Skip to item: of 995
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [‎274r] (558/995)

This item is part of

The record is made up of 1 volume (491 folios). It was created in 28 Jun 1920-11 Feb 1921. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

I J 652 2'i
v ron
i Civil Commissioner, Baghdad, oOth August 19-0.
2061
(Repeated Simla, Cairo, Jerusalem, Constantmople ; copy to General O fficei
Commanding, Baghdad, who has seen before despatch, and concur *.)
(Received 31st, 8.30 a.m.)
Clear tlie line. „ _ n , , 1Aonr .
SinTd 10465 My telegram of 26th August, 10^90. _ . ^ „
Situation northern part of Arbil Division is very precarious Surcm Kxirds ron
Aqra district roused by escaped prisoner notorious misclue “dwie^ undel British
captured Batas and are attacking Rowanduz, which is held bylenes under
officerjs)- n K;rl . uk X)j v isi 0 n has been improved (by) military action, but is still
delicate \o fresh develomnents in Salaimaniyeh, but Bolshevik success m noit -
debcaie no - i, (-effect) here. Situation of Hit, Ramadi and Fallujah
stdisfactory thanks to active cooperation of Maim and Anaizah chiefs. No fresh
developments on middle Euphrates, but chiefs show no inclination to 1 } e ^ otiat ^
fanaticism is on increase if Najaf and Kerbela, where new chief Mujtahid, Sheikh
m ISoa "bSK A^e preaching of Jehad by
. Ration t'tunia i h at l ast ro used tribesmen to whom political
Twrd, Td made no app^ Most important Sheikh in district, Khayun-al-
Ob^rwho owes Ze ofhiif length to us, but has since the armistice been strong
supporter of civil administration (particularly during last two months^ found himself
lin yui P to r i iec k spread of fanaticism among Ins tribe. Ipwn and coumiysiue
faff did not mAent grovvlh of fanatical feeling, and only (timely) arrival of
aeroplane (? s) saved eitlier his life or that or Assistant Political Officei, '
Trend of events in Muntaiiq Division are (sic) having unfavourable eftect on
public order hi Hammar Lake Ml on lower Euphrates, and we may Le oWiged
f? before) long to depend on railway in place of river oommumcation to Nasmyeh.
No fresh developments elsewhere but re-occupation of Baqjibah and in
naissance to Qizil Robat yesterday, I hope, portends (sic) eaily impiovernent
Diyalah. Division.

About this item

Content

The volume consists of correspondence, memoranda, drafts, and departmental notes relating to rebellion against British mandatory rule in Mesopotamia [approximately corresponding to present-day Iraq], later known as the Iraqi Revolt of 1920.

The volume covers the period from the start of unrest in May 1920 to British imposition of control in October of the same year. The majority of the volume comprises reports from political officers across Mesopotamia on the situation in their respective divisions and districts.

Other matters discussed within the volume include:

  • The suspected causes of the uprising, including fears of ‘Bolshevik’ and pro-Turkish influence
  • Settlement of the border between Syria and Mesopotamia
  • Military strategy and operations, including the need for reinforcements
  • The severing of British lines of communication, particularly rail
  • The efficacy and principles of the use of armoured cars and air raids as means of control following numerous cases of misidentification and disproportionate force that resulted in the deaths and injuries of innocent people
  • Political and civil policy in the region
  • Identification and arrest of some of the leaders of the rebellion
  • The prominence of events in Mesopotamia in the British press
  • The question of disarming the tribes following the suppression of the rebellion.

Principal correspondents include officials at: the 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. ; the Office of the Civil Commissioner in Mesopotamia (from November 1920, the High Commissioner); the War Office; General Headquarters of the military in Mesopotamia; and the Government of India, Foreign and Political and Army departments.

The volume contains cuttings from several publications, including: The Times , The Statesman , The Observer , The Daily Herald , The Daily Mail , The Baghdad Times , and The Near East .

The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence. A second divider is included, for File 4722/1918 Part 7, entitled ‘Mesopotamia: Sir A. Wilson’s invitation to Syrian Baghdadis’. This was transferred to File 5268/20 Parts 1 and 2 (see IOR/L/PS/10/913).

Extent and format
1 volume (491 folios)
Arrangement

The volume is arranged in approximate chronological order, from the rear to the front.

The subject 4722 (Mesopotamia) consists of ten volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/755-764. The volumes are divided into twelve parts, with parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 12 comprising one volume each. Part 10 is missing. Part 7, entitled ‘Mesopotamia: Sir A. Wilson’s invitation to Syrian Baghdadis’, was transferred to File 5268/20 Parts 1 and 2 (see IOR/L/PS/10/913).

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 489; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Multiple intermittent additional foliation sequences are also present. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves. The sequence contains one foliation anomaly, f 89a.

Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [‎274r] (558/995), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/761, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100137804987.0x00009f> [accessed 14 June 2026]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100137804987.0x00009f">File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [&lrm;274r] (558/995)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100137804987.0x00009f">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00028f/IOR_L_PS_10_761_0566.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00028f/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image