'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [‎452r] (914/1386)

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Viceroy to Secretary of State for India, dated 23th November 1914.
■ (Telegraphic.)
Private. Bagdad, Your telegram or 27th Xovc.mber. The words “ grave international
considerations involved' fill me \yith apprehension, for it would be disastrous were
Russia or another Power to occupy Bagdad where British and Indian interests such as trade,
irrigation, navigation, pilgrirn traffic, a large Indian colony, and the Oudh bequest give us i,
predominant position,
^ ^ ^ Secretary of State for Tndia to I'iceroy, dated 30th November 1914.
(Telegraphic.)
Private. Your private telegram of 2dth Xovember. Baglidad. The words in rnr
telegram of 27th Xovember. “grave international considerations,” do not refer to possible
occupation of Baghdad by Russia or another Power, and I quite agree as to our predominant,
interest there. ‘ But setting aside difficulty of force necessary to occupy and hold Baghdad
because if we once were there it would be unfortunate to retire under menace of superior
ioree, 1 consider that it is premature to take action which appears to oblige consideration
bath by Allies and by Arabs of ultimate settlement regarding Mesopotamia and other parts
of Turkish Umpire.
I: will be a most complicated matter, and we are not at present able to do more than
assert, as we have, oar paramount claims and powers at the head of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
Viceroy to Secretary of State for In li , dated 2nd, December
1914.
.Telegraphic.)
yjj Basra: c >rgo consignments belonging to merchants of Basra and now on the high sea
support the proposal made in Sir P. Cox's telegram of 28th Xovember.
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Vlceroj)u7th December 1914.
Private. Basrah. Cox lias telegraphed saying that it will be convenient
if he could now make a public announcement definitely that our occupation
of Basrah is permanent.
I fully realise that for international and political reasons it may be
inconvenient at this stage to make a public announcement as suggested, but
in view of great advantage of establishing at once a civil administration on a
permanent rather than on a temporary basis, I think that this question
should be decided at once.
My Government and I most strongly recommend permanent occupation
for following reasons :—(1) It settles question of our supremacy in the
Persian Guli', and this happy chance may never occur- again of consolidating
our position there. (2) It ensures the safeguarding of Abadan and Anglo-
Persiaii Oil Company’s works and facilitates their development. (3) It makes
the position of Sheikhs of Koweit and Mohammerah secure. (4) It solves the
question of Bagdad Railway terminus. (5) It will pay, as Basrah and
surrounding country are capable of enormous commercial development.
(G) To abandon Basrah after a short occupation would be to betray all those
Arabs and tribes who are now in friendly co-operation with us, and would
shake confidence felt in us by Bin Sand and Sheikhs of Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . We
believe that indications of the permanence of our rule are likely to stop
possibility of intrigues and encourage population to settle down quietly, and
we anticipate no local difficulty if the occupation is to be permanent. It
would be quite sufficient if you could give me privately and confidentially
early decision of His Majesty’s Government upon this important point.
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Secretary of State^to Viceroy^
Private. Your private telegram of 7 th December. C Basrah. Aftercareful
examination here and consideration by Cabinet I ani certain that it would he
unwise now to announce permanent occupation v It would be regarded as
definite breach of the undertaking between allies that final settlement must
await end of the war, and I can state confidentially that even our announce
ment about Cyprus was not too well regarded. Russia in particular would
feel fairly entitled to a free hand both in Europe and Asia for parallel
announcements, and apart from such difficulties, although we are absolutely
confident of ultimate result, the war has not reached a stage which justifies
annexations. The steps authorised for administration by our reply to your
official telegram of the 5th December describing Cox’s recommendations
ought to suffice until we are in a position to say more. Meanwhile there is
no necessity to define our occupation when dealing with local Arabs as
either terminable or permanent. It should be a military occupation ensuring
civil order and care of revenue with as few organic changes as possible for
the time being.— Crewe.
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