![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 52. PART II. (From 16th to 30th November 1918.)’ [‎50r] (108/558)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000226/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3312_0108.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 52. PART II. (From 16th to 30th November 1918.)’ [‎50r] (108/558)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 52. PART II. (From 16th to 30th November 1918.)’ [50r] (108/558)
The record is made up of 1 volume (275 folios). It was created in 21 Sep 1918-30 Nov 1918. 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.
50
Arabs are content with our occupation; none Mahomedan element clings
to it as the tardy fulfilment of hopes of many generations; world at large
recognises that it is our duty and our high privilege to establish an effective
protectorate and introduce a form of Government which shall make possible
the development of this country which, in spite of centuries of neglect, is still
the ganglion of the Middle East.
If we allow ourselves to be diverted from this path by political catchwords,
our soldiers will have fought and died in vain and treasure we have lavished
in this country will, in the eyes of the world and of the peoples of the Middle
East, have been wasted for it was not merely to defeat Germany that we came
here.
I think, therefore, that our best course is to declare Mesopotamia to be a
British Protectorate under which all races and classes will be given forthwith
maximum possible degree of liberty and self-rule that is compatible with good
and safe Government to which all nations aspire but so few now enjoy.
Our national characteristics and trend of our policy in this country during
the past four years afford best guarantee that we shall not fail here as in India
to make every effort by the spread of education and institutions familiar to
progress of states, to encourage growth of a self-contained Iraq State.
Working copy to G. S. (M. 0. 1).
Copy to M. S. C., G. S. (M. O. 3).
APPENDIX 344.
DIARY No. 93061.
Telegram P., No. 9915, dated 16th November 1918.
(Despatched 8-30 p.m.; received 4-45 p.m., 17th November 1918.)
(Received in War Section, 20th November 1918.)
From—The
Political Resident
A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
, Baghdad,
To—The Secretary of State for India, London.
(Repeated the Secretary to the Government of India in the Poreign and Political Department,
Delhi and Teheran.)
On November 13th, I aeroplaned to Khanikin and Kifri to discuss
Kurdish developments with Political Officers. There is widespread anxiety
that Sulaimaniyah should be occupied with a small force so as to save country
from anarchy which threatens them, and which cannot he prevented without
a central Government. Utmost readiness to receive Political Officer and to
obey orders is professed, but the desire is expressed that some display of force
should be made to secure compliance by mal-eontents.
I received to-day deputation representing principal families resident in
and out of Baghdad. Their object was to ask me to urge His Majesty’s
Government to declare Kurdistan to he under British protection so as to give it
the opportunity of orderly progress.
Suggestion by leader of deputation that a Kurdish Confederation was
possible, was enthusiastically received. He explained that Erance’s traditional
position as protector of Christian communities in East disqualified her, in eyes
of Kurds, for task of creating and fostering a Kurdish Confederation. This
was a task of which they considered His Majesty’s Government alone capable.
The necessity of including all Kurds in Confederation was urged.
Working copy to G. S. (M. O.l).
Copy to M. S. C., G. S. (M. O. 3).
APPENDIX 345.
DIARY No. 93063.
Telegram P., No. 9869, dated 15th November 1918.
(Despatched 3-15 p.m.; received 8-1-5 p.m., 15th November 1918.)
(Received in War Section, 18th November 1918.)
Prom—The
Political Resident
A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
, Baghdad,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart-
men!, Delhi.
Clear the line.
Will Government of India he pleased to consider views 1 am submitting
to-morrow (Diary Nos. 93054 and 93059) before themselves replying to
Secretary of State’s telegram of November 14th (Diary No. 93053), on future
of Mesopotamia ?
Working copy to G. S. (M. O. 1).
Copy to M. S. C.
About this item
- Content
The volume contains a chronological list of brief summaries of papers relating to the activities of the Indian Expeditionary Force D (also known as the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force) between 16 and 30 November 1918. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, letters, memoranda, and tables.
An index to the contents of this volume can be found at the start of IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3311. The volume concerns:
- Military personnel issues, including: recruitment, reinforcements, and the transfer of officers
- Supply of food, equipment, ordnance, construction materials and other items to Force D
- Preparations for the demobilisation of Force D
- Demobilisation of the Turkish [Ottoman] Army
- Prisoner of war exchanges
- Railway, river, and port traffic in Mesopotamia [Iraq]
- The British occupation of the Mosul Vilayet
- Construction of railways in Mesopotamia
- Post-war economic and political conditions in Mesopotamia
- The creation of new governments in Mesopotamia, Syria, and Palestine
- Discussion of the Anglo-French Declaration and its significance for Mesopotamia
- Proposal for the creation of a British-administered ‘Kurdish State’ centred on Sulaimaniyah [Sulaymaniyah]
- Transfer of Mesopotamian public debts, archives, and other state assets from the Turkish to the British administration
- Official examination of the 49th Bengal Infantry
- British occupation of Baku and Batum [Batumi]
- British policy in the Caucasus, including: the British intention to ‘police’ the region between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea; proposed disarming of ‘the 6 ½ million inhabitants of Trans-Caucasia’; and the proposed British recognition of autonomous governments in Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan
- British military support for White Russian and other anti-Bolshevik forces
- Intelligence concerning German troop numbers and movements in the Caucasus and Anatolia Peninsula that forms most of modern-day Turkey.
- Intelligence concerning Turkish troop numbers and movements in the Caucasus and Anatolia Peninsula that forms most of modern-day Turkey.
- Political events in Constantinople [Istanbul]
- Supply issues for British units in Persia [Iran]
- Request from the Shah of Persia that Persia be represented at future peace negotiations.
The volume also contains:
- Distribution and composition of Force D, including details of lines of communication and general organisation (ff 56-64)
- Report of pilots and aircraft available for service in Mesopotamia, 14 November 1918 (f 3), 21 November 1918 (f 120)
- Ration strength of Force D on 5 October 1918 (ff 92-96), 12 October 1918 (ff 18-22, 175-179), 19 October 1918 (ff 117-120), 26 October 1918 (ff 72-74)
- Strength return of Force D on 21 September 1918 (ff 22-34), 28 September 1918 (ff 198-210), 19 October 1918 (ff 90-92), 26 October 1918 (ff 261-262)
- Ammunition return of Force D on 5 October 1918 (ff 210-221), 25 October 1918 (f 39), 29 October 1918 (ff 84-85), 5 November 1918 (f 85), 12 November 1918 (f 99), 19 November 1918 (f 264)
- Weekly return of sick and wounded dated 12 October 1918 (ff 76-77), 19 October 1918 (ff 169-170)
- State of supplies on 7 November 1918 (ff 110-111), 20 November 1918 (ff 262-263)
- Distribution Report showing number and condition of motor vehicles with Force D, 1 October 1918 (ff 223-244).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (275 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 273; these numbers are printed, and are located in the bottom centre of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.
Dimensions: 21 x 33cm
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 52. PART II. (From 16th to 30th November 1918.)’ [50r] (108/558), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3312, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100141529575.0x00006d> [accessed 29 March 2025]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3312
- Title
- ‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 52. PART II. (From 16th to 30th November 1918.)’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:i-v, 1r:273v, 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