الملف ٣٠١\١٩٢١ "بلاد الرافدين: تقارير استخباراتية" [ظ‎‎٢‎٧‎٥] (٥٨٦/٥٦٣)

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with the msurg*ents*, coupled with a wish for complete and immediate inde
pendence. Among* all classes, no matter what was the colour of their political
views, there was a lively hope that the advent of Sir Percy Cox would bring
about a sudden amelioration of the situation.
4. The High Commissioner lost no opportunity of making it universally
clear that he would welcome any measures, including* the intervention of
influential inhabitants of the country, which would tend to persuade the
tribes of the futility of further resistence and on October 17th, he issued a
proclamation in which he explained that he had returned to Mesopotamia in
order to give shape to the fixed intention of His Majesty’s Government of
assisting the leaders of the people to create a National Government under
the guidance of Great Britain. He declared himself to be at a loss to know
for what object the tribesmen were still fighting, and he expressed his wish
that they should put themselves into communication with the nearest Political
Officer in case any misunderstanding existed which could be removed.
(Appendix A.).
5. Since the first week of August, a Committee composed of er-Deputies
of the Turkish regime, under the presidency of Saiyid Talib Pasha of Basrah,
had been engaged in revising the Turkish electoral law in preparation for
the election of a representative assembly which should decide on the form of
Government desired by the people of Mesopotamia. But it was self-
evident, as the High Commissioner was careful to point out, that any elective
assembly convened to interpret the will of the people on such a vital issue
must be fully representative of every element of the population and every part
of the country and no elections could be complete while certain districts still
remained unpacified. Some time must therefore elapse before, the register
of elleetors could be compiled and necessary arrang*ements completed. To
have delayed action, however, for a period of several months would have
disappointed public expectation and might well have destroyed confidence in
the benevolent announcements made by His Majesty’s Government. More-
°ver the High Commissioner found himself confronted with questions of policy
affecting the future of the ‘Iraq with which he did not feel justified in deal
ing without consultation with representatives of the people of the country.
He judged it therefore necessary to institute a provisional government which
should conduct the administration under his guidance and control until the
meeting of the National Assembly.
6. The high social and religious position of the Naqib of Baghdad, and
the universal respect which he enjoys, pointed to him as the most suitable
person to form and preside over a provisional Council of State. A strong
body of opinion in Baghdad was in favour of entrusting to him these duties,
and this desire was quickened by the fear that in the event of his refusal they
would devolve on Saiyid Talib, a contingency contemplated with the strongest
apprehension by the best elements of the intelligentia both in Baghdad and
Mosul. The Naqib has hitherto constantly refused to take part, in public
affairs. Age and ill-health mig*ht well have excused him from emerging
from the seclusion of a Darwish; nevertheless, when on October 23rd, the
High Commissioner proposed to him that he should undertake the formation
of a Cabinet, he consented after some heart-searching to do so.
~* was agreed that for present purposes the three Wilayats and the
different communities of the ‘Iraq must be represented on the Council and
invitations were sent by the Naqib to 19 persons, 11 of whom were asked to
e members of Council without portfolio. The Cabinet was to be constructed
as follows: —
President
Minister of the Interior
,, of Finance
,, of Justice
,, for Education
,, for Defence
,, for Public works
,, for Commerce
,, of Auqaf ...
The Naqib.
Saiyid Talib Pasha.
Sasun Effendi Haskail.
Hasan Effendi Pachahji.
Tzzat Pasha.
Ja’far Pasha aTAskari.
Muhammad Effendi Fadhil.
Abdul Latiff Pasha Mandil.
Mustafa Effendi Alusi.
• 4f* ei *^ le Sasun Effendi was probably the man who carried most
JSL iTIi'r o£ ,° n f n ° f “ ost disfeiguished Jewish families of
nrew/liv I a f- + b !- n elected to ^ le Chamber of Deputies in 1908, when re-
WePe COn ! erred on tlle Turkish empire by the Con-
f t * T 1 ' ln , eve jy subsequent Parliament and in 1913 had held
• + i i appointment His wisdom and integrity are universally appre-
at nlv 1 of 1920 ’ the Nationalist agitations were
bp nffpr ^ lldad ’ it was commonly said that Sasun Effendi would
be offered the Ministry of Finance m the independent Arab Government
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