'Mesopotamia: Papers relating to the future administration of Mesopotamia for the Committee over which I presided, 1917-1919' [‎135v] (270/632)

Content

File containing correspondence, memoranda and reports relating to the work of the Mesopotamia Administration Committee, collected by Lord Curzon of Kedleston, Lord President of the Council, who chaired the Committee.

The papers cover a variety of topics relating to the administration of British-occupied Mesopotamia [Iraq] during and after the First World War, and discussions over the future status and administration of the region, including:

• A proclamation to the people of Baghdad on the occasion of the British occupation
• Appointments of civil and political officers, primarily transferred from India, for the administration of Mesopotamia, with the intention of replacing them with ‘suitable Arab personnel’ as soon as practicable
• Considerations over whether Mesopotamia should be the responsibility of the Government of India or of the British Government, and how this decision might impact other British agencies in the Gulf
• Arrangements for the independent administration of Nejef [An-Najaf], Kerbela [Karbala], and other Shiah [Shia] holy places
• Problems caused by the civil administration in Mesopotamia being answerable to the military administration, and the creation of the post of Civil Commissioner after the end of the War
• Reports on events in Egypt, the Hejaz, Palestine and Syria, and considerations of how they affect events in Mesopotamia
• Proposals from industrialist Lord Inchcape to begin a steamer service on the Tigris that was agreed with the Ottoman Government immediately prior to the War, and to open a British bank in Baghdad.

The primary correspondents are: Lord Curzon; Sir Percy Cox, 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. ; Lieutenant-General Sir Stanley Maude, Commander of the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force; Arnold Wilson, Civil Commissioner in Mesopotamia; Sir Mark Sykes; Gertrude Bell; Lord Inchcape; the Chief of the Imperial General Staff; the Directorate of Military Intelligence; 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 Foreign Office; and the Government of India.

Extent and format

1 file (314 folios)

Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 316; 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. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 2-315. These numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the bottom right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Occasional instances of additional circled foliation appear 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; these have been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in

English in Latin script

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