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Coll 17/20(1) 'Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of 1930. Revision of Treaty 1948' [‎137r] (273/304)

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The record is made up of 1 file (149 folios). It was created in 20 Jan 1933-3 Feb 1948. It was written in English and Arabic. 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. .

Transcription

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( 137
Humphrys to Sir John Simon.—(Received April 10.)
(No. 209.)
Sir, Bagdad, March 30, 1933.
WITH reference to my despatch No. 181 of the 22nd March, I have the
honour to enclose herewith the full text of the programme of the new Cabinet
and a summary of the debate thereon which took place in the Chamber on the
27th March.(')
2. The programme contains no direct reference to the treaty of 1930, but
the first item is clearly an attempt to produce a formula which can, as required,
be held either to be a pledge to honour the treaty or an undertaking to satisfy
the so-called national aspiration for greater freedom from British influence.
When King Feisal, in the presence of his Minister for Foreign Affairs, first
discussed with me the programme in draft, it contained a reference to the question
of the amendment of the Anglo-Iraqi treaty of 1930 which I held to be
objectionable and damaging to Iraq’s reputation abroad. I was able to persuade
the King that, in order to establish the credit of the new State in foreign
countries, it would be necessary to create the impression abroad that Iraq was
determined to honour her international obligations, and I finally prevailed upon
him to omit any direct suggestion that the new Cabinet would work for the
amendment of the treaty. I reminded His Majesty that it was largely on the
strength of this treaty, which had been in force for less than six months, that
Iraq had been admitted to membership of the League, and that it must continue
to form the basis of Anglo-Iraqi relations.
3. The remaining political features of the programme call for little
comment, but it may be noted that, instead of the ambiguous phrases regarding
the strengthening of the country’s forces which have hitherto been employed by
most Cabinets, conscription is this time openly included in the Government’s
programme. I have repeated my warnings that so unpopular a measure can only
be carried through successfuly if it is introduced gradually and with the utmost
caution.
4. I am dealing with the chief economic and commercial features of the
programme in a separate despatch, and I need only add that even the present
Cabinet of all talents is unlikely to give effect to more than a small proportion
of this long list of proposals, even if it remains in office for several years.
I have, &e.
F. H. HUMPHRYS.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Programme of the New Cabinet.
THE most important objects which the Cabinet will seek in the
administration of State affairs are :*—
(1) To strengthen the relations of friendship and amity with all foreign
States; to respect international pledges; and to endeavour to realise the national
aspirations and strengthen the structure of the State.
[767 k—2]
(qNot printed.

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Content

The file contains papers relating to the Treaty of Alliance (Anglo-Iraqi Treaty) of 1930 between the United Kingdom and Iraq, and the revised Treaty of Alliance of 1948.

Papers dated January 1933 to December 1934 mostly concern the following: the attitude and policy of King Feisal and the Iraqi Cabinet towards the Treaty of 1930; complaints by George Arthur Ogilvie-Forbes, HM Representative, Baghdad, on behalf of the British Government, to the Government of Iraq about the hostile attitude of the Iraqi press towards the 1930 Treaty and the United Kingdom; the death of King Feisal [Faysal I] and the attitude of the new King, King Ghazi [Ghazi I]; and the desire of the Iraqi Government to publish certain explanatory notes on the Treaty of 1930.

Papers dated from March 1946 to February 1948 relate to the revision of the Treaty of 1930, and the signing of the new Treaty of Alliance of 1948. They include papers concerning the political consequences of the signing of the Treaty, including ‘rioting’ in Baghdad and the resignation of the Iraqi Prime Minister Saleh Jabr [Salih Jabr].

The file does not include any papers for the period January 1935 to February 1946.

The papers dated 1933 to 1934 largely consist of copy correspondence between Sir Francis Humphreys, HM Ambassador to Iraq, and the Foreign Office (including letters addressed to Sir John Simon, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs). The papers dated 1946 to 1948 largely consist of correspondence and copy correspondence between the following: HM Embassy, Baghdad, and the Foreign Office; 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 the Board of Trade; the Commonwealth Relations Office and the governments of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Newfoundland, and Southern Rhodesia; and Saiyid Saleh Jabr, Prime Minister of Iraq, and Ernest Bevin, British Foreign Secretary.

The file also includes a copy of the Draft Anglo-Iraqi Treaty dated 9 January 1948, and a published copy of the Treaty of Alliance between the United Kingdom and Iraq, dated 15 January 1948.

The file includes a letter in Arabic from Mohamed Fadhil Al Jamali, Iraqi Ministry for Foreign Affairs, to Hugh Stonehewer-Bird, HM Ambassador to Iraq, 2 August 1946 (folio 74), for which there is an English translation.

The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 file (149 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 152; these numbers are written in pencil 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.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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Coll 17/20(1) 'Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of 1930. Revision of Treaty 1948' [‎137r] (273/304), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2881A, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100066256409.0x00004a> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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