all the other parapher
nalia of civilization, more especially as the people themselves are unable to
pay the billsand lastly, we should exercise a rigid control over expenditure,
especially on public works. Some works are essential but it must be borne in
mind that whilst one engineer would insist on nothing short af absolute
perfection whatever the cost, others are content to cut their coat according to
their cloth, and many estimates for essential works which appear in the Budget
with a lump sum allotment, and are passed without comment by the head of
the administration, could be materially reduced by exercising economy.
It would interest me to see the plans and estimates for the barracks at
Baghdad, and whilst fully admitting that our troops must be well housed in
such a climate, there is a dividing line between what is necessary and what is
luxury. In India the tendency is to do without what is necessary if there
are no funds available, and the European troops in Rangoon (a climate in
some respects worse than Baghdad) are still living in the wooden barracks
built by Lord Dalhousie in 185b, and which, I believe, have been repeatedly
condemned as being uninhabitable according to modern standards. We are
not obliged slavishly to copy the method of economy practised in India, but
we need not go to the other extreme.
In conclusion, I must repeat that I have never been a believer in the
rapid development of Mesopotamia in any shape or form, but I do think that
by a better form of administration than obtains at present we can make the
mandate a success and greatly reduce the expenditure.
I am, Sir, your obedient Servant,
GEORGE C. BUCHANAN.
16, Victoria-street, Westminster, S.W. 1,
Tune 19.
Deleted from Reuters, July 2bth.
('airo .—Message to Times states that Syrian Government is appealing to
League of Nations.
Replying in Commons to Lambert, Lloyd George said that our present
difficulties in Mesopotamia were temporary. He was convinced that they
would be over-come.
Government saw no reason to abandon British mandate for Mesopotamia.
Times telegram from Jerusalem says that Bolshevism is making progress
in Syria. Letter from Trotsky and Lenin has been circulated which recognises
Arab Independence.
Julv 28. 1920.
Note by Miss G. L. Bell, C.B.E.
Sanid lalib has had two visits from Yusuf Effendi Suwaidi since his
arnvaJ. 1 his morning he returned these calls, taking with him Yasin Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
ivniidliai.r 1 and Abdul Lazzaq al Mir. INTo others were present. Yusuf
Jirfirendi came lo the door lo meet him to Saiyid Talib’s gratification. The
conversation as related to Sir A. 1 . A\ ilson and repeated later at his request
to Miss Bell for purposes of record, was as follows: —
\ usuf Suwaidi began by saying that the nationalist party had been at work
tor six months and had accomplished marvels but it was a great disappoint
ment that the Notables of Basrah had refused their support. S Talib in
particular should have given them his powerful backing. When he came to
I ago dad t he first time they had not approached him because he was the guest
of the Civil Commissioner and they feared he had joined the opposite camp.
Twice they had written to him to Basrah and received no definite answer.
. ut noiv that he had come, even though it had been in answer to a British
mutation, they were prepared to make him the leader. It was true that they
had loudly expressed their desire to have ‘Abdullah as Amir but that was onlv
a ruse The person they really wanted was Saiyid Talib. (It must be
remembered that Saiyid Talib himself is the reporter). Thev were deeply
disappointed with the Syrians. They expected money, troops and munitions
of war m abundance. What had they received? A bare £16,000! What
was that among so many? How could they carry on propaganda unless thev
were liberally financed? But if Saiyid Talib would join them, Yusuf
Ltrendi would put the whole of the resources of the ‘Iraq at his disposal. All
1( all d all the learned had joined his mirty—all were obedient to his
word. Hie Shi ahs and Sunnis had become brothers, linked bv a common
purpose. As for the tribes their adhesion was patent to all eyes. “ Look at
the Euphrates—-it is we who called the tribes to rebellion by untiring propa
ganda. You who took the lead in the Arab movement, it'is vou whom we
now acknowledge as leader.”