Coll 17/10(4) 'Internal: political situation; relations with HMG' [‎269r] (537/1031)

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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY O
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y n42
January 18, 1942.
Section 1.
1942
Copy No. 97
Sir Kinahan Cornwallis to Mr. Eden.—(Received January 18, 1942.)
(No. 351.)
$i r Bagdad, December 19, 1941.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith a copy of a despatch from
His Majesty’s Consul, in which he gives an account of events in his consular
district from the beginning of April to the end of October.
2. It will be seen that during the months of April and May, in particular.
Mr. Finch was confronted with a variety of difficult situations, the successful
handling of which testifies to his resourcefulness and devotion to duty.
3. I trust, therefore, that you will authorise me to convey to Mr. Finch
your appreciation of the excellent work done by him at a time when, without any
contact with the outside world, he was daily called upon to meet situations of
heavy responsibility and often of personal danger.
I have, &c.
KINAHAN CORNWALLIS.
Consul Finch to Sir Kinahan Cornwallis.
Confidential.)
4>.o
(No. 45.
Sir, Mosul, November 30, 1941.
I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith a report on events in this
consular district during the period April-October, 1941, which I regret is
greatly overdue.
I have, &c.
J. P. G. FINCH.
(Confidential.)
Re/port on Events in Mosul District, April-October 1941.
Prelude.
1 . On the night of 3rd or 4th April, 1941 (records are now destroyed), Tahsin
Ali, Mutessarif of Mosul, was removed more or less under duress to Bagdad by
order of Rashid Ali, and was replaced by Brigadier Qasim Maqsud, of the
Iraq army, previously stationed at Kirkuk, as acting mutessarif and District
Commander at Mosul. The real military commander, Colonel Abdur Razzaq
Hussein, had gone to Bagdad for a horse show, and was prevented from returning.
2. During the same night in which Tahsin Ali was removed, I received a
telegram from His Majesty’s Ambassador instructing me to convey his
Excellency’s personal greetings to the mutessarif and to inform him that the
Regent was forming a Government at Basra which would have the full support
of His Majesty’s Government. Early in the morning, when I requested an inter
view with the mutessarif, I was met with evasive answers, and finally went to
the mutessarifiyah, demanded an interview on the spot, and was told that the
mutessarif had “gone to Bagdad.” I was then met with evasion when I
enquired who was acting during his absence, but was finally told that Brigadier
Qasim Maqsud was in charge. It was then necessary to decide how far the
ambassador’s message was for “ the mutessarif ” (as worded) and how far for
Tahsin Ali. Obviously, the personal greeting was for Tahsin Ali, but, in view
of the decisive effect that a firm, independent attitude by the District Commander
at Mosul had had at the time of Bekir Sidqi’s assassination in 1937, I judged
that a statement of His Majesty’s Government’s attitude might have a good effect
on whoever was in charge here, and that the statement must be made
immediately, before any opposing influences got to work. To communicate with
Bagdad by telephone was impossible; the lines were blocked by the Government,
[25—28]
RECo. POL. BE Ft,
3QJAN 942
INDIA OFFICE The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors.
ENCLOSE IN WEEKLY LETTER
No. 6 J7 FEB 1942
FROM SECRETARY, EXTERNAL DEPT.,
INDIA OFFICE The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors.