File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [‎345r] (702/995)

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From Civil Commissioner, Baghdad, 15th Mag 1920.
(Copy posted to India.)
(Received 16th, 7 a.m.)
Clear the line.
(R.) 6803. My telegram dated 8th May, No. 5599, and subsequent corre
spondence. General Officer Coinmanding-in-('hief- who has now returned to
Baghdad, has seen correspondence and desires me to say views therein express his
entire concurrence.
He will be glad if correspondence regarding Mesopotamia garrison beginning
with War Office telegram-No. 86137, dated 23rd April and ended with Jus clear the
line telegram No. 8685, dated 14th May to War Office, could simultaneously be
laid before Committee.
There are persistent reports that Abdulla or (? Zaid) will shortly reach Albu
Kamel. A fresh campaign of intensive propaganda is being launched. The sums
of money which are being lavished upon tribes are so large that there seems little
doubt that a sum equal to whole British subsidy to Syria is being devoted to this
purpose.
Seizure of Dair-uz-zor was first step in campaign of penetration from Syria to
Mesopotamia. Occupation of Albu Kama!, following on recent agreement, is second
step. Local representatives of Arab Government have given us 'verbally and in
writing to understand that there will be no cessation of hostilities on this front until
we have withdrawn to Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Hauran south (of) A uay^ Already made good their words,
and for last week our troops have daily been in action against well-organised raids.
Occupation of Ana^third step, and if made effectively by Arab Government would
imperil our position at Mosul. There are indications that in near future we may be
faced with a recrudescence of fanatical Pan-Arab activity with aims and methods
closely similar to those of their colleagues in Syria and Egypt An announcement
of the Constitution that we propose for this country unlikely to have any appreciable
effect on this agitation; population led by extremists whose cry is^ complete inde
pendence, exclusive of any sort of foreign influence and complete withdrawal of all
foreign military forces. The fact that complete anarchy is i-mmimaM is nothing to
them. They have grown fat on anarchy in Syria; Syria is exhausted and they seek
to revitalise"their parasitical) existence by fastening then.selves on this country. _ The
people of this country outside the towns are well armed, warlike, and highly
susceptibly to agitation. Our problem is admirably stated in a lettei of 10th A pul
to National, to which I beg reference. ' \
I think Committee should know that so far from our having three squadrons
which were promised by middle of April, we have t )-T>y only avadable in Mesopotamia
eight obsolete R.E. 8 machines in working order, o 14.If. J A. machines. Light
R.E. 8 machines constitute the available reserve machines fhntcan be built. His
Majesty’s Government arc paying, l believe, for three squadrons one squadron has
come out with machines unsuitable for use in this country in them piesent condition
other is still in Egypt. I have already represented situation in this country as
dangerous, vide my telegram of 4th March. I beg to do so again, unless His
Majesty’s Government and Parliament are) prepared to find and support forces to
maintain order in this country A maintain aajaffien efficiently when here, the coming
autumn is bound to usher in a wave of anarchic energy which will swamp us, and
with us Persia. Further concession in a constitutional direction will not affect this
The foregoing has been fully discussed with General Officer Comm-anding-in-Ohief,
m which he desires me to express his entile concuiionce.