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File 4722/1918 Pt 1 'Mesopotamia: administration of policy and situation' [18v] (45/687)
The record is made up of 1 volume (326 folios). It was created in 23 Oct 1918-2 Nov 1919. It was written in English, French and Arabic. 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.
8
(11) Kifri .—Unanimous demand is for ‘Iraq State to include Mosul*
and to remain under British protection. Idea of an Amir is favoured, but
all agreed to ask British Government to delay making the appointment as-
they could not agree on any partcular person for the post.
I am telegraphing separately as regards Baghdad and Kadhimain.
As mentioned in previous telegrams, Sir Percy Cox is specifically named
in several cases as desirable High Commissioner.
Addressed Secretary of State for India, London, copy by post to Govern
ment of India, and to General, Baghdad, who has not seen before despatch.
Political, Baghdad.
Telegram—R. Clear Line.
From Political, Baghdad.
To Secretary of State for India, London
No. 1077.
Dated January 26th, 1919.
My immediately preceding telegram.
The notables of Baghdad were asked on January 9th, for their views on
the three points mentioned in your telegram of November 28th.
Letters were written to the Naqib and to the Shi‘ah Qadhi, and to the
heads of the Jewish and Christian community asking them to nominate re
spectively 25 Sunni, 25 Shi‘ah, 20 Jewish and 10 Christian delegates. The
Naqib refused to act and the Sunni Qadhi with the former’s consent under
took the work.
Each delegate was provided with the Arabic text of the Anglo-French
+°V f No 7 1 ember ? th > a ^ d a statement showing the opinions elicited
up to date from other parts of Mesopotamia.
, Both the Qadhis called meetings of their communities at which extreme-
!^i nfl w mat L 0ry ^ la + n8 ' Ua i ge i‘ WaS USed and tlle legates selected were bound
tection bef ° rehand t0 ^ f ° r an Arab Goveril l lien t without European pro-
power of religious fanaticism was brought to bear and those who
attempted ta Protect were threatened with religious and social ostracism.
U1 the 50 delegates selected at preliminary meetings of the two Mnhnm
'TCr 168 S6Ven backed ° ut at th » last moment and refused to
owned'by the 50 delegated ^fort o7them TOiTlritSf ni^n ° f tlle PT°P ert y
all desire a continuance of effective British control but ^ slm P le jL
0 Ir T h -
membe7oVtt Nf^b“fai7ly n wiVe3e e nt any P8rt “ theSe P r0 “^in|sf ^
l m h +w a ?l b in conve rsation with Lieut.-Col. Balfour Mil Bn™ r
held that the eountrv was far fmm . Mll itary Governor*
British Administration which would co on^ratA ai id advocated a
and employ them in gradually ton'ising^easurr Hl .!'' 68 ° f ^
expressing surprise and roorpf«-rs i j lleas nie. He began and ended by
opinion af all. ^sTveral ^dh^notoblw7reltobni^ an y attempt to consult native
ing to excuse their own conduet have he'f 't ,’. ' 1 f Cula ^ ?vidently wish-
Moslem is asked what form of Government he P al “ s ° ex Plam that when a
faith to reply in favour of Moslem ruT qUm>S ’ Le 18 en j oiaed b y
a single Arab State d f a rom e Mfsui S to 1 tii l e Iy Gnlf for H ward a d °oument asking for
no mention of foreign protection SoSe of”?^ ? S °? °- f the Sharif Bth
strong adherents of the C.F.P. * * le sl 8“ na ^ o:rie s were formerly
community a rid "comp rile' ti, e vast' min ori t v to'the 0 ™ ne f ri -7 ;’ IK ;- ,iaI f of the
summarised by saying that they look forward to nnvtto 11 * traders > ma y be
rule without an Amir with the greatest alarm and indfgna“tfon! XCePt Bri * ish
knowledge^L^thete wishefcannot bufbe^ telTthe 11 hUfert* 1 ®" “d 11 p °! iticaI
Since the rosuB nf at i en tne tullest consideration.
become known there has been a'dX™ uTsten of'leetngl'n Baghdmi !n!
About this item
- Content
The volume contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, telegrams and minutes regarding the administration of, and situation in, Mesopotamia [Iraq] following the Asia Minor Agreement of 1916, more commonly known as the Sykes-Picot Agreement, between the French and British governments, and the Anglo-French Declaration of November 1918. The volume also concerns the subject of self-determination in Persia [Iran].
The papers notably cover:
- Discussion of advance interpretations of the 1916 Agreement
- The Anglo-French Declaration of November 1918, which publicised their intentions and policy in the former Ottoman territories of Syria and Iraq
- Presentation of the 1918 Declaration to the President of the United States of America by the French Ambassador to the US, Jean Adrien Antoine Jules Jusserand
- Disagreement between the British and French visions of the future administration of Mesopotamia
- The situation in southern Kurdistan
- The 1919 Paris Peace Conference
- Apprehensions of the Baghdad Jewish community about the tenor of the Anglo-French Declaration, including a petition to the Civil Commissioner, Baghdad, requesting to be made subjects of the British Crown
- Reaction to the Declaration from the across the Arab world
- Disagreement among the British over the form that Britain’s control in Mesopotamia should take
- The views of the principal sheikhs [shaikhs] of Mesopotamia on the 1918 Agreement
- Discussion among British officials of the benefits of control over Mesopotamia and the view of the Civil Commissioner, Baghdad, Arnold Talbot Wilson, on the situation in Mesopotamia
- Discussion of the potential candidates for the head of the new state of Iraq
- Reports on consultations with political and religious leaders and inhabitants from across Iraq on the future Government of Iraq
- The views of Sir Percy Cox and Arnold Wilson on the situation in Mesopotamia
- The question of the future political status of Mesopotamia, including the views of British officers serving in Syria and the Hejaz
- Discussion of the question of Iraqi self-determination.
Notable documents in this volume include:
- Text by Sir Percy Cox regarding ‘The Future of Mesopotamia’ (ff 308-310 and ff 270-272)
- Extracts from The Times , 26 November 1819, including a series of articles under the title ‘The Arab Campaign’ (ff 230-232)
- The statutes for the independence of Iraq (ff 127-130)
- A memorandum by Major W H Young regarding the future of Mesopotamia (ff 99-112)
- Copies of ‘Self-determination in Iraq’ in Arabic (ff 75-97) and English (ff 57-73).
The principal correspondents are: 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. , Political Department; the Governor-General of India; the Civil Commissioner, Baghdad; the Military Governor and Political Officer, Baghdad; Government of India, Military Department, the French Ambassador to the United States; and the British Embassy, Paris.
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.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (326 folios)
- Arrangement
The contents of the volume are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.
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 334; 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 mixed foliation/pagination 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 two anomalies: f 181a and f 181b.
- Written in
- English, French and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
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File 4722/1918 Pt 1 'Mesopotamia: administration of policy and situation' [18v] (45/687), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/755, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100188328443.0x0000c0> [accessed 12 June 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/755
- Title
- File 4722/1918 Pt 1 'Mesopotamia: administration of policy and situation'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:i-v, 1r:127v, 128ar, 128r:175v, 176ar, 176r:181v, 181ar:181av, 181cr, 181br:181bv, 182r:182v, 186r:229v, 232v:325v, 327r:334v, 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