File 301/1921 'MESOPOTAMIA: INTELLIGENCE REPORTS' [‎267v] (545/586)

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light for money or from fear of punishment, whereas the Bolshevists fight for
principles and beliefs and are therefore unconquerable. What have th
Allies done to prevent the Bolshevists from carrying out their policy in the
East? Whoever examines the matter will see that the Allies avoid meeting
Russia and egg on small nations to oppose her, giving them supplies. WBl
they he able to do that in the ISTear East? and can it be imagined that there
are men like Denikin, Koltchak and Wrangel among the oppressed Eastern
peoples ?
1 “ The National Army of the ‘‘Iraq.
There is much talk about a National Army and discussion as to whether
recruiting should be compulsory or optional. ‘Iraq is in need of a strong
army to protect its frontiers and preserve liberty and independence, so tin
‘Iraq Government must form a powerful and 1 fully equiped army. Nor is
this difficult, for brave and experienced officers are here in abundance. But
no action can be taken because the method of recruiting can only be decided
by the elective assembly. “ The army formed by the permanent independent
Government will accept no interference from foreigners for two reasons. (1)
the army in which the foreigner has a hand must be a tool in his interests,
(\2) Arab pride forbids that our'amirs and commanders should be employed
under the orders of a foreigner. Perhaps it may be urged that ‘Iraq owing
to its geographical position is a threat to the British empire and that British
interests dictate the control of her army by the British. We reply that the
independent Government of the ‘Iraq will not refuse to make a friendly
I treaty with the British Government, with due regard to their mutual in feres ts,
‘ and the ‘Iraq army will be useful to Great Britain provided that foreign
troops evacuate the country. The sincerity of the Arabs is the best guarantee
1 to_ Great Britain, whereas if the national army is put in fetters the reverse
| will be the case. Arabs wish to be left free to carry on their own work; they
will not submit to force but they will be moved by gratitude.’ ?
In a poem entitled the Vulture and the Crow it is intimated that Great
Britain, the Vulture,, wished to occupy the ‘Iraq under pretence of improving
the country. But the Crow prefers to be left to himself to study and improve
the country gradually.
Tn an open letter the writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. urges that the people should have a voice in
the employment of officials who draw high salaries and occupy responsible
posts.
Golden words ” (quoted from Sa'ad Zaghlul), chiefly concerned with
the liberty of the press. The newspapers can offer any criticism they please.
“ But it is our duty to ask ourselves why w^e do what is criticised ”/
In an article headed, “ The Allies and Turkish Nationalists ” the writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping.
eelebiates the victories of Alustafa Kama!, his victory at Alersina over supe-
1101 forces, the withdrawal of the Allies from ‘Aintab, where thev left much
material of war, and the Turkish occupation of Olti. The French have been
mreed to leave Adana after heavy fighting and the Turks are marching on
India Jamal Pas ia ias reaclle d Herat and the Red Army intends to invade
annJltoV'T ^ PH bli *ed that the Turks demand Kars and Ardahan
according to the provisions of the treaty of Brest Litovsk.
Gur/on a tW+T?° 1S ir eVist Mi ? ist l er / for foreign Affairs, has wired to Lord
£t July^fcaneeBed. 11 ^ b ^ Great Britain and Bol ^evist Russia
m S anda r ln a rrp«+ e Tt q -r- tatioll i from tlle Times referring to Bolshevist pro-
Int A u, ,f a if ^ 1 ai 5 d a ^ otatl ° n lrom A1 ^rusah ^ the effect
that Mustafa Kamal s aeroplanes have scattered propaganda in the Greek
her BtV' il ^ 3 ,( moderate Nationalist) in its No. 141, dated 16th Novem-
’ enjoins the people to assist the Cabinet in introducing reforms.
don Co^resnondlfnt 8 ^ ^ ov ' ember ’ . 1920 ’ quotes a telegram sent by the Lon-
ReiireseS?vp d ? 1 ‘T t le T 1 ^ that Sir Percy Cox is the first British
fzZyt'ihiAomrtV rst step 1)6 has taken is to estabii8> '
..enZirndllv b 9 *? NOTemb . er . 1920. publishes a leader stating (hat
r eneral politics will not be managed satisfactorily as long as ‘Iraq is not an
Zenep 11 thebthT Ue 'll budoubtediy if a single Power poslesses anAndne in-
This L f n S W1 4 feel .-;l eal J 01 ^ and political equilibrium will be disturbed,
her reYnt nL n 1 Great Britain, for she only desires to re-establish
nianmn 1 She L a T1 ^ e + 8 i llbOU ‘T aIld J ler commercial intercourse in a satisfactory
1 ' ,‘ Se cannot keep Iraq for herself except by a large army requirino-
is , necessa ^ to establish an independent
have a nlS ^ + be ./ re / to .^nage its own affairs, and shall
The neonle n f ‘Tr ° P 10 fcct its frontiers and preserve peace and order.
imnortanep 1 ^^der these facts and when they realise their
importance, they will surely extend to Great Britain a hand of friendshio.