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File 301/1921 'MESOPOTAMIA: INTELLIGENCE REPORTS' [84r] (178/586)
The record is made up of 1 volume (289 folios). It was created in 15 Nov 1920-31 Oct 1921. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
Al ‘ Iraq No. 334, July 4.
An article on the reception of Mr. Churchill’s
Commenting on this the
writer
The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping.
thanks the British
the proposals.
speech by the British press,
press for their approval of
Al ‘Iraq No. 336, July 6.
1. Communique from the High Commissioner on Mr. Churchill’s speech.
2. Hasan Effendi Ghasihah has relinquished the editorship of the Dijlah.
Al ‘Iraq No. 337, July 7.
Speech of H.H. the Amir Faisal to the Mosul Delegation.
1. The Mosul delegation said that they had read Mr. Churchill’s speech
and approved of it and they wanted to know the Amir’s opinion.
He replied : I say to you that the British Government is taking a wise
line and fully intends to fulfil the promises made to my father, in order to
make the Arab nation a true ally in the Middle East. The painful events
which took place between me and the French have forced me to persevere in
my efforts in the cause for which we rose in another Arab country. Whereas
‘Iraq is of importance to us as well as to all Arabs, my father has delegated me,
in accordance with the wishes of ‘Iraqis, to perform this duty. I assure you
that ‘Iraq will remain independent with a constitutional government, free from
all errors. Very shortly the national Congress will be summoned and introduce
the Constitutional Law of this new kingdom. I add that in accordance with
Mr. Churchill’s declaration ‘Iraq will be an independent ally of Great Britain.
I thank our British friends for fulfilling their promises. I remind you of the
national duty in these difficult days to seek union and co-operate in the interests
of the country. All must know that division will destroy our independent life.
Gladden the town you represent by giving them good news of the success of our
sacred enterprize.
This speech strengthened the determination of all who heard it.— (Signed)
Abdullah Dulaimi.
2. H.H. the Amir Faisal gave Rs. 400 to the Syrian poor.
3. Poem in honour of Faisal by Saiyid Ibrahim al Rawi.
4. Article on united hearts, a propos of a party in the Beau Monde HoteL
The speech of Ibrahim Naji in favour of referendum is given. ‘Abdullah
Dulaimi said that the nation had already chosen Faisal.
5. A similar article on a party given by ‘ Abdul Latif Thanayan in the
Royal Cinema. Much talk of the need of union.
Al ‘Iraq No. 338, July 8.
The High Commissioner’s “ Communique ”.
1. Although people read Mr. Churchill’s speech and were well pleased
with it, yet they were anxious to hear something from the High Commissioner.
They consider that his communique removes all doubts in the matter of inde
pendent constitutional government in the ‘Iraq under a noble Arab ruler, and
the approving of the Amir Faisal, as that ruler. Nothing now remains for
‘ Iraqis except to demand the hastening of the Congress, the election of the rulei
and the completion of the form of Arab government in the ‘Iraq.
Open Letter to H.H. the Amir Faisal.
2. Begins with a poem asking him to take possession of the throne of ‘Iraq
as a king. “ You are the only fitting person.”
‘ ‘ After welcoming your noble arrival it is our duty to say to you that no
kmo- will occupy the throne of ‘Iraq and lead the nation to success but you.
Mav we be your ransom. I chose you as king of ‘Iraq and swear service to you
in the interests of the nation, obeying the orders of God. Tho^e who swear
allegiance to you are swearing to God; the hand of God is over their hands.
He who breaks his oath turns against himself and to him who fulfils what he
has promised to God, God will give a great reward God is pleased with the
Faithful when they swear allegiance to you under the Gee. He knows w lat is
in their hearts. Thus He gave thein peace and rewarded them with success.—
(Signed) ‘Abbas Hamdi, ex-Qadhi of Najaf.
3 A book about the Amir Faisal and the Hijaz rising is to be published.
Many photographs of famous Arabs and men of ‘Iraq.
About this item
- Content
This volume contains the Intelligence Reports of Sir Percy Cox, High Commissioner for Mesopotamia [also written as Iraq in this volume], based in Baghdad, covering the period 15 November 1920 to 15 September 1921. They largely relate to: the political situation in Mesopotamia and the surrounding region; the formation and proceedings of the provisional government; the events leading up to the creation of Mandatory Iraq [also known as the Kingdom of Iraq under British Administration] and the election and appointment of Faisal [Fayṣal bin Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī] as the first King of Iraq [Fayṣal I].
The Intelligence Reports are numbered and appear to have been issued at two-week intervals. This volume contains the reports numbered 1-3, 9-19 and 21. There is no explanation in the volume regarding the reason for the absent reports. The format of the reports is a mixture of printed and copy typescript. Each report is preceded by a covering circular issued by the office of the High Commissioner indicating the British Government departments and the officers and departments in the Middle East to which the report was copied.
Report Nos. 1-3 are preceded by an assessment of the political situation described in the Intelligence Report, written by Major R Marrs.
The reports generally comprise the following sections:
- A summary of the report (from report No. 14 onwards only)
- An account of the proceedings of the Council of Ministers
- Analysis of current public opinion and allegiances, (notably an analysis of public opinion on the Amir [Emir] Faisal and his arrival in Mesopotamia, including a reference to his 'personal magnetism', f 88), in report Nos 16-19
- Notes on provincial affairs
- Notes on the situation at the frontiers
- Extracts of 'Iraq Police Abstracts of Intelligence' (reports No. 9-14 only).
Other subjects notably covered in various reports include:
- Assyrian, Armenian and Urumiyan [Urmian] refugees (report Nos. 2 and 19)
- Perceived foreign influences in Iraq (report Nos. 2 and 3)
- The withdrawal of Saiyid [Sayyid] Talib Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. [Sayyid Ṭālib bin Rajab al-Naqīb] from the Government and Baghdad (report No. 12)
- Kurdistan (report Nos. 12-14)
- Turkish and Kurdish Frontiers (report No. 12)
- Dair al Zor [Deir ez-Zor] (report Nos. 1 and 12)
- Notes on 'Internal Affairs' (Nos. 18 and 19)
- Analysis of the referendum result which confirmed the election of Faisal as Iraq's first monarch (report No. 19)
- The formation of King Faisal's first cabinet (report No. 21).
Appendices are included with some reports, usually comprising copies of the High Commissioner's proclamations or communications 'to the people of Iraq' or documents relevant to the particular report (notably 'Provisional scheme for the re-organisation of the law courts' and 'Report of the committee constituted for studying the irrigation problem in Mesopotamia' in report No. 9).
Each report is concluded with a Supplement or Press Bureau Report, comprising extensive summaries and extracts of newspaper articles published in the local and 'foreign' (local region mainly) press. Notable publications cited are: Al 'Iraq , Al Fallah Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. , Al Dijlah , and (Syrian publication) Lissan al 'Arab.
The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the end of the correspondence (front of the volume).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (289 folios)
- Arrangement
The reports are arranged mostly in numerical/chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume. Report No. 18 is followed by Report No. 21 and then Report No. 19 which is the last report in the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 284; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the two leading and two ending flyleaves. The sequence contains one foliation anomaly: f 267a.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/962
- Title
- File 301/1921 'MESOPOTAMIA: INTELLIGENCE REPORTS'
- Pages
- 191r:192r, 174r:176r, 172r:174r, 151r:154r, 126r:127r, 112v:113r, 104r:104v, 95r:97r, 84r:85r, 62v:64v, 50r:50v, 16r:17r
- Author
- al-Iraq xx Al-'Iraq
- Usage terms
- Public Domain