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File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [387r] (786/995)
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.
(P 5669)
From Civil Commissioner, Baghdad, 19th July 1920.
8681. Private. See War Office telegram 85641 D.M.O., dated 17th July, stating
that full division from India ordered to embark forthwith, and Baghdad reply of
8th July, asking that it should not be embarked till asked for.
Assuming that War Office have needs of local situation in Mesopotamia rather
in Bolshevik menace in view, I trust that India and Foreign Offices will use their
in-uence to prevent despatch of additional formations to this country (other than
brigade already demanded) unless and until General Officer Commanding-in-Chief
asks for them and until needs of the local situation can be more accurately gauged
than at present. What is wanted is reinforcement of existing units, vide my telegram
of the 10th July, 8312.
An extra division, doubtless weak unit, will give us relatively little additional
strength compared to its cost. The large divisional brigade and departmental staffs
will have to be accommodated ; leading people will once more be ejected from their
houses, or at best the restoration to them (?) use of private houses and public
buildings now occupied by military married families will be indefinitely postponed.
Our transportation services cannot cope with additional strain of sudden arrival
of a division, and private river transport will again be requisitioned. Indeed the
local military authorities already contemplate taking over Lynch’s boats and
(? placing them) under the Inland Water Transport, a course wdiich will involve
immense loss to the commercial community and will be deeply resented. I am
convinced that maintenance of internal order can be far better effected by improving
our communications than by pouring fresh units into the country, a course which
with all its hardships (including rise of prices) and indignity to the civil population
will do us, I fear, irreparable harm.
It will indefinitely defer establishment of a civil Government, a consummation
which I view with great apprehension, and so far from bringing people of this
country into a frame of mind likely to conduce to peace is likely to have the opposite
effect. So far as this office is concerned it would be better to run the risk of losing
control of one or tw T o areas for a time.
If the Department concerned could be induced ( ? ) to go ahead with our
works of organisation, build cantonments for the minimum probable garrison,
complete our railways, vide my telegram of the 9th June, 6948, and improve our
. roads and bridges, the desired result will, I believe, be obtained at one-tenth the cost
of a division and the results will be permanent. Only two areas are (?)
disturbed at present, and I am in active negotiations in both districts with tribal
leaders.
The above telegram is marked “ private,” as I do not wdsh to appear unneces
sarily as critic of military authorities, but if it is desired to use it officially I have no
objection and should, in any case, be glad if it could be shown to Sir P. Cox.
mmm
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
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File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [387r] (786/995), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/761, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100137804988.0x0000bb> [accessed 13 June 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/761
- Title
- File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:i-v, 1r:89v, 89ar:89av, 90r:113r, 114v, 118v:120r, 121v, 127v:169v, 173r:192v, 194r:211v, 213r:223v, 225r:227r, 229r:261v, 262v:263v, 266r:279v, 280ar, 280r:293v, 294v, 295v:317v, 318ar, 318r:333v, 334v:341v, 342v:359v, 360v:400v, 404r:424v, 425ar, 425r:489v, ii-r:ii-v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence