ملف ٤٧٢٢\١٩١٨ الجزء ٨ "بلاد الرافدين: الوضع" [ظ‎‎١‎٢‎٣] (٩٩٥/٢٥٧)

4
THE BAGHDAD TIMES.
September 21st, 1920.
Then there are the military works. Great
barracks and camps have had to be constructed,
and hundreds of miles of military roads. Great
bridges, to carry motor-lorries, exist in remote
h places, where the only local transport is by
pack. The bridges are made o± temporary
materials, and their upkeep is enormous. They
are useless to the civil Government, which yet
lias to take them over at a high a aluatioii; and
so the new State will begin its career with an
enforced debt.
English statesmen, from the 1 remier down
wards, weep tears over the burden thrust on us
in Mesopotamia. “If only we^ could raise a
local awny, ” said Lord Curzon, ^ but they will
not serve ” (“ except against us,” his lordship
no doubt added to himself). “ If only we
could find Arabs qualified to fill executive
posts. ’ ’
WHERE ARE THE ARABS ?
In this dearth of local talent the parallel of
Syria is illuminating. Feisal had no difficulty
in raising troops, though he had great difficulty
in paying them. However, the conditions were
not the same, for he was arbitrarily deprived of
his Customs’ revenue. Feisal had no difficulty
in setting up an administration, in which the
five leading spirits were all natives of Baghdad
It was not a very good administration, but in
the East the people are less exigent than we are.
Even in Athens Solon gave them not the best
laws, but the best they would accept.
The British in Mesopotamia cannot, find one
competent person—but I maintain that the
history of the last few months has shown their
political bankruptcy, and their opinion should
not weigh with us at all. I know ten British
officials with tried and honourable reputations
in the Sudan, Sinai, Arabia, Palestine, each and
a 11 of whom could set up an Arab Government
comparable to Feisal’s, in Baghdad, next month.
It also would no+ be a perfect government, but
it would be bet > than Feisal’s, for he, poor
man, to pull him down, was forbidden foreign
advisers. The Mesopotamian effort would
have the British Government behind it, and
would be child’s play for a decent man to run,
so long as he ran it like Cromer’s Egypt, not
like the Egypt of the Protectorate. Cromer
dombiaied Egypt , not because. gave
him force, or because Egypt loved us, or for any
outside reason, but because he was so good a
man. England has stacks of first-class men.
The hist thing you need out there is a genius
What is required is a tearing up of what w
have done, and beginning again on advisory
lines. It is no £ od patching with the presen
system. “ Conct^.Aons to local feeling ”
such like rubbish are only weakness-concessions
incentives to more violence. We are big enougl
to admit a fault, and turn a new page: and wc
ought to do it with a hoot of joy, because it
will save us a million pounds a week.
THE END OF THE SESSION.
7ICER0Y ADJOURNS THE LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.
DEBATE ON THE TERRITORIAL FORCES
BILL.
f Concluded from page 3.)
pressed H.M.G. are firmly determined, and
until that has been done a constructive policy
cannot be initiated.
It is to this latter task that Sir Percy Cox
has been called, and my regret at parting from
an Administration in which I have taken
much pride, and from my friends here, both
official and non-official, whose work I have ad
mired and whose interests have always been
i ery near my r heart, is more' than compen
sated for by the pleasure that I have, and that
1 know you will share, in his return.
And what of the future! The clouds are low
but the sun shines above. I have unabated
tiust in the jmtentialities of this country and
of its inhabitants; in the wisdom of His
Majesty’s Government, and in the strength of
the moral and material forces at its disposal;
by the help of God we will with patience bring
to a successful conclusion the task to which we
have set our hands. Officials come and go •
Administrations change, but we may be sure
that the spirit in which we approach the task
will be that which we have been proud to de
clare has ^ actuated us elsewhere and that our
irst consideration will be the interests of the
people of this country.
To quote President Lincoln—
i Wifi * 1 malice toward none, with charity for
a 1, with firmness in the right as God gives us
to see the right, let us finish the work we are in,
-fo do all which may achieve and
cherish a just and lasting peace ”
Simla, September 16th
The last meeting of the Council under the
existing constitution was held to-day, amidst
parting scenes, the Viceroy presiding. The
visitors’ gallery was full. At question time
here was an unusually large number of interpel
lations, which numbered about 75.
Replying to Dr. Sarabadhikeri regarding the
amendment of the Press Act, the Home Member
said that local Governments and administra
tions were addressed on the subject, and. the
question was under consideration, but he declined
to lay a copy of the correspondence on the table
at present.
Replying to a further question by Dr
Sarabadhikeri, the Member for Commerce
expressed his inability to lay on the table a copy
of the correspondence with the India Office on
he subject of the appointment of a High Com
missioner for India, but hoped shortly to publish
a communique on the subject.
The question of the appointment of
Advisory Committee Commissioner was under
consideration.
Simla, September 16th.
