Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎163r] (325/544)

Next, on the 20th November, comes Captain Wilson’s reply to Colonel Lawrence’s
views as telegraphed from here. Captain Wilson adheres to his former opinion and
emphasises tne absence of any connection between the rest of Arabia and Mesopo
tamia. He is dead against setting up any foreign puppet ruler, and he would
exclude Irak altogether from any settlement with the Sherifian family.
At our last meeting 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. put in a note,* which had not then been
read, by Sir Arthur Hirtzel, which brought this history up to date, ai\d on behalf
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. made the following recommendations. 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. thought
that a British Protectorate was now probably impossible, and that, in these circum
stances, we ought to fight for the second of the two original alternatives of Sir Percy
Cox as accepted by us in the early part of the year, namely, British administration
behind a facade of native institutions. Sir A. Hirtzel did not recommend the intro
duction of the sons of King Hussein, and again quoted what Sir Percy Cox had said
about the Nakib. He was strongly averse from quarrelling with the French over
Syria, and thought that Captain Wilson should be authorised at once to start a
propaganda in favour of British administration over the united vilayets of Basra.
Baghdad, and Mosul.
Then finally there are two telegrams, one of them only of importance in relation
to something I said before with regard to the Commission that was proposed here,
and which we decided for the moment not to proceed with. Captain Wilson is
strongly against any Commission going out at the present time, because he says until
the future status and form of government of the country have been decided by refer
ence to public opinion, a Commission would merely consume time and do what was
not reouired.
Finally, we come to the telegram t dated the 24th November, which is the last
received from Captain Wilson. After himself thinking over the Anglo-French
Declaration, and after saying that the people at Baghdad have also been considering
it ami that he has been doing his best to ascertain public opinion, he represents edu
cated opinion as running on the following lines. With your permission, I will read
these statements, because it seems to me that they present, on the whole, the most
correct summary of the point at which we have now arrived:—
(1.) “ All reject idea of restoration of Turkish rule.” That is accepted
nem. con.
(2.) “ All reject idea of Arab kingdom without British advice, assistance,
or control.” I think that we are all agreed upon that.
(3.) “ None wishes for formal annexation by British Government.” That
reeristers a final abandonment of the idea of annexation. We are all agreed
upon that?. (“Yes.”) Then (1), (2), and (3) are accepted.
(4.) “All agree that an Arab State under an Arab Amir, including Basra,
Baghdad; and Mosul, is an ideal solution.”
Upon that also I think we are all agreed, although there may be a doubt as to who
the Amir should be.
LORD ROBERT CECIL: Subject to this, I think. I hold the opinion that you
might have a variation of that and have two lieutenants, one in Mosul and one in
Baghdad, under the nominal supreme headship of the Sherif.
LORD CURZON: Yes.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : That is a modification of it.
LORD CURZON : Yes. We will discuss that in a moment.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : That is the only criticism I have to make.
LORD CURZON : Then No. 5.
“ All are unanimous in asking for a British High Commissioner and
British adviser in all Ministries of the Arab State and throughout the country.
(6.) “All are unanimous in wishing Sir P. Cox to be first incumbent of
the post. This feeling is general, to my personal knowledge, all over Irak, par
ticularly in the country districts, where Sir P. Cox’s name carried greatest
weight, and in Najaf and Kerbela.” I
I suppose we are all agreed upon this, that whether you set up an Amir or not,
and whoever be the Amir, there must be a British High Commissioner ?
* E.C. 2454.
t E.C. 2486.