File 301/1921 'MESOPOTAMIA: INTELLIGENCE REPORTS' [‎60r] (130/586)

and we are happy to say is making a rapid .recovery. Fahad Beg has
assured the High Commissioner’s office that the episode is of the best omen and
that British aeroplanes will henceforth be regarded in the Syrian desert as
friends and saviours.
NOTES ON INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
26. Basrah .—The death is reported from Koweit of Saiyid Rajab, Naqih
of Basrah. He leaves four sons, of whom Saiyid Talib is the eldest. It is not
improbable that Saiyid Rajab will be succeeded as Naqib by his nephew,
Saiyid Hashim, who is the wealthiest as ivell as the most respectable member
of the family, but the large estates of the late Naqib will be divided among
his children, according to the Shar‘ah canon, and Saiyid Talib, if he has not
forestalled his inheritance, should be a man of means. His brothers have
petitioned under these circumstances, for his return, or at least that he should
be allowed to visit Basrah to settle his affairs. Permission has not been
granted.
27. Baghdad Liwah. —Shaikh Balasim {see No. 15, para. 15 /) has been
allowed to return to Hai, on the guarantee of the Amir al RabFah.
28. Diyalah Liwah .—Shakir Beg, Qaimmaqam of Daltawah, has been
getting into bad odour with the ShPahs, who accuse him of using abusive
language to them and of making disparaging remarks about the Sh‘ah sect
They have made representations to the ‘ Ulama of Kadhimain and specially to
Saiyid Muhammad Sadr. Shakir Beg has a rough tongue and his abuse is not
confined to the ShPahs.
29. The tribes of the Liwah show a gradually awakening interest in Faisal.
In the towns he is criticised for having brought back with him Muhammad
Sadr, Yusuf Suwaidi and Sayid Nur, the leaders of the rebellion. Shaikh
Hamid of the Bani Tamim visited Faisal and returned from Baghdad a con
vert to him.
30. The unruly sections of the ‘ Azzah and their confederates, the Alba
‘ Alqah (‘ Ubaid), are again causing trouble. They raided the Baiyat who
attempted to counter but fell in with some of the Shammar Sayih and lifted
100 of their camels. The Albu ‘ Abqah, some of the 1 Azzah and a few Dilo
next raided a convoy of the Nida from Mandali and took 100 camels. A
counter raid on the part of the Nida was stopped by the Qaimmaqam. The
‘ Ubaid then raided the ‘ Azzah and took some camels. The underlying reason
for this tribal insubordination is the absence of sufficient force to back the
orders of the administration. Since the withdrawal of the Levies to Dulaim
in May the only mobile force at its disposal has been a body of 15 mounted
police. Possibly some pressure can be put on Habib al Khaizran of the
‘ Azzah who last year detached the Albu ‘ Alqah from the ‘ Hbaid and settled
them in his area. He is rumoured to have instigated the raids and known to
have accepted a share of the loot. He was told that he would be held respon
sible for the return of the stolen property within 10 days and on failing to
return it in the specified time he has been arrested.
31. Dulaim. —Lira £ ibn Dhahir {see No. 17, para. 30)' has asked per
mission to pass peaeefullv backwards and forwards between Baghdad and the
nomad sections of the Zoba ‘ in the Jazirah, who are-admittedly his followers.
This request has been granted.
32. The Adviser reports a little friction between the Levies and the
Police.' The Levies seem to be jealous of the executive duties performed by
the Police and wish to offer assistance which the Police do not desire. The
District Police have been doing good service in stopping petty thieving m the
own
33. Hillah.
Mah. In the matter of the fracas between the police and Levies .
■ported in No. 17, para. 28, prompt disciplinary action was taken by the
ispector-General of Levies and the High Commissioner, after careful con-
deration, judged that a Court of Inquiry world serve no useful purpose. He
ive it as his opinion that the urgent need m both Levies and Police was the
iprovement of discipline together with a proper understanding on both sides
the functions of the respective Corps, and this it showed be the aim of the
mmand to bring about.
34. Mosul. —Daham ibn Hadi of the Shammar {see No. 15, para 18) spent
ost of June in Mosul. ; Tlie following arrangements were made with him: (1)
e has been given the Sanniyah village of ‘ Awamat, on the Nisibm road, to
Itivate for a period of 5 years, on the understanding that if be cukiNmesii
■operly he will have the option of buying it at the end of that period u) No
lammar Jarba will be allowed to buy dates and provisions m Mosul or
sewhere within ‘Iraq unless they have a pass from Daham. (3) Daham is o
eeive a percentage of the receipts from the salt tax.
35 The road to Dair al Zor is not yet considered safe owing to the pre-
nce of the Amshat and Durrat sections of the Shammar at Abu Ham a.