الملف ٣٠١\١٩٢١ "بلاد الرافدين: تقارير استخباراتية" [ظ‎‎٢‎٥‎٩] (٥٨٦/٥٢٩)

2
scheme for expediting the restoration of the Euphrates valley to normal condi
tions now that the tribes have surrendered to our troops. In view of the Bolshe
vist menace on the Northern frontier of the ‘Iraq, this is undoubtedly a
matter of much importance. On Friday evening (November 26th) he sub
mitted a written appreciation of the situation to the Naqib with a view to its
being included in the Agenda for the next meeting of the Council. The Naqib
heard the Minister’s exposition patiently and at the end asJsed for more time to
consider a matter of such importance. Saiyid Talib was somewhat annoyed at
this and, taking the paper from the Naqib, tore it into fragments in token of
his displeasure. He then went home alnd wrote a letter to the Naqib asking for
a month’s leave to visit his sick father or, in the alternative, the acceptance of
his resignation. The Naqib replied (in a letter written with his own hand)
somewhat hotly , expressing the hope that the Minister would soon return to his
senses and resume the important activities of his office. Saiyid Talib sent in
his resignation to the High Commissioner on November 29th but withdrew it on
the same day.
The news of his resignation lost little time in becoming public property
and was published in the “ Istiqlal ” of November 28th. At best it may be
considered a misguided attempt to win popularity—a mere Mllon d’ essai.
NOTES ON PUBLIC OPINION.
6. In a proclamation, dated November the 11th, The High Commissioner
formally announced the formation of a Council of State (Appendix I).
I. During the past few days there has been a feeling of uneasinesis in the
local political world of Baghdad. It may be only a passing phase, it has a
certain amount of significance in the light of certain events. These events may
be summarised as:—
Wrangel’s collapse and his note of warning to .the British Empire.
Lord Curzon’s speech on the Bolshevik menace to the British Empir
that Bolshevists look on the British as their great enemy.
1 he trouble in Greece in which British interference has been
diated.
repu-
Phe rumoured withdrawal of British forces from Iran and concentration
on the Indian Frontier.
News of a Moslem Power in Turkistan.
News of the rapid increase of Mustafa Kamal Pasha’s influence and
strength and of his rapproachement with the Porte and with the
s Sharif.
Bolshevik propaganda in ‘Iraq—the obvious Bolshevik propagandist
tone of the paper “ A1 Istiqlal ”. 1 5
Aetmties of the Indian Khalifat leaders and their communication with
Ulama of Iraq and elsewhere.
The Cabinet crisis in Baghdad.
vmi A11 . tlie ab(n ’ e hav f been freely discussed of late in the diwans of Baghdad
with^the^ suggestion 1 tha t t^ 8 t0pi % and the exaggerations Spied
wnn tne suggestion that the campaign of economy in London will necessitate
British withdrawal from these parts, have perbaps developed an due imnm
sion that “ something is going to happen ’’. impies-
more parochial and drearof an independ^^fansl± f* eVeD
all ‘ knowledo-Mhle 7 vp-uw nhiuT a! x , iraqian 8tate, but few who are at
protector Without such a nrntlpt la Lf uc l . a t lmg is P oss ible without a strong
-‘Iraq to national nni^
the Bolshevir«e bJ ttrele mht ^ K fr0m bri ^ ht - Th ere is
no National unity the only w ^ uld co<luet with that - wit1 '
imagine that Bolshevism inioht be ut'r if ‘ s , araj an( i there are dome who
chained asrtZ SZSdlt a^'tui d t™* ?T ent b » nds and the “ be
Asia. The Khalifat would lia-i-o + uild np an Islamic Empire m Central
direct descendant of the Prophet to provide llead ’ P^sumably to a
ic mopner, to provide a common ground for all sects.
I