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'B 299. Mesopotamia. Note on Demobilisation by Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.' [4r] (7/8)
The record is made up of 4 folios. It was created in Dec 1918. 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
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X. Memorandum by the Civil Commissioner, Baghdad, to the Chief of General Staff, General
Headquarters, Mesopotamia, No. 18791, dated the 8th September 1918.
I attach for the consideration of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief a note
on domobilisation in Mesopotamia which, subject to his concurrence, J propose to
send to the Secretary of State for India and to the Government ot India.
I he note embodies my personal views on the subjects dealt with, so far as
T have been ahle to formulate them without fuller knowledge of the facts, and
without knowledge of the views and intentions of His Majesty's Government. It
was written before the return of Sir P. Cox, and has not been altered since.
■j. 1 he note is intended to bring to the notice ot higher authoritv some aspects
of the urgent local problems that will before long call for solution, and if General
Officer Commanding-in-Ohief concurs, I would propose, when transmitting the note,
to ask His Majesty's Government to consider the despatch to this country of a small
but authoritative Commission of, say, three persons, who may be joined by two
members from the Staff of this Force, to consider the questions raised in this memo
randum and other allied topics relating less to the political status of this country
than to the practical administrative problems connected with post-war adjustments.
4. This Committee should have power to co-opt heads of departments, and to
call for information on all subjects. It might usefully come out in December, and
sit for three months.
I attach papers from which it will be seen that the proposal for such a Com
mission was made in 1917 and accepted by His Majesty's Government, but postponed
for military reasons.
A. T. Wilson, Lieut.-Col. LA,,
Officiating Civil Commissioner.
II.- Memorandum No. A. 2120 31, dated 26th September 1918, from Deputy Adjutant-
General, General Headquarters, to the Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
^ our No. 18< 1)1 of 8th September and enclosed paper is returned herewith.
The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief wishes his observations to be forwarded
with the letter, and I am to state that he has no objection to a telegram being sent
regarding the advisability of a Commission to enquire into the question of recon
struction of Irak. Ft is desirable their work should commence this winter.
III.—Observations by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief.
With reference to the Civil Commissioner's paper on demobilisation, I am
entirely in accord that, given the retention of Irak by the British Government on the
cessation of hostilities, all assistance should be given to the new administration that
is possible in the handing over of institutions and establishments at present under
the control of the Army which would be of utility in the reconstruction of the
country. The question of payment could no doubt be settled equitably. Till,
however, the terms of peace are settled, general principles may be suggested, but
laying down of details must prove of doubtful value.
I agree that Baghdad should be the headquarters of the post-war garrison, but I
consider the hopes expressed in paragraphs 3 and 5 regarding its mobility as
optimistic. Such mobility could only be ensured by a very great improvement of
existing communications and development of means of transportation. The necessity
for sending troops to the various districts mentioned will depend, moreover, on the
political results obtained from peace.
The expression " strong force " in paragraph 5 is somewhat indeterminate, and
it seems to me very doubtful if in peace time it would be possible to maintain
sufficient mechanical transport to send a force as large as a division across Persia
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Note on demobilisation by Arnold Talbot Wilson, Civil Commissioner, Baghdad (enclosed in letter to 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. , No 20517, dated 28 September 1918).
The note gives details on the two areas that demobilisation would need to cover, namely the repatriation of the fighting force and the transference to Civil Government of those parts of the military administration that could be used for national benefit.
The note is broken down into a number of sub-headings:
- Strategical and Political Considerations: Including the proposal of the need for a mobile military force, comprised wholly of British troops, that could react to any instability or disturbances caused by the previous decade of war, and which could protect India and support reforms in other countries.
- Maintenance in Baghdad of Troops and War Material: outlining proposals for the use of horses, mules, skilled individuals within British units, and mechanical transport for the civil administration of the country.
- Directorate of Telegraphs: regarding the question of whether or not to amalgamate it with the Indo-European Telegraph Department.
- Inland Water Transport: regarding the current usage of water transport for military purposes and the likelihood that once railways have been established it would only be required for fuel supplies and building materials.
- Medical Services: The need to evacuate the medical building established during war-time; the ongoing need for some of the temporary services during demobilisation; and those buildings that might be of use to the civil administration including sanitary and water installations and hospitals.
- Works Department: Effect of the department's work on the civil population, including electric lighting and water installations and the need for it to be taken over by the civil department.
- Remounts; Veterinary Services; Irrigation and Agriculture; Surveys; Stationary Department; Graves Registration
- Royal Air Force: The need to maintain a wing of the Air Force in Baghdad; and regarding the other supplementary activities that could be developed including surveys and postal services.
- Royal Navy: That there would be no need for a naval detachment after the war
- Repatriation of Prisoners of War now interned in India: 25,000 turkish prisoners of war in India, with about 5,000 being inhabitants of Iraq, and a further 5,000 expected to wish to be repatriated to Iraq. The likelihood of many working for the labour corps, and arrangements with the civil administration for security of those who cannot be realised without guarantees.
- Indian Immigration: Need for a definite policy regarding the question as there may be a number of requests to remain in Iraq as cultivators.
The Appendix (folio 4) lists includes summaries of a number of related documents to be consulted:
- Memorandum by the Civil Commissioner Baghdad (Arnold Talbot Wilson) to the Chief of General Staff, General Headquarters, Mesopotamia, No. 18791, 8 September 1918
- Memorandum No. A/2120/31, 26 September 1918, from the Deputy Adjutant-General, General Headquarters to the Civil Commissioner, Baghdad
- Observations by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (undated)
- Extent and format
- 4 folios
- Arrangement
The file contains three copies of the note.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the first folio and terminates at the last folio; 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 copy of the note marked '46' is the one which has been foliated.
Pagination: The booklet also contains an original typed pagination sequence.
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- IOR/L/PS/18/B299
- Title
- 'B 299. Mesopotamia. Note on Demobilisation by Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.'
- Pages
- 1r:4v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence