PZ 1125/40 'German propaganda in the Near East' [‎3r] (5/16)

r
Copy ,
l 1340 j
No. 25
BRITISH EMBASSY,
(28/3/40).
VERY GONE IDE ITT IAL
17th January, 1940*
BAGDAD.
My Lord
In certain reports, which are also submitted to
Your Lordship, it was recently brought to my notice that
there was evidence that Shakib Arslan, the Arab
nationalist agitator, was assisting the German Government
to plan and organise a general rising in Syria, Iraq,
Palestine and Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan and that he was in correspondence
with the Mufti on this subject.
2. These reports indicated that it was probable that
the Mufti was:- v
(1) discussing Shakib Arslan’s plans with a
number of Palestinian leaders in Bagdad;
(2) sending a representative to the Diwaniyah Liwa to
establish contact with discontented tribal and
religious elements with a view to fomenting
insurrection in that area:
(3) planning to assemble in Iraq as many Arab
political refugees as possible in readiness for
concerted action in Palestine and Syria when the time
was ripeo
3o A number of facts corroborated this information.
The Right Honourable
The Viscount Halifax, K.G., GoCoS.Ic, G.C.I.E.,
etc., etc., etc.
Shakib/