Skip to item: of 995
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [‎78r] (164/995)

This item is part of

The record is made up of 1 volume (491 folios). It was created in 28 Jun 1920-11 Feb 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.

Apply page layout

the appearance of aeroplanes and sent word to the Dizaih
chiefs asking if his dakhlat would be favourably received^
On hearing that if he cane in and behaved Government would
not enquire closely into his previous actions he came down
to Arbil with all his relations and undertook to disperse
his forces and persuade the Surchi to withdraw* He proved#
as good as his word and I hope he will come into Arbil
again in a day or two and that with his hel$ I shall be able
to restore the situation at Koi*
There was also a woman in the case*
One of the late Miran-i-Baiz 3eg v s (Late Governor of
Saaqlawah 15 miles W*S-W of Rowanduz) wives is a daughter of
Abdulla Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Rowanduz* Q,adir Beg asked the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
for her hand, but he refused and gave her to Qadir Beg ! s
brother Rashid Beg. Qadir Beg was greatly incensed by this
and it is quite possible that but for this matter he would
have prevented the Surchi from interfering with Batas and
Rowanduz*
The other Khushnao ^gzadas are all inclined to be
unfavourable to a Government which insists on collecting
its full share of the revenue and prevents them worrying
the x^eopla /and murdering each other* Saleh Beg of the
Mixyusufi (section of the K^wushnao) is the worst# When
the Surchi forces were already dispersing he arrived in the
town at night and advised the Lizaih chiefs to evacuate me
at once as an attack w$s imminent#
With the arrival of troops in Arbil the Khusiinao
should give no further trouble* In the event of their
proving refractory the best wagr of dealing with them is
by blockade as they are dependant on the Arbil district
for all their grain*
I would point out that the Khushnao as a whole i.e*
the people, have no real grievance* There are no gendarmes
amongst them, except for one post at Shaqlawah, and Q,adir

About this item

Content

The volume consists of correspondence, memoranda, drafts, and departmental notes relating to rebellion against British mandatory rule in Mesopotamia [approximately corresponding to present-day Iraq], later known as the Iraqi Revolt of 1920.

The volume covers the period from the start of unrest in May 1920 to British imposition of control in October of the same year. The majority of the volume comprises reports from political officers across Mesopotamia on the situation in their respective divisions and districts.

Other matters discussed within the volume include:

  • The suspected causes of the uprising, including fears of ‘Bolshevik’ and pro-Turkish influence
  • Settlement of the border between Syria and Mesopotamia
  • Military strategy and operations, including the need for reinforcements
  • The severing of British lines of communication, particularly rail
  • The efficacy and principles of the use of armoured cars and air raids as means of control following numerous cases of misidentification and disproportionate force that resulted in the deaths and injuries of innocent people
  • Political and civil policy in the region
  • Identification and arrest of some of the leaders of the rebellion
  • The prominence of events in Mesopotamia in the British press
  • The question of disarming the tribes following the suppression of the rebellion.

Principal correspondents include officials at: the 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. ; the Office of the Civil Commissioner in Mesopotamia (from November 1920, the High Commissioner); the War Office; General Headquarters of the military in Mesopotamia; and the Government of India, Foreign and Political and Army departments.

The volume contains cuttings from several publications, including: The Times , The Statesman , The Observer , The Daily Herald , The Daily Mail , The Baghdad Times , and The Near East .

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 back of the correspondence. A second divider is included, for File 4722/1918 Part 7, entitled ‘Mesopotamia: Sir A. Wilson’s invitation to Syrian Baghdadis’. This was transferred to File 5268/20 Parts 1 and 2 (see IOR/L/PS/10/913).

Extent and format
1 volume (491 folios)
Arrangement

The volume is arranged in approximate chronological order, from the rear to the front.

The subject 4722 (Mesopotamia) consists of ten volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/755-764. The volumes are divided into twelve parts, with parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 12 comprising one volume each. Part 10 is missing. Part 7, entitled ‘Mesopotamia: Sir A. Wilson’s invitation to Syrian Baghdadis’, was transferred to File 5268/20 Parts 1 and 2 (see IOR/L/PS/10/913).

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 489; 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. Multiple intermittent additional foliation sequences are also present. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves. The sequence contains one foliation anomaly, f 89a.

Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [‎78r] (164/995), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/761, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100137804985.0x0000a5> [accessed 8 June 2026]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100137804985.0x0000a5">File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [&lrm;78r] (164/995)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100137804985.0x0000a5">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00028f/IOR_L_PS_10_761_0164.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00028f/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image