'Mesopotamia. Present Political Situation' [‎87v] (3/6)

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1 X- mi i/ln'^l 7 44 \ dated I3rh September
when .1.0 Modems read the contents of
the situ
between .tuw ^ — —- -
position, mielit find it necessary to proclain
^ry Peace in Mesopotamia will with difficulty lie permanent, unless it is accompamei
by a degree of freedom sufBciebt to satisfy the Arab beyond its borders.
More immediate has ftsen the effect caused by the cessation oi hostilities and the
consequent return of the Mesopotamians in the Sharif's army. Mesopotamia, according
to Colonel Brayne's note dated 25th April 1919, supplied alwut one-third of the forces,
and considerably more than this proportion .of the leaders aud staff of the lledjaz
army. When Celonel Wilson's proposals were prepared it was impossible to consult
either the members of this force or other Mesopotamian Arabs away from their homes,
and the capacity of these men for civil work was unknown at Baghdad. The conclusions
of nth April were inevitably reached without a knowledge of all available premises.
No public announcement has been made that the orders of 9th May are intended to
be provisional. The Syrian element seem to consider them permanent and deem
them insufficient, with the result that dissatisfaction is being openly expressed at
Aleppo, Cairo, and in Mesopotamia itself.
(i) As to Aleppo, vide Appendix to Colonel Brayne's note dated 25tli April
.1919. Colonel Brayne's main points are, iirstly, that there are in Syria Mcsopotamians
whom his experience shows to be capable of administrative work; and secondly, that
there is a strong feeling that the longer the change to an Arab Government is delayed,
the moiT dilik'ult will that change be. Mespotamians who discussed matters with
Colonel Brayne are very insistent on the distinction between an Arab staffed fVritish
(rovernment and an Arab Covernment with British advisers. It is the former which
Colonel Wilson recommends, but it is a policy which must mmlt in the exclusion of
SctetP ^ Pp0S,tl0n - a11 his Arab officials and Councillors will be " carefully
# AstoCai.o rid,'Colonel French's I,.tt,.rX,,. 311, dated ]4th Auiniat reconli.,.-
Conversations with Lotfullah, Prcsicfent oi the Union Syrienne of Cairo •'Utfnl ,h
evnlently hates the fiaghdadis, who, with .heir ll.-An.'h rXx than S -
^sentnnents andjhnr aMte. of the JiriUsh on accnuU of o„r t
potamia, constitute, by their influence over the Moslem fai.iti.-U... f ,
" coalmual danger to his finelv-smm srl.emea" l„ / ' au ' ltl<; h " 1 of the masses, a
with one u, I' :,1 -a. hUle ' ne !- '» the same letter a conversation
'" -/^opuianna independent extremists nnn-l^ r " * *, , " 1U ^egaru to
were sob, ,n both countries for a S ' T1 " J '^bles
^masses. However, there was consid.u-nble .lisrt n ! / • ai u y ooukl Cbntrol the
u ,ils ^ :l Fsty s Government should send muh - a ' I u - ut , J11 ;^ ( ! so P 0 tamia. If possible •
\i 0 \ s a greater share in the administration adrainistrators and give the
Mahoinmeflan officials might do much good."' lhest ' mll,l «of a few r.-liablo Indian
t and resUaU^Klf ^' SowaidY^, of ^ appoint-
' " h o appears to have refused
inent