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Coll 17/10(4) 'Internal: political situation; relations with HMG' [399r] (797/1031)
The record is made up of 1 file (515 folios). It was created in 10 Apr 1941-19 Mar 1947. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
Hrfei±—
lI^y^^OUTWAHn TELEGRAM fS
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Government, and should be
Indexed
kept under Lock and Key.]
E fC^h/G.
[Cypher],
No: 516 .
22nd April, 1941.
DEPARTMENTAL (SECRET) ,
FROM FOREIGN OFFICE TO BAGDAD.
if ?
1
D: 5.40 p*m. 22nd April, 1941.
r
Repeated to Governnent of India.
No: 4559. ..
BmDIATE.
MOST SECRET.
—
(°7
Your telegrams Nos: <357) and 358) [of April 18. Iraq].
Following, for your own most secret information only,
are replies to questions which you raise.
2. General policy of His Majesty’s Government.
Our chief interest in sending troops to Iraq is the
covering and establishment of a great assembly base at
Basra, and what happens up-country, except at Habbaniya,
is at the present time on an altogether lower priority.
Our rights under the Treaty were invoked to cover disembarkation
of troops and to avoid bloodshed, but force would have been
used to the utmost limit to secure the disembarkation if
necessary. Our position at Basra is of course covered by
Article 4 of the Treaty, but it also may be regarded as a
new event arising out of the war. No undertaKings can be
given that troops will be sent northwards or moved through
ro Palestine, and the right to require such undertakings
I should not be recognised in respect of a,Government which
has in itself usurped power by a coup d’etat, or in a country
' where our Treaty rights have so long oeen frustrated in
the spirit. Explanations had better in any case be avoided as
far as possible in dealing with Iraqi authorities.
3.
Basra.
Troops which have arrived in Iraq will remain at
4. Intention is that second brigade shall sail from
India second week in May. Third brigade will follow some
time in June. Final decision has not yet been taken regarding
disposal of these further troops. It is possible that some
may be stationed at Habbaniya, and some pass through to
Palestine or Trans Jordan where they would remain as a striking
force if required. Much will depend upon the views of
General Officer Commanding Basra regarding the number of
troops required to ensure security of base there. Question
will not arise till arrival of further troops, and you
should in the meantime consult with General Fraser, bearing in
mind that security of base at Basra and of air station at
Habbaniya must have priority over passage of troops through to
Palestine.
5. Please see also my immediately following telegram.
About this item
- Content
This file is a continuation of IOR/L/PS/12/2862. It contains correspondence and memoranda regarding relations between HM Government ( HMG Her or His Majesty’s Government in London. ) and the Government of Iraq, and documents the reaction of the 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. and Foreign Office to political developments within Iraq. The file opens with descriptions of the situation following the coup d'état of Rashid Ali al-Gaylani, and documents the build-up to the Anglo-Iraqi War (2-31 May 1941), including the arrival of British and Indian troops in Basra (under rights granted in the Anglo-Iraq Treaty of 1930), arrangements to evacuate the Regent 'Abd al-Illah, British attempts to shore up support from the Turkish and Egyptian authorities, and Axis propaganda in Iraq. The papers then contain communications regarding the progress of the war, including reports on troop movements, the dispatch of war materials, the actions of Germany, Italy, France and Turkey, and Indian public opinion regarding the conflict. These papers consist of dispatches sent by the British Ambassador to Iraq (Sir Kinahan Cornwallis) to the Foreign Office, as well as numerous copy communications between the Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , the Commander in Chief of the East Indies Section, the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. Kuwait, the Viceroy of India, and HM Ambassador to the United States.
From the end of the war the file consists primarily of dispatches from Cornwallis to the Foreign Office, reporting on the return of the Regent, the pogrom against the Jewish community, the breaking of diplomatic relations with Vichy France and Japan, the trial of the coup supporters, the Iraqi declaration of war against Germany, Italy and Japan, the possibility of Iraqi membership of the United Nations, and the release of political prisoners from the Ammara [̔Amāra] concentration camp. The regular dispatches also contain details of various cabinet crises, and details of the domestic economic and military situation. The file contains a small amount of material for the years 1944-1946, including annual reports submitted by Cornwallis and his successor, Sir Hugh Stonehewer-Bird.
The file includes dividers which give lists of correspondence references found in the file by year. These are placed at the end of the correspondence (folios 2-4).
- Extent and format
- 1 file (515 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in rough chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 515; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 2-514; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2863
- Title
- Coll 17/10(4) 'Internal: political situation; relations with HMG'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:15v, 17r:86v, 90v:105v, 107r:119v, 121r:298v, 300r:304v, 307r:373r, 379r:401v, 405r:515v, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence