ملف ٥٢٣٨\١٩١٩ "بلاد فارس:- المحمرة. إهداء أسلحة وسفن بخارية نهرية لشيخ المحمرة" [و‎‎٢‎٢‎١] (٤٥٠/٤٤٦)

(P 5778) From Political, Baghdad, 22nd December 1918.
(Repeated Foreign, Tehran, and Arab Bureau, Cairo. Copy to General, Baghdad,
who has not seen before despatch.)
(Received 23rd, 5 p.m.)
11154. I had protracted interview with Sheikh of Mohammera at Basra. He is a
candidate for Emirate of Iraq, and if we accept idea in principle proposes to proceed’
on pilgrim mage to Baghdad, Kerbela, and Najaf, with a view to testing public
sentiment and working it up if omens are favourable. His case, put very briefly in
his own words, is as follows : —
“ His Majesty’s Government are apparently looking for an Amir for Mesopotamia.
No suitable candidate is forthcoming. Nine-tenths of inhabitants of Mesopotamia
are Shiah. Amir must also be a Shiah. I am a native of Iraq, born and bred on
Shatt-el-Arab. 1 have proved my loyalty. Princes have been chosen for Greece and
Albania from other countries, and fact that 1 am Persian subject need make no
difference. My son will take my place at Mohammera. As Amir I shall be the
necessary figurehead for Arab State, and shall in all matters act in accordance with
wishes and orders of High Commissioner, and act as I have done in the past. If you
do not want an Amir, well and good I wull say no more about it , but if you do I am
the best possible candidate, and as a loyal friend and hereditary Sheikh with 20 years
political experience of governing Arabs, I should like to be given chance of gaining
public acceptance by making this pilgrimage.”
I should explain this pilgrimage to Mesopotamia will cost him 20,0O0L or 30,0000,
and he would not undertake it unless assured beforehand that Government regarded
his ambitions with benevolent complaisance.
I request instructions from His Majesty’s Government as to what reply 1 should
give. Of possible candidates, Sheikh of Mohammera, from local point of view, is
probably the most acceptable, and he is only possible Shiah candidate. It is possible
and even probable, if his candidature were permitted, he would command majority
in Basra and Baghdad Vilayets owing to his great versatility among Shiah tribes.
On general political grounds, however, his success would be little short of
disastrous.
Firstly. —'It wmuld alienate Sunni element in Baghdad, which is by far the best
educated and most advanced group in Mesopotamia.
Secondly .—It would never be accepted in almost wholly Sunni A ilayet of Mosul,
for which a separate Government would have to be set up.
Thirdly. It would doubtless cause acute heart-burnings in Syria.
Fourthly. It would rouse throughout Iraq the latent animosity between Shiahs
and Sunnis which every administration must strive to allay. Ihe Sheikh ot
Mohammera’s candidature is therefore an excellent example of danger of embarking
on selection of Amir by majority and should at once be stopped by intimation (tor
which I have prepared him) that his position in Arabistan is inconsistent witn that ot
Amir of Mesopotamia.
It will, however, be necessary to do something for him in recognition of his
loyalty and moral support during past four years, and I will make separate proposa s
to* Government in this connection in due course.