File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [‎422r] (856/995)

k
5599, and subsequent corre-
who has now returned to
say views therein express his
(P 3899) From Civil Commissioner, Baghdad, loth May 1920.
(Copy posted to India.)
(Received 16th, 7 a.m.)
Clear the line.
(R.) 5803. My telegram dated 8th May, No.
spondence. General Officer Cornmanding-in-Chief,
Baghdad, has seen correspondence and desires me to
entire concurrence.
• n® wl I , ,y. be , g | a<1 lf T r ^ 0n<leuce regarding Mesopotamia garrison beginning
with War OHic| telegram bio. 864:37 dated L>3r<l April and ended with Ids clear the
me telegram No. 868o, dated 14th May to War Office, could simultaneously be
laid before Committee. J '
There are persistent reports that Abdulla or (? Zaid) will shortly reach Albu
-Kama!. A fresh campaign of intensive propaganda is being launched. The sums
i !l,0 "y " lllcl1 fire llf,| ng lavished upon tribes are so large lhat 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 Ram at, following on recent agreement, is second
step. Local representatives of Arab Government have given us verballv and in
wuting 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we have withdrawn to Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows.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) Ana.^ 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
laced with a recrudescence of fanatical Pan-Arab activity with aims and methods
closely snmiar to those of their colleague^ in Syria and Egypt An announcement
ol the Constitution that wpproDose for this country unlikely to have any appreciable
eltect on this agitation; poptilmHin led by extremists whose cry it
pendence, exclusive of any sort o
foreign military forces.
foreign influence and com
nplef
[ h
is complete inde-
-- ^e withdrawal of all
- fact that complete anarchy is •wu^momt is nothing to
ii(,m. f hey have growm lat on anarchy in Syna ; Syria is exhausted and they seek
to revitalise their parasitical) existence by fastening themselves on this country. The
people of tliis comitry outside the towns are well armed, warlike, and highly
snsceptibve to agitation. Our problem is admirably stated in a letter of 10th April
to A ation&d, to which I beg reference.
. f think Committee should know that so far from our having three squadrons
winch were promised by middle of April, we have to-day only available in Mesopotamia
eight obsolete R.E. 8 machines in working order, 3 D.H. 9 A. machines. Eight
Al . ^ > mac ^ , ines constitute the available reserve machine^ that can be built. His
1 "h W s Government are paying, I lielieve, for three squadrons^f^one squadron has
( nme out with machines unsuitable for use in this country in their present condition
fl'H &yt) other is still in Lgypt. I have already represented situation in this country as
rangerous, vide my telegram of 4th March. I beg to do so again. Unless His
Aajesty s Government and Parliament are prepared to find and support forces to
maintain order in this country^maintain. afeurCgm efficiently when here, the coming
autumn is bound to usher in a wave of anarchic energy which will swamp us, and
jvitxi us Persia. 4 urther concession in a constitutional direction will not affect this
issue.
J l oie § oi ? 1 g ^ ias ^ een fully discussed with General Officer Commanding-in-Ghief,
m which he desires me to express his entire concurrence.
f
■to*.