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Coll 17/10(3) 'Internal: political situation; relations with HMG' [‎249r] (497/513)

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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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(E 17^2/448/93)
No. 1^5.
(131/53/40).
COPY.
2466
1940 J
10th April, 1940
British Embassy
Bagdad.
My Lord,
With reference to my telegram No.108 of
April 2nd, I have the honour to transmit to Your Lordship
herewith a translation of a press report on a meeting of
the Chamber of Deputies at which the Prime Minister made a
statement on the policy of his Cabinet*
2
Rashid Ali wisely refrained from drawing up a
lengthy programme and was satisfied to declare his general
adherence to the programme formulated by Nuri Said in March
1939 (see my d espa tch No. 131 of March 30th, 1939) and to
real firm his predecessors declarations on foreign policy.
3. The one new feature was the undertaking to create
a national financial reserve for use in emergency. This
idea is credited to the new Ministerof Finance, Naji Suwaidi,
wno is also popularly believed to desire to curtail expenditure
on the army
The debate on the Government^ programme afforded
another opportunity which many Deputies took, to talk about
the policy of the Allies in Palestine and Syria and
certain Members also raised the question of Iraq's right
to take part in peace negotiations at the end of the war.
From the Ministerial benches nothing was said on these
two points, although of course the Iraqi Government have
already recieved an assurance that they will have a voice
in peace negotiations (see my despatch No. 554 of the
27th September last).
The Right Honourable
The Viscount Halifax, K.G., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E.,
etc*, etc., etc.

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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' [‎249r] (497/513), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2862, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100066207522.0x000064> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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