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File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [323r] (658/995)
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
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j
(P 6136) From Civil Commissioner, Baghdad, loth August 1920. .1053
(Repeated to Foreign Office, Simla, Teheran, Constantinople, Cairo, (corrupt group).
(Received 14th, 9.)
Clear the line.
9751. Situation has (? developed) unfavourably during past 48 hours. Attempt
was made on llthto ambush Assistant Political Officer, Telafar (? who was) parleying
with Shammar supported by three squadrons of cavalry. Appears to me that
tribesmen treacherous, opened fire on cavalry escort, who returned fire with good
results.
Secondly, attempt was made on 12th to (? ambush) Political Officer, Arbil, on his
way to (? Rowanduz) to meet Seyyid Tahar. Political Officer was accompanied by
Levy Officer and got away with assistance of tribal escort, but he considers attempt
was probably first move in preconcerted revolutionary scheme, owing to (? stubborn)
spirit of disorder among tribes.
Thirdly, it is reported that Lieut.-Col. Leachman was (sic) assassinated and killed
12th August near Fpllujah.
Fourthly, it has become necessary to withdraw Assistant Political Officer from
Qalatsikar. As a result of this step it is, I fear, inevitable that Assistant Political
Officers at Hai and Shatrah will also be forced to leave, and this in turn will react
unfavourably on situation both on Tigris and Euphrates.
Fifthly, at present time there is (? no) sign of disturbances in Sulaimaniyah
Division itself, but the country on Persian side of frontier is greatly disturbed, and
it is not improbable that it will spread across border as soon as it is realised that we
are unable to detach forces in this direction.
Sixthly. Situation at Samawah also threatening.
Seventhly. Political Officer, Baqubah, has been compelled to evacuate that
place as a result of tribal rising, which (? column) was not successful in suppressing,
and it must be assumed that Shahraban and Khani (? ——)n will shortly follow suit,
as there are no troops there and our communications with Persia are thus severed.
Eighthly. General Officer Commanding-in-Chief is doubtless addressing
(corrupt group) military aspect* I need only say that I think we must now (? act)
on assumption that disorder will (? shortly) become general, and we must be prepared
for further withdrawals. (Corrupt group) once civil administration has been thus
compelled precipitately to evacuate a district, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to
restore it except by military operations in the district affected, and there is no
immediate prospect (? of this), and as civil revenue cannot afford to maintain
employees for any length of time who are not doing productive work, 1 am commencing
to send back to India considerable numbers of employees on civil departmental
(? duty), particularly irrigation works post and (? telegraphs).
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
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File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [323r] (658/995), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/761, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100137804988.0x00003b> [accessed 12 June 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/761
- Title
- File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:i-v, 1r:89v, 89ar:89av, 90r:113r, 114v, 118v:120r, 121v, 127v:169v, 173r:192v, 194r:211v, 213r:223v, 225r:227r, 229r:261v, 262v:263v, 266r:279v, 280ar, 280r:293v, 294v, 295v:317v, 318ar, 318r:333v, 334v:341v, 342v:359v, 360v:400v, 404r:424v, 425ar, 425r:489v, ii-r:ii-v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence