File 301/1921 'MESOPOTAMIA: INTELLIGENCE REPORTS' [‎264r] (538/586)

11
I
9
49. Extracts from Police reports: —
“General Nihad Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ordered ‘Ajaimi Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. to select 12 officers to
form a deputation to Kurdistan to carry on anti-British propaganda. This
was done and the deputation set out under the leadership of Salih
al Zakhi of Sulaimaniyah. The intention was that members of the deputa
tion should visit Jazirah, Amadiyah, then Rawanduz, Sulaimaniyah and
Kirkuk.”
“ As a result Haji Sha‘ban Agha, among others, visited
Mardin in September and was given rifles and ammunition for destribution
to the Kurdish tribes. He was promised that he could have rifles and
ammunition whenever he required them.”
“ ‘Ajaimi Pasha’s pay at present is £T. 4,000 per month. This is m
paper. The Lira Note is at present worth Rs. 3.”
“Men enlisting in the “Chatta” army, whose special object is operations
and raids designed to harass the British, are paid £.T. 3 a month in gold,
while officers receive £.T. 15 in gold. These are the only Turkish troops
which receive their pay in gold.”
“ It is said that a number of Shaikhs intend to carry out raids in British
territory with the express purpose of weakening Daham’s authority. Daham
is said to be afraid of ‘Asi and, while maintaining an outward appearance
of loyalty to the British Government, to be secretly intriguing with the
hostile Shaikhs”
“A number of Indian Moslim soldiers who deserted on the Euphrates,
have been enrolled in the “Chatta” army and have undertaken to serve
against the British. Among them is one Jamadar ‘Abdul Muhsin.”
“When the Bolshevik forces entered Turkish territory from the Caucasus,
they removed the Turkish flag and hoisted their own. A number of Turkish
troops objected; but Mustafa Kamal Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. sent word to say that the Turkish
flag was not his. He and Anatolia Peninsula that forms most of modern-day Turkey. were Bolshevik. The Bolsheviks
announced from Erzinjah a donation of £.T. 8,000,000 to the Turkish
Nationalists and, besides, promised them ammunition.”
“ When Kban‘an Bey was relieved at Mardin by Major Isma‘il Haqqi
Bey, the former went to the Ajtmtab^rfah command. From there he invited a
number of ‘Iraqian Officers in Syria to join him. Kan‘an Bey is said to
have an army of 15,000 Turks.”
“Maulud Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , Jamil Bey, and l r asin Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. have communicated with
Kan‘an Bey.” • . K
“Some German Officers have arrived in Mardin. where they are living
with Isma ‘il ITaqqi Bey. ”
“There is an Indian in Mardin described as a fat man who is said to
have come from Afghanistan and to be on his way to join Mustafa Kamal
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. . In Mardin the Indian is called a Bimbashi and has declared himself
the representative of the Khalifate Society of India.”
“An Arabic newspaper called “Mirat al Gharb”, published in New York,
is being received in Mosul, and appears to bring the name of Muhammea
‘Ali, the Indian Nationalist, before the public.”
Agent reported that Yuzbashi Jamil Effendi had gone to Shaikh
‘Ajil ibn ‘Abdul ‘Aziz of Shammar with 500 horsemen.”
“It is reported that there are 30 Turkish Officers and 9,000 soldiers,
with Simko Agha of Shakak.”
“ Daham al Hadi is reported to have, visited Al ‘Asi, who told him that
the Arab Government was no government at all; but that the Turkish Govern
ment was powerful and in time would recover from its misfortunes.
“ ‘Abdul Rahman Agha, one of the Chiefs of the Shernakh, arrived m
Mosul on the 18th October and stayed at Bait al Sabuncln He is said to
have expressed his desire for independence. He is visited by Agha Petros,
who discussed the question of the repatriation of the Assyrians with him
Agha Petros said that they were anxious to return to their country, without
fighting between themselves and the Kurds.”
“ On the 19th October a special meeting was held at which Muhammed
Eadhil Effendi, Rais al Baladiyah, presided. Among those present were
Yasin Effendi Al ‘Uraibi, Sharif Effendi, Farnqi and about 15 others of
the .Tam'iyat Al Arab. An agent reports that Muhammed 1 adhil Eftendi
addressed the meeting and in the course of his remarks said that he had seen
the Amir ‘Abdullah in Constantinople and that the latter was suitable for
‘Iraq. Some of those present at the meeting said that they wanted Wahia
al Din.” ^
■vj-otf —The Kan‘an Bey referred to above was formerly a staff colonel in the Turkish
Army Tn Palestine. Is said to have been from the early days of the Nationalist movement
indentified with Mustafa Kamal.