The Wireless Telegraphy Bill, the Indian
Companies Act, 1913, Amendment Bill, and the
Presidency Banks Act Amendment Bill, were
passed without discussion. The Income Tax Act,
1918, Amendment Bill was also passed, Mr. Murray
and Mr. Froom supporting the measure. The
Perritcrial Forces Bill was debated at some
length, and Mr. Sastri’s amendment for authoris
mg the Governor-General in Council to establish
all or any of the branches of the force as circum'
stances permitted from time to time was accepted
The Commander-in-Chief, in moving the passing
of the Bill, said the Bill opened good opportu-
aities to Indians, but branches of the service
other than infantry would be opened after
recruitment in the infantry was up to the mark and
battalions had established their efficiency and
strength. Messrs. Sastri, Sinha, Bannerji and
Dr. Sarabadhikeri welcomed the measure, and
in the course of speeches, deprecated non-co-oper
ation, and appealed to Indians to make the
measure a success. The Auxiliary Forces Bill
was also passed, and on a motion, the training
period was reduced from six to four years. The
Paper Currency Bill and Cutchi Memons Bill
were also passed.
A Tribute to the Commander-in-Chief.
Simla, September 16th.
The Viceroy, adjourning the Legislative
Council sine die, paid a high tribute to the pre
eminent services of Sir Charles Monro. In
spite of all difficulties during the War he had
always been cheerf ul, and had heartened everyone
for the great endeavour. The Munitions Board
was instituted on Sir Charles Monro’s initiative.
During his efforts at reconstruction he had been
hampered by the fact that large forces fromlndia
was overseas, and unable to return. “ I can only
wonder, ” said the Viceroy, “ at what he has
been able to accomplish. ” He expressed the
sincere ragret of the Council at the departure of
he Commander-in-Ohief and Lady Monro. He
next congratulated the members on the legisla
tive work they had accomplished, particularly
Bombay, September 17th, ®
The mail steamer Novara, with outward
mails of the 2 nd inst., is expected to arrive in
Bombay at 6 a.m. on the 21st inst.
The mail steamer Morea, which left London
on the 3rd inst., and has on board the mails of
the 9 th inst., arrived at Port Said on Wednesday
the 15th inst.
London mails dated the 26th August, 1920 for
‘Iraq and the Persian Lines of Communication
were despatched from Bombay on the 15th
instant and are expected to arrive at Basrah on or
about the 22 nd instant.
The mail steamer China, which left Bombay
on the 28th ultimo, arrived at Marseilles on
Saturday the 11th instant.
The mail steamer Devanha,
Bombay on the 14th ultimo, arrived
on Saturday the 11th.
The mail steamer Mantua,
Bombay on the 21st ultimo, arrived in London
on Tuesday the 14th.
which left
in London
which left
A CHANGE IN CONTROL.
CHITTAGONG TO COME UNDER ASSAM-
BENGAL RAILWAY.
Calcutta, September 14th.
It has been decided to place the port of
Chittagong under direct control of the Assam-
Bengal Railway, and the necessary legislation
to give effect to this decision is now under the
consideration of the Government of India.
FLOODS AT DINAPUR.
PURNABHABA RIVER STILL RISING.
Dinapur. September 16th.
Continuous heavy rain for seven days has
resulted in heavy floods throughout the Dinapur
district. The Purnabbaba River is in high
flood. Many quarters of the town are under
water, and many houses have collapsed. The
river still rising, though the sky is clear to-day.
THE GOLD MARKET.
Calcutta, September 16th.
Of the tenders for gold bullion presented at
the sale on the 14th instant, all tenders at rupees
23-9-5 per tola and above have been accepted in
full. Individual tenders for a minimum quantity
of one thousand tolas at rupees 23-9-4 per tola
have also been accepted. The total amount of
gold sold is 12,052,500 tolas, and the average rate
of accepted tenders is rupees 23-12-11 per tola.
Treasury balances of the Government of India
on 31st August last were, in thousands of rupees,
258,641, in reserve Treasuries 22,134, in district
Treasuries 63.297, with Presidency Bank head
offices, 142,605, and branch offices 30,605.
THE J UTE FOR ECAST.
ESTIMATED DECREASE IN YIELD.
Calcutta, September 16th.
The final forecast of the jute crop of Bengal,
Assam and Bibar for 1920 shows an estimated
— twenty-two lakhs, forty three thousand,
alluding to the Aligarh University Act, the Cutchi j, 0Iir hundred and twelve acres, against twenty-
Memons Act, and the Imperial Bank Act. Finally
he alluded to the coming larger representative
Assembly, and said that institutions under
British tradition do not die. 1 hey find a new
birth in reincarnation The King is dead ; long
live the King [applause). The Council’ then
adjourned sine die.
THE INDIAN RAILWAY DISPUTE.
RAILWAYMEN AGREE TO CONFER.
Bombay, September 15th.
A telegram has been received by Mr. J.
Rumbold, the Agent of the G. I. P. Railway’
from the Chairman of the rail way men’s meeting
at Igatpuri, agreeing to the agent’s proposal
for a discussion of the points in dispute with the
staff at a Conference of railway officers and
delegates.
four lakhs, ninety-four thousand, four hundred
and seventy acres of last year. The estimated
total yield, in bales of four hundred pounds, for
the present year is fifty two lakhs, twenty-three
thousand, five hundred and ninety-two, against
seventy five lakhs, sixty four thousand and
twenty-seven of last year.
THE DURAND FOOTBALL
TOURNAMENT.
RECORD NUMBER OF ENTRIES.
Simla, September 14th.
There are a record number of entries this year
in the Durand Football Tournament. Owing to
some Corps leaving for Mesopotamia, certain
teams will scratch. However, forty teams out of
fifty four will compete, the highest record in
orevious years being twenty-three.