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File 4722/1918 Pt 1 'Mesopotamia: administration of policy and situation' [284r] (583/687)
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.
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X rax m TELEGRAM FROM POLITICAL/' BAGDAD.
DATED 20TH NOVEMBER, 1918.
(RECD. 22nd, 10 a.m.,)
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(R)* 4 10031, Your telegram November 18th* I understand
His Majesty ! s Government recdgiiiae advantages of both the
gEffgjqggEtiHa: perpetuation of the administrative connexion of
Mosul and Bagdad and (>f establishment of effective British
control over Iraq as outlined in my telegram 8745 and 9926 of
November 16th, though latter telegram had doubtless not been
received or considered when telegram under reply was written*
The question now for consideration if whether such a scheme
can or should be woven into comprehensive arrangements conceited
by Colonel Lawrence,
I am convinced this is not possible and that policy
suggested is t totally impracticable ana unsuited to condition^
of Mesopotamia* I oelieve it would be easier to put a similar
scheme into effect among races of Europe than to make success
in Arabia of these proposals which appear to me to ignore
alike Mahometan history and geographical divisio ns ,
I have already emphasised absence of u^jj^fconnexion
between Mesopotamia and rest of Arabia and necessity of
discussing Mesopotamia problem-independently on its merits,
I have stated tnat Mesopotamia Arabs will not tolerate
do min ation of foreign Arabs. The argument applies with double
force to Jews and Cnristiahs who (particularly the former) are
numerous and powerful communities and would indisputably
demand and probably secure consular protection and consequent
maintenance of the Capitulations with their attendant evils.
Acceptance of policy of effective British control of
Iraq involves substantial modification of Anglo-French
proclamation which will doubtless create certain amount of
resentment among small politically-minded Mahometan section in
Bagdad who have been busily engaged since November 10th in
spreading stories of the return of Turkish rule or its Arab
equivalent and have thereby aroused already an amount of
apprehension and unrest which bodes ill for future of any such
scneme. If such British control was coupled with introduction
of a foreign puppet ruler as suggested this class would have
strong weapon for seditions propaganda and would certainly use
it.
It must be borne in mind that nothing but political
power, to exclusion of outside elements, will satisfy ambitions
of this class.
Similar objections to introduction of foreign ruler
can be urged in case of Mosul.
I would therefore urge His Majesty’s Government if
they wish to promote welfare of peoples of Mesopotamia and
value adherence to spirit underlying Anglo-French Declaration
to exclude thip country definitely once and for all from any
contemplated Sharifian settlement and from further discussion
in that connexion, our past conversations with Sheriff
notwithstanding.
Cur moves are being watched carefully by a critical
audience ana any more capable of being attributed to political
motives rather than desire for welfare of Mesopotamia will
evoke bitter condemnation.
I note that status of proposed Sharif rulers is not
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' [284r] (583/687), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/755, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100188328445.0x000056> [accessed 10 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