مجموعة ١٠/١٧(٣) "شؤون داخلية: الوضع السياسي؛ العلاقات مع الحكومة البريطانية" [و‎‎١‎٤‎٢] (٥١٣/٢٨٣)

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194. si STEjlBUTIOH B .
From: IRAQ.
Decypher. Sir B. Nev/tcn (Bagdad)
2nd December, 1940,
D. 10.55 p.m. 2nd December, 1940.
R. 7.20 a.m. 3rd December, 1940.
No. 735.
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IMPORTANT.
Following is text referred to in my immediately
preceding telegram.
(Begins) I saw Lord Halifax to-day, Friday, and explaxned
to him the contents of your telegram in its various aspects.
He replied that the object of the British Government was
friendship and good relations and non-interference m the.
internal affairs of Iraq, but they had recently observed in
Iraq matters inconsistent with the spirit of the Treaty o
Alliance and indeed with its latter also and therefore the
Ambassador had been instructed to make the statement he had
made. I exolained to him the gravity of such a^statement
and how it would harm the interests of both parties and
benefit the third party. Similarly, I mentioned to him the
unfortunate impression to which it would give rise in Iraqi
and Arab circles in these critical days in addition.to its
affect on racial pride and independence and to its inconsistency
with the Treaty. He pondered a little and said I apprecia
the gravity of the question; the fact that it does not af^ec
only the two countries and that perhaps the enemy will pro i
from it; but they were obliged so to act in view of the state
of affairs they had recently observed, a state of which the
least that could be said was that it far removed from
co-operation expected between Allied States . I said to ii
’♦since you appreciate the gravity of the matter ana f^ree w
cur view of the kind of consequences to which it is likely to
lead! do you agree that I should inform the Iraqi Minister for
Foreign Affairs that having heard my statement you will sen
new instruction to Bagdad?-. He replied »t should write to
■Racrdad stating that although he fully appreciated the
explanation of the views of the Iraqi Minister for Foreign
Affairs which had been communicated through me he desired
consider the matter "before replying to my question .
2. My personal observations are that the British
Government are annoyed with the Prime Minister hut at the
same™ desire, if possible, to avoid an open quarrel with
the Iraqi Government at the present time. ^enas;.
Repeated to Cairo telegram No. 221.