مجموعة ١٧ / ١٠ (٤) "شؤون داخلية: الوضع السياسي؛ العلاقات مع الحكومة البريطانية" [ظ‎‎٨‎٣] (١٠٣١/١٦٦)

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the Prime Minister of the harm done by the Muthanna Club, and have urged that
the branch or branches opened in Iraq should be kept under the closest super
vision. The committee of the society was elected a few days ago. The majority,
of the members are men of moderate views and the zealots of the Muthanna have
been excluded.
10. Security continues everywhere to be good, and pro-Axis propaganda is
not at present a factor of importance in the political life of the country. The
Prime Minister has discussed with me his desire to bring to trial in Iraq the
surviving persons who were charged before the military court set up in January
1942 to deal with the organisers of the coup d'Etat of April 1941. I told his
Excellency that before I could recommend His Majesty's Government to send
these persons back to Iraq from Southern Rhodesia, I should need to be assured
that all his colleagues agreed with his wish to have them tried. There is, I hear,
a difference of opinion on this matter among members of the Cabinet, and the
Prime Minister seems to have dropped his proposal, at any rate for the time being.
11. On the 22nd February an official notification was published in the
newspapers summoning all Iraqis living in enemy or enemy-occupied territory to
return within two months to Iraq, and threatening those who failed to do so with
trial in absentia by court-martial. No exemptions were provided for persons who
were detained against their wishes or unable to find the means of returning to
their homes, but the Minister for Foreign Affairs informs me that the Govern
ment's purpose is only to prosecute well-known renegades, such as the Berlin
broadcaster, Tunis Bahri, and a number of young officers and students who fled to
Europe through Turkey after the collapse of Rashid Ali 's Administration in 1941.
12. Apart from the declaration of war, little of importance has occurred in
Iraq's foreign affairs since the beginning of the year, but there are two events
which should perhaps be recorded. M. Kadlec, who has recently been appointed
Czechoslovak Minister at Tehran, spent several days in Bagdad early in March*
en route to his post. He approached the Iraqi Government with a view to
obtaining their official recognition of the Czechoslovak Government and their
agreement to his appointment as Minister here. It appears probable that both
proposals will be accepted. Secondly, in early March the Government regularised
the position of the American and Polish forces in Iraq by obtaining the consent
of Parliament to a law granting to all Allied forces which are duly constituted
in Iraq the same judicial immunities and privileges as those already enjoyed by
the British forces.
13. The excitements of nationalist politics and of turbulent economics have*
of late heavily eclipsed the affairs of the Ministry of Education which a short
time ago occupied so much attention. Nevertheless, some progress has been made
towards reform since the two discredited Directors-General, Dr. Sami Shaukat-
and Dr. Fadhil Jamali. were relieved of their appointments. Other changes have-
also been made among the senior officials of the Ministry and the way has now
been opened for a further advance in the desired direction. Whether it will be
achieved is a moot question, as unhappily Sadek Gohar, the new Egyptian expert
at the Ministry of Education, is proving very difficult to work with and is
becoming extremely unpopular in Iraqi circles. It is regrettable, too, that
Professor Hamley, v/hose health has of late been indifferent, appears determined
to leave for the United Kingdom as soon as possible after the termination of his
contract in April.
14. Ihe winter now ended has, climatically-speaking, been very pleasant
and (what is more important) endowed with a bountiful rainfall. The prospects
for the coming harvest, provided we are spared unforeseen pests or disease, are
excellent. Taken by and large, this country, notwithstanding its economic
difficulties, is remarkably blessed in comparison with its immediate neighbours,
with many of its inhabitants enjoying considerable prosperity. All this was :
reflected in the demeanour of the crowds who recently celebrated the birthday
of the Prophet on a cool day of brilliant spring sunshine.
15. I am sending copies of this despatch to His Majesty’s representatives-
at Angora, Cairo, Tehran, Jedda and Beirut, the Minister at State at Cairo His
Majesty’s High Commissioner for Palestine and Transjordan, the Governor-.
General of India, the Commander-in-Chief, India, General Headquarters, Middle
East, the Combined Middle East Intelligence Centre, the Political Resident in
the Persian Gulf, the Political Agent at Koweit and to His Maiestv’s consular
officers at Basra and Mosul. ' J - y .
I have, &c.
KINAHAN CORNWALLIS.