'Papers relating to transfer of Middle Eastern Affairs to the Colonial Office and creation of a new Department there, 1920-1921, with Cabinet notes of Milner, Montague, Churchill, self, and others' [‎66r] (131/136)

support his candidature, Talib agreed to do so, and hence latter’s communication to
me, but Ids real motive in doing so, is that he believes Naqib’s days are numbered
and that he himself would then step into his shoes. As regards people of Irak it is
proved by documents which have recently come into our possession that last spring
all the principal Shiah Sheikhs on the Lower Euphrates who have been leaders
ot recent insurrections were in communication with faisal and Abdulla or their
agents and were congratulating one on his success in Syria and urging other to come
over to Mesopotamia.
There is also, no doubt, that these Shiah tribes still want a Sherif, because they
believe that Sherif and his family are more favourable to Shiah than a member of
any other Sunni family would be.
12 Fvo m High Commissioner, linf/hchid, 2ilh ■lanuori/ 11)21.
(deceived 2">th, 10 a.m.)
Clear the line.
259 S. Personal and secret. In continuation of my telegram Xo. 258 S. On
the other hand there is a growing faction here both among the extremist politicians
who want no mandate, and the moderates who would accept it, who profess to
consider that Sherif family have discredited themselves by their hostility to the
'Lurks and the Caliph, and that the interests of Irak would be best served by
introduction of a Turkish Prince. They advocate this also on the ground that under
a Turkish Prince the Sunnis will be better able to maintain their predominance over
the Shiahs, both in administration and in matters of religion, and secondly, because
they think that control of mandate will be lighter with a Turkish ruler than with an
Arab. One who is in close touch with Nationalist elements here, expresses conlident
opinion that among politicians of Baghdad the candidates for Amirate now stand in
the following order:—(1) Turkish Prince, (2) son of Sheri!, (5) Nacjib, with little
following, and (4) Talib, with still less
The trend of opinion in favour of a Turk is significant and I think dangerous
to our interests. 1 also notice considerable disinclination on the part of the
present Government to give Shiahs reasonable share in it. As to considerations
which prompted my suggestion regarding Faisal, I believed then, and believe now,
that one of the sons of Sherif would be welcome to considerable majority of people
of Irak. They know nothing about their individuals and would probably expect
Abdulla, as he was nominated last year, but l do not think that they would care
which it was.
I suggested Faisal, not because 1 have any personal knowledge of any of them,
but because I thought that, his experience during the war would make him the most
competent and effective for the urgent work of creating an army, and because I
thought that he had the most prestige. Abdulla, as far as I know, is less competent,
but more friendly ; while Jafar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. and his friends are favouring Zaid on the
ground that he is young and could be trained. I do not think Irom (* r) the Irak
much matters which.
As regards election, I only received the final printed draft of electoral law for
scrutiny a few days ago, and it will take some days to deal with. Meanwhile, 1 find
strong feeling among the Arab officials recently nominated to posts in provinces
under the new scheme that they would like to give time to get into the saddle and
learn their districts before the} 7 are confronted with the possibly serious worries
connected with an election months of (sic) Ramazan fall in (sic) May, and they must
either be got over before that, which may be difficult, or postponed till it is over,
pros and cons requiring further thought.
In any case it is useless, in my opinion, starting election until the mandate is
published "and the effect known. I hope that publication will take the wind out of
the sails of the “ Xo Mandate ” party, but it is impossible to say for certain, and it is
no less important for us than for the general public to know where we are in this
connection before the elections are brought on. I am of opinion that mandate must
first be published. Then if we wish to let Sherif’s family enter the list, as I
recommend, we should let him offer himself and see result.