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File 4722/1918 Pt 1 'Mesopotamia: administration of policy and situation' [71v] (151/687)
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.
24
Sir Percy Cox be appointed its Governor, residing at Baghdad, as he is
a prudent man and possesses thorough knowledge, compassionate towards the
young and tender towards the old, besides having perfect knowledge o tie
necessities and requirements of 'Iraq. n nl 7
We with fervent hearts, after discussing and collecting opinions, appeal
to His Maiesty to grant us the clauses contained in this document, and we
pray the Almighty to maintain the shelter of the British Government over
us.
[Signed by 38 tribal Shaikhs, Mujtahids and Notables of the Baghdad
T)i a f/vo r. t, 1
13 (5). In execution of the mandate entrusted to us to vote for the
future administration of Mesopotamia, we, the undersigned, have the honour
to state the following: —
The proclaimed aim of the Great Allied Powers in the most tremendous
world war is the complete liberation of oppressed nationalities with object
of assuring their legitimate political aspirations as well as their economical
and social development.
The full development of peoples whom several centuries of national
lethargy plunged into a state of utter unpreparedness for self-administration
is only obtainable through the material and moral co-operation of a great
European power.
We are, therefore, of opinion: —
That the nomination of an Amir for Mesopotamia is inadmissible.
That a direct British Government is indispensable for the future admin
istration of this country.
That Mesopotamia should necessarily include the whole of the Mosul,.
Baghdad and Basrah vilayets.
We moreover beg to adhere, on behalf of the Jewish population of
Mesopotamia, to the aspirations laid down in their petition to the Civil Com
missioner, dated November 18th. 1918.
[Signed by 18 of the leading members of the Jewish community of Baghdad.]
13 (6). In acknowledging your Excellency’s letter of 14th instant, to
gether with circular enclosed, we have the honour to state that after careful
consideration on the subject of the circular, the Armenian community of
Baghdad has unanimously passed the following decision: —
That in view of the restoration of independence to our Motherland,
Armenia, when all Armenians residing abroad will be subjects of their own
country, we hardly feel justified in expressing any opinion as to the form of
government to be adopted in Mesopotamia.
But to conform with your Excellency’s wishes, the Armenian communities
of Baghdad desire to state that the territory mentioned in the circular should
remain directly under British rule and be governed in any manner and by any
method that may be considered most suitable for the welfare and prosperity
of the country. r i j
[Signed by three representatives of the Armenians—-Gregorian and
Catholic—of Baghdad.]
e ii W ^? , are c . a ^ e ^ u P on to represent the Christian community
V, 0 ^ ag J’ dad Ki f Tl h j deter f 1 J na ^ J on J ot the destin y of tile ‘Iraq Government,
BritiS e AtrnLe a nf affolkot^A^ 61 ^ « UestioM to us l>y the
otlute 8 fr0 “
-d -J 2 ]} r, We d ° n ^ t agTee that an Amir should rule over 'Iran but nrefcr g
tlmt of T G on V don 0r ' Genera Wlth * Brit “ h Government in direct’relation with
[Signed by eight representatives of the Christian communities, other
than the Armenians, of Baghdad.]
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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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