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Coll 17/10(3) 'Internal: political situation; relations with HMG' [‎141r] (281/513)

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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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r
(^>020/446/93)
T> > r
-i • .»
.108
!9
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(5^
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sii
DISTRIBUTION B.
To: IRAQ.
Cypher telegram tc Sir B. Dev/tcn (Bagdad).
Foreign Office, 9th December, 1940. 6.00 p.m.
No. 636.
111111
IMMEDIATE.
r/ Your telegrams Nos. ^734 and 735 (of December 2nd.
'^’political situation in Iraq).
Situation appears to fce that Iraqi Government are now
awaiting a further c°^ UIlication f 1,0 " 1 ," 1 ®^/.ave
explanations furnished by Iraqi Charged A ^ a ^ res . hav< r,.
caused His Majesty's Government to modify their view
they can no longer place any confidence in Rashid All s
assurances. They seem also to expect to he told whether or
not there is any basis for some reconciliation between Hi
Majesty’s Government and Rashid All s Government,
therefore be necessary to make it clear to the Iraqi
Government that it is quite impossible for us to modify a
views or to attach credence to any assurances from Rashid
Ali regarding his willingness to co-operate with us m futur .
9 It mav be well to recapitulate the misdeeds of
Rashid’All and his Government which have led us to form his
conclusion. First, there is the resumption of direct
telesranhic communications with Italy and Germany. Iraqi
Chared d t Affaires* explanation that this was merely rcu in
corresoondence which had always been maintained since the
beginning of the war does not correspond to the facts, i,
by the Iraqi Government of public criticism the German
Sn^is^^
"F^FEEH^iloin^gram HO^ ^(of ^ember^).
that it was Rashid Ali who was responsible for suppression
of criticism.
3. There are also the complaints enumerated by you^^
recently to the Regent, of your telegram
27th). Of these, by ^r the diplomatic relations
Ali’s Government have failed to break a ^ y j; ti . bot h
with Italy, and^are carry out the policy
based "on the Anglo-Iraqi Alliance, ^^ 1 °
of our charges against Rashid Al. g & po iioy of
Government have been °? e uly the Axis Powers. ’This "neutral"
"neutrality" between us ana the Axis^Powe s^ ^
policy is reflected in the Iraqi active pro-British
the Iraqi Government have faiiea 10 gx
guidance.
+-hP Tmoi military authorities, undoubtedly
4 . Moreover, the Iraqi mil y^ were (untll found
whose/

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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' [‎141r] (281/513), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2862, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100066207521.0x000054> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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