File 4097/1914 Pt 6 Mesopotamia: administration; personnel; officers' papers [‎130r] (196/661)

14— Paraphrase.
From Secretary of State to Viceroy, 20th March 1917.
P.-- Folio icing is summary of conclusions arrived at by Committee of
War Cabinet after consideration of measures for future political control and
administration of Mesopotamia and Arabia :—
( 1 ) His Majesty s Government, not the Government of India, to administer
the occupied territories.
( 2 ) Basra to remain under British administration permanently, with
Nasinyeh, Shatt-al-Hai, Kut and ]>edrai as the western and northern limits.
(.») Baghdad to be an Arab State, having a local ruler or Government,
under a British Protectorate in every respect except the name. Baghdad will
thus have no foreign relations, and its consuls will be accredited to His
Majesty's Government.
(4) Administration of Baghdad, behind an Arab facade, to be that of an Arab
province by indigenous agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , and as far as possible in accordance with existing
institutions and laws. In particular (a) though code of Irak will not be used,
the local judicial system will be maintained, both in respect of personnel and
law, only replacing Turk by Arab ; ( 6 ) in the same way, as regards adminis
trative and executive machinery, the tribal system of Government and provincial
and local councils, Ac., will be resuscitated and maintained; (c) there will be
no disturbance of present land system; (d) no Asiatics from outside will be
employed unless of Arab or Persian domicile or descent, the employment of
Indians in any branch of administration being strictly discountenanced as
inconsistent with the above principles, yl.s far as possible the same will apply
to Basra vilayet.
(5) In event of Basra not being annexed, a High Commissioner resident at
Baghdad to be head of the ivhole administration of Mesopotamia, and a
Governor subordinate to him to be placed in charge of Basra. In event of
Basra being annexed, style of head of administration to be Governor of
Basra and High Commissioner for Mesopotamia," residing generally at
Baghdad but having titular headquarters at Basra. In his absence, the
Deputy High Commissioner at Baghdad', and the Deputy Governor, Basra,
respectively, to act for him.
( 6 ) Amalgamation o f British Civil Service with that of the Soudan, possibly
also of the Levant A geographical area corresponding to the region around the eastern Mediterranean Sea. , same method being employed for recruitments and
personnel being interchangeable. If British officers of Indian services are
required at first, they are to be lent temporarily, under foreign service rules,
and those who are now serving there are to be per nutted to offer themselves
for permanent transfer.
(7) Formation of Shiah Holy Places into a separate enclave which will
not be under direct British control, and from which any irrigated o. in igable
areas of importance will be carefully excluded.
( 8 ) A single British administration to control irrigation in both of the
vilayets : similar arrangements to he made for conservancy and navigation of
rivers.
(9) Basra to control Koweit, Oman and whole of Arabian littoral of the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
(10) Foreign Office to take over Aden and Hadramaut.
(11) South Persia, including Fars and Arabistan, to be in the sphere of
influence of the Indian Government.
In conclusion, the utmost importance is attached to the consideration that
from the very outset the administrative arrangements introduced into the
Baghdad vilayet should conform strictly to the a}>ove principles, bir F. Cox
should at. once be instructed accordingly, with special reference to the fourth
head. Any remarks you may wish to make on any of the above heads should
be telegraphed with 'the least possible delay, in order that they may be
considered by the Ifar Cabinet before their final decision is reached.