مجموعة ١٠/١٧(١) "شؤون داخلية: الوضع السياسي؛ العلاقات مع الحكومة البريطانية" [و‎‎٢‎٢‎٨] (٩٨٢/٤٦٠)

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
EASTERN (Iraq).
June 24, 1935.
CONFIDENTIAL.
Section 5.
[E 3888/1583/93]
Sir A . Clark Kerr to Sir Samuel Hoare.—(Received June 24.)
(No. 316.)
SiL Bagdad, June 11, 1935.
WITH reference to my despatch No. 295 of the 29th May, I have the honour
to report that the reoccupation of Suq-al-Shuyukh was completed without
opposition on the 2nd June. Since then the troops and police have been engaged
in the pacification of the surrounding country, but their movements have been
seriously hampered by the high floods of the Euphrates, and tribal resistance
has not yet been completely broken. Fines of 50-100 rifles have been imposed
on the tribes chiefly responsible for threatening a breach of the peace at
Nasiriyah, and punitive measures are still being carried out against the Bani
Hachcham for their sacking of Suq-al-Shuyukh.
2. On the 9th June a small column of about one company encountered
determined opposition, and lost one man killed and fourteen wounded. Heavier
casualties are believed to have been inflicted on the tribal forces. A larger
column, supported by machine guns in boats, is to be sent to punish the sheikh
responsible for this opposition. His name is Farhud-al-Fandi, and hitherto he
has been a conspicuous supporter of the Government and of the local authorities.
3. Three officials of the Suq-al-Shuyukh district have been tried by court-
martial and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment for inciting the tribesmen
to revolt, and four others are awaiting trial. Two ex-soldiers, convicted of using
machine guns against the police, were sentenced to death and hanged on the
6th June.
4. I learn privately that Bakr Sidqi Pasha, the Officer Commanding the
Forces on the Euphrates and also administering martial law, is pressing the
Government to agree to execute a number of sheikhs and to inflict heavy punish
ments on the tribes guilty of taking up arms against the Government. The
Cabinet do not, however, see eye to eye with him : firstly, because they consider
his recommendations unnecessarily harsh and vindictive; and, secondly, because
Abdul Wahid is exerting his influence to secure a general amnesty for those
sentenced by the military courts. He is said to have declared his determination
to revolt himself if Sheikh Khawwam-al-Abbas were executed.
5. In my talks with the King and with Yasin Pasha, I have, on several
occasions, indicated that clemency towards those implicated in the recent
disturbances would be wise, and would in the long run prove a better factor m
restoring order and stability than severity. . .
6. I am sending a copy of this despatch to His Majesty s Ministei at
Tehran.
I have, &c.
ARCHIBALD CLARK KERR.