'Mesopotamia. Appointment of Sir Percy Cox as High Commissioner: Instructions of His Majesty's Government' [‎124r] (1/4)

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MESOPOTAMIA.
Appointment of Sir Percv Cnv aq «
m*ml f, f Commissioner ; Instructions o£
His Majesty s Government.
/ manee CommUCee of the Cabinet, not as formal W approved b !l the
otherwise, hut as a general indication, f
the lines upon which he is authorised at hit discretion i ■ per %" lal ' 0>"<lance, of
His Majesty's Government.)
DRAFT INSTRUCTIONS.
I.— Original draft as subm.tted to the Cabinet, 5tii August 19^0
<=-
delay as « a deoi.ion ha. b„„ J. „ jj"
xou are aware that a tpWmm lino ^ a |. n ess eiitiai factors.
(i) A spontaneous demand for Feisal is forthcoming from a sufficiently renrp
.... Q1 se ^ a i. i y e \ Q dy; of public opinion in Mesopotamia ;
(ii) ohenr Feisal is prepared in principle to accept Great Britain as Mandatory
1 ower and to agree to a form of Mandate on the lines already drafted for
communication to the League of Nations, or such modification of it ^ His
Majesty s Government can advisedly approve.
(in) French susceptibilities can be overcome.
Supposing that the demand is forthcoming, Sherif Feisal accepts in principle
and the question of irench susceptibilities is disposed of, your duty will be to "et
forthwith into personal touch with Feisal, either in Haifa, Cairo, or some neutral
own in Liuope, and proceed to negotiate with him a document which shall form the
basis ot the working relations between himself and His Majesty's Government. It is
possible that Sherii l^eisal. by the light of his experience with the French Government
m regard to Syria, may, while accepting the principle of a Mandate and Great Britain
as Mandatory, press for the expression of its terms in treaty form. Should this prove
the case. His Majesty's Government will be prepared to entertain the proposal.
Should the negotiations above referred to lead to the desired result, you should
then proceed to Mesopotamia with Feisal, or, failing that, precede him by a short
period in which to prepare the ground for his coming.
As to the form of government which it is proposed to set up, it is common
ground that it is to be predominantly Arab; but, in view of the change in the
situation arising from our acceptance of Feisal as Head of the Arab State, it is
considered that, subject to the safeguarding of our obligations and interests as
Mandatory, the government must be as completely Arab as possible. That is to say,
that it must be composed as far as, or as soon as, practicable, of Arab Ministers for
each Department of State, responsible to the Arab Ruler, each assisted by a British
expert as Secretary, such experts to be considered employes of the Arab Government.
It is recognised, however, that for the present special considerations attach to
certain Ministries which cannot be overlooked, e.g., the Ministries of War, Foreign
Affairs, Finance and Justice. As regards the Ministry of War, it must be clearly laid
down in our agreement with Feisal that his Minister of War has no connection with or
control over the British garrison in Mesopotamia, which must remain, for the period
of the Mandate, under the direct authority of the British Representative.
The Arab Minister of War will simply be concerned for the present with the
organisation and distribution of indigenous formations of a military or semi-military
character, calculated, w r ith the assistance of such British instructors as may be
necessary, ultimately and gradually to replace the present Army of Occupation,
o 2179 60 8.23