Coll 17/10(4) 'Internal: political situation; relations with HMG' [‎227r] (453/1031)

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J^c^c tlLM.
THIS DC^yMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOTERNM
CONFIDENTIAL.
With the Compliments
of the
Under Secretary of Stats
for Foreign Affairs
■l'*>
6' c. hi, t f $
29 JUN1942
June
Section 1.
[E 3565/101/93]
EX
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6.
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CicUky , . .
Sir Kinahan Cornwallis to'Mr. Edfrrl.
(No. 142.) 24-^2.
Sir,
^ \ HAD the honour, in paragraph 3 (a) of my telegram No"
8th May, to express certain views concerning tEETraqi
Copy No.
-(Received June 12.)
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(jhq rwJ Go fabrnot,
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Bagdad, May 21, 1942. /} VM ^
teleeram No 477 0 f tho
the
p, .i*", i „’■ , - lac4 4 a army. TLoccurred to me
alter the despatch of that telegram that it might be useful to amplify my observa
tions by obtaining from the head of the British Military Mission in this country
a written appreciation on the morale and attitude of the Iraqi army, and I caused
Major-General Bromilow to be approached accordingly. I now’ beg leave to
enclose a copy of the report which he was good enough to prepare and which it
seems to me, gives an encouraging account of the progress that has taken plkce
since the regrettable events of a year ago.
2. Copies of this despatch are being sent to the Minister of State the
General Officer Commanding, Xth Army, and to Combined Intelligence Centre,
Iraq.
I have, &e.
KINAHAN CORNWALLIS.
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'P.A.
H.O
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Enclosure.
Morale and Attitude of Iraqi Army on May 14, 1942.
1. Introduction.
MANY of the \iews here set forth are ones that have already been expressed
verbally both to His Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador and to the General Officer
Commanding, Xth Army. But before committing them to writing, as requested
m His Britannic Majesty’s Embassy letter of the 10th May, 1942, ^consulted the
officers of the mission under my command. I find that their opinions not only
agree with all that I have previously said, but that their view T s enlarge my own.
Included in these officers is one wffio has recently been attached for a month with
sixty Iraqi officers, another whose work is largely m the office, but who has much
contact both with officers in the Ministry of Defence and also outside, though
mostly m the Bagdad area; and a third who, though new to Iraq has been in the
Middle East for three years now, during two of which he worked in close con
junction with the Intelligence branch of the General Staff of the Egyptian army
and who was for the last year with Senussi troops (Libyan Arab Force). He has
just paid brief visits to all garrisons in Iraq south of Bagdad. Thus the confirma
tory views that I have received are from officers of varied experience and cover a
wide field.
2. Morale.
I myself have seen all of the Iraq army in barracks, on the march, and at
training. I think that they have now largely forgotten the blow to their prestige
suffered in May 1941. They see around them the Xth Army apparently very lar^e
and apparently well equipped. 1 he tone of the Arabic press is favourable and
stresses British, American and Bussian successes, and imported goods are more
plentiful. Thus the foundations for a good morale exist amongst the officers and
those who can read and write. Added to this there is a good deal of inborn
conceit in the Iraqis. They consider that, given favourable conditions, they can
be a match for anyone. Both the officers and men work cheerfully and keenly and
f 30—47 ] mmmmmrnmmmmx , , , B
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**2 7 4 4 JUL 1942
EROM SECRETARY, EXTERNAL DEPT.,
INDtA OFFiCE