File 2764/1904 Pt 2 'Baghdad Railway: General negotiations 1908-10.' [‎62r] (132/799)

• Enj o y m g the very active protection of the French vice-consulate, this organisa-
lon contrives not only to influence its policy but apparently to exercise a strong
n Vef - m< ^ lvl ^ ua ^ French officials; and, though it is not suggested that either the
^Jtrench vice-consul or the Papal delegate are in overt understanding with certain
Moslem allies of the Chaldean Patriarch, it would be absurd to ignore the fact that
t ere is common ground on which for certain purposes they may be regarded as one
the aim of the Chaldean Partriarch is to subjugate all Nestorian Christians
and of the Syrian Catholic Archbishop to do likewise with the Jacobites ; the Dominican
Mission is here to promote and organise these endeavours; and the Papal delegate in
Mesopotamia is the guide and patron of the whole movement, which—as stated above—
torms the sum and total of French official interest in this part of the Ottoman Empire.
I he explanation of the co-operation of certain undesirable Moslems is generally not far
too seek, e.g., Keshid Beg’s feud with the Nestorians makes him a ready and useful tool
for the Patriarch, while the notorious Sabonji is constantly in need of the support of the
Chaldean and Syrian priests and bishops in order to retain his seat on the administrative
council.
49. In attempting to give an account of affairs in this district it is unfortunately
not possible to overlook the bitter hostility and petty intrigues with which the
“ party” described above oppose all efforts for the good of the population which happen
to emanate from any other quarter than that with which they themselves are associated.
Beference was made to this subject by Mr. Lloyd, who is understood to have trans
mitted to the Foreign Office a copy of the Chaldean Patriarch’s sermon against the
English (1907k Again and again during the past twelve years the plans of American
and English missionaries for securing land, &c., have been foiled by the same malign
influence ; and though, in case of emergency, the Dominican fathers and nuns are
under the necessity of having recourse to the English medical mission, there are
indications that they bear it no good will, and friendly advances on the part of the
missionaries have been repeatedly and unkindly repulsed. More than this, on two
recent occasions of a death in the English mission, there have been no signs of sympathy
on the part of the French—an attitude which seems unpardonable in a fanatical
Moslem city where the European colony is very limited. In the circumstances relations
have for some months ceased between the two missions. With an idea of mitigating a
regrettable state of things, the British vice-consul from the first took some trouble to
be civil to the French missionaries with whom his relations are without exception
correct and, to all outward appearance, perfectly friendly; and it seems a pity the
French vice-consulate is prevented from making a similar effort if only for the sake of
appearances. The state of affairs described is quite without parallel in other districts
known to the writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. ; and it would almost seem that the “ French party” in Mosul are
at present unable to regard a foreign influence, however innocent of hostile designs,
otherwise than as a danger to their long-established predominance.
50. Italy and Austria. —It has been several times rumoured that Italy and
Austria were on the point of sending vice-consuls to Mosul, but it is not known with
what truth.
51. America. —From information received from private sources it appears that the
State Department were quite recently considering the question of sending a representa
tive to Mosul.
The return from America of a native gentleman, originally of Mosul, with
specimens of American machinery was reported and commented on in a despatch No. 31
of the 4th December, 1909.
52. British Interests. —A British vice-consulate was established in Mosul in 1908.
Its aim has been purely commercial. It would seem thaf there was a brief succession
of vice-consuls in Mosul some quarter of a century ago; but it has been impossible
to ascertain anything about them locally, and, as their archives appear to be missing,
everything has had to be begun from the beginning. In the circumstances these two
years have been necessarily devoted to quietly laying the foundations of wffiat is in fact
a new post.
53. An effort has been made to collect as much information as possible about the
district as a whole ; and, with this purpose in view, no opportunity has been neglected
of getting to know all sections of the population.
54. Openings for commercial enterprise which seemed to suggest themselves have
been reported from time to time, but, of necessity, rather with the view of attracting
the attention of those who should be interested than of attempting to do what can
only be done by experts. This applies particularly to openings for machinery in a
district where it is practically unknown. A consul, unless he be a specialist, can only