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Coll 17/10(3) 'Internal: political situation; relations with HMG' [‎192r] (383/513)

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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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j - > * *
Copy.
0 U T W A R V TELEG
67
A M.
£0
JlSTRI^UTlON 5 . I '940 )
To:
Cypher telegram to Sir B. Newton, (Bagdad).
Foreign Office, 30th November, 1940. 11.20 p.m.
No. 615.
G
yyyyyyyy
IMPORTANT.
i Your telegram No«71^ (of 27th November: political
v situation in Iraq).
Iraqi Charge d ! Affaires came to see me on 29th November
at his own request.
2. He said that he had been instructed by General Nuri
to speak about your recent representations to the Iraqi
Government. In reply to your complaint regarding correspondence
between Iraqi postal authorities and Italian and German postal
authorities, General Nuri had stated, on the authority of the
Council of Ministers, that that v/as merely routine correspondence
which had always been maintained since the beginning of the war.
Minister for Foreign Afxairs had further replied that there was
no foundation at all for allegation that Iraqi Government have
prohibited criticism in Iraqi newspapers of' German Declaration.
Your Excellency had stated that Iraqi Government were believed
to be thinking of re-opening diplomatic relations with Germany,
either through Italian Minister at Bagdad or by some other means.
Charge d’Affaires said that Iraqi Government knew nothing of what
might be intentions of German Government in this respect, but for
themselves were, as always, most anxious .to continue to maintain
alliance w T ith Great Britain and to apply Anglo-Iraqi Treaty in
letter and spirit. As regards suggestion that Iraqi Government
intended to enact anti-Jewish legislation, Minister for Foreign
Affairs had informed you that such legislation was impossible,
since it would be contrary to constitution of Iraq.
3. In spice of these explanations, you had stated that His
Majesty’s Government did not trust Iraqi Prime Minister and that
Iraq must choose between Prime Minister and continuance of good
relations with Great Britain. General, Nuri wisher me to know
that Iraqi Government were astonished at this statement, which
seemed to them contrary to spirit of Anglo-Iraqi treaty and to
standards of international courtesy, and to infringe dignity and
independence of Iraq. He could not believe that such a
statement could have been made on instructions from His
Majesty’s Government, particularly at a moment when there
was really no dispute between the tv/o countries with regard
to application of treaty.
4. I tola Charge d ! Affaires that I was very much obliged
for message which he had given me. I hoped however that he
would report to General Nuri that action which Your Excellency
had taken had been on my direct instructions. Position was
that His Majesty’s Government attached great importance, as I
was glad to see General Nuri did also, to maintenance of good
/relations

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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' [‎192r] (383/513), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2862, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100066207521.0x0000ba> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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