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Coll 17/10(3) 'Internal: political situation; relations with HMG' [‎61r] (121/513)

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The record is made up of 1 file (256 folios). It was created in 29 Apr 1940-24 Oct 1941. 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. .

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* AMENDED GOPYv
DISTRIBUTION B,
From: IRAQ.
Decypher. Sir B. Newton, (Bagdad)
4th March, 1941.
D. 11.26 p.m. 4th March, 1941.
R. 11.45 p.m. 7th March, 1941.
No. 191.
xxxxxxxxx
^ My immediately prece din g telegram.
Although *some* impression may have been made by my
verbal representations, I fear further very strong pressure
will be required to induce present Taha G-overnment to
commit ' itself to severance of relations with Italy.
' 2. Subject to what the Secretary of State may < decide
to say at Cairo to Iraqi Minister for Foreign Affairs who
will probably orofess himself to be personally in favour of
rupture I would strongly recommend cpnsiderations of prompt
further action on the lines set out in my telegram No. 772
/ *[of 1940]* without however specifying a time limit.
W Written communication would impress Iraqi Government with
determination of His Majesty’s Government to secure
settlement of this issue and might be accompanied by
intimation that economic pressure would be increased.
Suggestions for such increase are contained in my telegram
No. *772 [of 1940 to Foreign Office] in my telegram Jo. 1
to the* Government of India and in my telegrams Nos. 9 and
81*[to the Foreign Office]*.
3. It would of course greatly help to make Iraqis
realise that it is more important for them to retain British
goodwill than that of Axis if line *of communications*
could be used on however small a scale. Australian Prime
Minister when passing through here suggested that
Australian troops could perhaps be helpful m this way.
Repeated to Cairo telegram No. 60, Government of India
telegram No. 37.

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Content

This file is a continuation of IOR/L/PS/12/2861. It contains correspondence and memoranda regarding relations between 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 papers primarily consist of communications between HM Ambassador to Iraq and HM Foreign Secretary, regarding the cabinet of Rashid Ali al-Gaylani, his resignation in January 1941 and the formation of a new cabinet under Taha al-Hashimi, and the resumption of power by Rashid Ali backed by the military in April 1941. The file concludes with papers detailing the escape of the Regent 'Abd al-Ilah, and initial negotiations with Rashid Ali's Government of National Defence.

The papers include detailed discussion of the relations between Iraq and the Axis Powers, and attempts by the British to persuade the Government of Iraq to sever diplomatic ties with Italy. They also discuss British concerns over the growing anti-British sentiment in Iraq, as a result of British interference in Iraqi internal affairs and British policy towards Palestine and Syria. Amongst the papers are intelligence reports on the 'Golden Square' Generals (folios 58-59), and a copy of British plans to undermine the Mufti of Jerusalem, Mohammed Amin al-Husseini (folios 194-195). The file also contains a small number of communications from the Government of Iraq, and from HM Ambassadors to Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the USSR.

Folios 4-8 concern the affairs of the family of the late Khan Sahib Badruddin Khan, and appear to have come from a different file.

Extent and format
1 file (256 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 256; 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. Two additional foliation sequences are also present in parallel between ff 2-256, and ff 206-225; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Coll 17/10(3) 'Internal: political situation; relations with HMG' [‎61r] (121/513), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2862, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100066207520.0x00007c> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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