Coll 17/10(3) 'Internal: political situation; relations with HMG' [‎9r] (17/513)

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With t 3 »c Compliments
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Under Sooretary o? State
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DISTRIBUTION B.
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FROM BAGDAD TO SECRETARY OFVSIA
B. Newton
Vo. 11 Saving
5th March, 1941.
D.
R,
5th March, 1941.
4th April, 1941.
Repeated to FOREIGN OFFICE No. 12 Saving.
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Following notes may be useful to you for your interviews
with Iraqi Minister for Foreign Affairs Taufiq Beg Suwaidi.
7
2. With some slight improvements political position and
outlook in Iraq remain as set forth in my telegram No. 115 of
the 6th February (repeated to Cairo under No. 35). RashidWTIi
has been active' and there has been talk of InTlitary plots but
fear of a coup seems on the whole to have diminished and there
has been unusually outspoken criticism.in Chamber and Senate
both of military incursions into politics and of failure.of.
late Government to maintain good relations with Great Britain.
Prime Minister has definitely discouraged anti-British propaganda
but has not otherwise responded to my suggestions for a positive
pro-British lead. Minister for Foreign Affairs hints that if'
General Taha cannot deal adequately with situation he will with-
.draw his own support in due course but meanwhile he also no doubt
prefers to await external and internal developments for as long
as may be permitted. Change of Government would be liable to .
precipitate crisis which should however be shorter and less
dangerous than the last one.
5. Amongst specific questions likely to come up for
discussion are following.
A. SEVERANCE OF RELATIONS BETWEEN IRAQ, AND ITALY.
This is connected with question of preventing anti-British
interventions into politics by certain officers or whom leader
is Colonel Salah-ud-din.
I have nothing to add to telegrams recently exchanged
(telegram from Foreign Office No. 116 to B agdad, repeated to
Cairo NOo 361, as amended in paragraph 4 By my telegram to
loti Foreign Office No. 149. re peated to Cairo No. 45, and by my
lofoi*. telegrams Nos. 148. 19Q_and 191 r epeated to Cairo under Nos.
iU,uiiv»fe.44, 59 and 60).
B. RAILWAY C0MEXI0N WITH TURKEY.
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Iraqi Government have agreed in principle. (For details
Angora telegram bo. 175 t n Fo^^ g n Office, repeated to G.H.Q.
Cairo Saving, your telegram from Angora to Bagdad No. 25. repeated
to G.H. Q. Cairo as No. 34 and my repliesNOr 8 to^you at Athens
repeated to Cairo as No. 58 ? and No. 192" to Foreign Office
repeated to Cairo as No. 65). ^
APPOINTMENT OF NEW BRITISH DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE
'RAILWAYS':
This has been outstanding since October and appears at last
to have been settled in favour of our nominee Colonel Smith.
Minister...