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File 301/1921 'MESOPOTAMIA: INTELLIGENCE REPORTS' [15r] (40/586)
The record is made up of 1 volume (289 folios). It was created in 15 Nov 1920-31 Oct 1921. 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
Another Complaint against the Post.
3. A letter dated Ramadi Dhul Qa'da 3 arrived on the 27th in Baghdad. “ We can do
nothing to wake up the Post Office but at least we can relate their ludicrous performances ”.
Lisan al 'Arab No. 35, August 8.
The New Government.
. Approval of yesterday s letter by Baqir Shabibi. You may be sure that the people will
select good people who have suffered for the sake of the country, the true leaders, those who
exposed themselves to danger in all times and places. Some people say that the former policy in
this country will not be changed and the nationalists not allowed to enter the service of their
country. We do not wish to believe this but we cannot refute it. But the time of illumination has
come and the facts will be clear to us. The nation must be left free. There are leaders whom the
nation trusts and it will not accept others. (Signed) M.
Editor comments that he has received several letters of this kind and is not responsible for their
opinions. It may be of interest to show the authorities the views of the people of the country but
he will give our own opinions later.
Voluntary Service in the Army.
2. The following notables have volunteered in Mosul :—
Mustafa Beg Sabunji, Wasif Beg al Qasim, Haji Husain Agha, Tahir Eff. al Umari. They are
a good example to the heroes of ‘ Iraq.
3. Ceremonies to take place at the festival of Afghan independence. Taken from a Kabul
paper.
N.B .—They desire to form an honourary corps.
Lisan al 'Arab No. 36, August 10.
Islamic Auqaf.
1. The
Fallah
Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour.
published a proposal of H. E. Sasun Effendi to annex the revenues of Auqaf to
the general budget which was accepted by the Council. It was opposed by Ja’far
Pasha
An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
(sic)
Muhammad Fadhil, Abdul Rahman Haidari. We do not know why the Minister of Finance made
proposals against the interests of Islam. Although we make no differences between communities,
each one should benefit from its own revenues. We think the nation will not accept such
decisions, especially as they have been issued by a Provisional Government, not constitutional.
The permanent government will cancel this decision.
N.B .—This idiotic article is written under a complete misconception.
Girl School in A’dhamiyah.
2. The inhabitants had requested the Education Department to open one and finally in
despair have started one themselves.
What is Happening in Syria.
3. From the Jami’at al Suriyah :—
Want of security in the vicinity of Aleppo.
Walud ‘Ali raiding the Shammar near Hama.
Aleppo station said to have been destroyed.
From the Muqattam :—
Disturbances in the Lebanon.
Lisan al 'Arab No. 37, August 10.
Why the English Love their King.
1. Editor states that he got this article from a cousin of Mr. Churchill, Captain Moreton
Frewen. Harmless platitudes.
The Voice of an Egyptian Reformer.
2. A letter from an Egyptian patriot to the Editor praising Faizal and telling the people of
‘Iraq that they are very lucky to get him.
Religious Reform.
3 He refers to ’ulama who live by preaching religion although they know nothing about it.
Every day they make religious laws more stringent. Fortune telling and the making of charms
should not be entertained by any religion. He appeals to people to leave men of this kind and to
go to the proper source, books written by really learned men and to improve study in our schools.
About this item
- Content
This volume contains the Intelligence Reports of Sir Percy Cox, High Commissioner for Mesopotamia [also written as Iraq in this volume], based in Baghdad, covering the period 15 November 1920 to 15 September 1921. They largely relate to: the political situation in Mesopotamia and the surrounding region; the formation and proceedings of the provisional government; the events leading up to the creation of Mandatory Iraq [also known as the Kingdom of Iraq under British Administration] and the election and appointment of Faisal [Fayṣal bin Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī] as the first King of Iraq [Fayṣal I].
The Intelligence Reports are numbered and appear to have been issued at two-week intervals. This volume contains the reports numbered 1-3, 9-19 and 21. There is no explanation in the volume regarding the reason for the absent reports. The format of the reports is a mixture of printed and copy typescript. Each report is preceded by a covering circular issued by the office of the High Commissioner indicating the British Government departments and the officers and departments in the Middle East to which the report was copied.
Report Nos. 1-3 are preceded by an assessment of the political situation described in the Intelligence Report, written by Major R Marrs.
The reports generally comprise the following sections:
- A summary of the report (from report No. 14 onwards only)
- An account of the proceedings of the Council of Ministers
- Analysis of current public opinion and allegiances, (notably an analysis of public opinion on the Amir [Emir] Faisal and his arrival in Mesopotamia, including a reference to his 'personal magnetism', f 88), in report Nos 16-19
- Notes on provincial affairs
- Notes on the situation at the frontiers
- Extracts of 'Iraq Police Abstracts of Intelligence' (reports No. 9-14 only).
Other subjects notably covered in various reports include:
- Assyrian, Armenian and Urumiyan [Urmian] refugees (report Nos. 2 and 19)
- Perceived foreign influences in Iraq (report Nos. 2 and 3)
- The withdrawal of Saiyid [Sayyid] Talib Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. [Sayyid Ṭālib bin Rajab al-Naqīb] from the Government and Baghdad (report No. 12)
- Kurdistan (report Nos. 12-14)
- Turkish and Kurdish Frontiers (report No. 12)
- Dair al Zor [Deir ez-Zor] (report Nos. 1 and 12)
- Notes on 'Internal Affairs' (Nos. 18 and 19)
- Analysis of the referendum result which confirmed the election of Faisal as Iraq's first monarch (report No. 19)
- The formation of King Faisal's first cabinet (report No. 21).
Appendices are included with some reports, usually comprising copies of the High Commissioner's proclamations or communications 'to the people of Iraq' or documents relevant to the particular report (notably 'Provisional scheme for the re-organisation of the law courts' and 'Report of the committee constituted for studying the irrigation problem in Mesopotamia' in report No. 9).
Each report is concluded with a Supplement or Press Bureau Report, comprising extensive summaries and extracts of newspaper articles published in the local and 'foreign' (local region mainly) press. Notable publications cited are: Al 'Iraq , Al Fallah Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. , Al Dijlah , and (Syrian publication) Lissan al 'Arab.
The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the end of the correspondence (front of the volume).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (289 folios)
- Arrangement
The reports are arranged mostly in numerical/chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume. Report No. 18 is followed by Report No. 21 and then Report No. 19 which is the last report in the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 284; 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. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the two leading and two ending flyleaves. The sequence contains one foliation anomaly: f 267a.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/962
- Title
- File 301/1921 'MESOPOTAMIA: INTELLIGENCE REPORTS'
- Pages
- 155r, 154r, 129r, 97v:98r, 85v:87v, 65r:67v, 50v:52r, 14r:16r
- Author
- Lissan Al-Arab xx Lissan al Arab xx Lisan al Arab
- Usage terms
- Public Domain