![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 60. (From 1st to 31st July 1919.)’ [‎80r] (164/252)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000232/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3324_0164.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 60. (From 1st to 31st July 1919.)’ [‎80r] (164/252)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 60. (From 1st to 31st July 1919.)’ [80r] (164/252)
The record is made up of 1 volume (124 folios). It was created in 10 May 1919-31 Jul 1919. 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.
i
merely as a step towards evolution and decentralisation of a military administra
tion, though this is of course true at the present moment. I do not suggest
that anything like finality has yet been reached but am convinced that so far
as local interests of Mesopotamia are concerned we are on right lines and* that
we cannot move more rapidly without risk of untoward events by which the
clock would be set back.
This refers to your telegram of 5th July (Dy. No. 58817).
Working copy to G. S. (M. O. 1).
Copy to Collection, G. S. (M. 0. 3).
APPENDIX 87
(Dy. No. 63780)
Telegram P., No. 8160, dated 22nd July 1919.
(Despatched 0-15 a.m., received 4-00 p.m.)
(Received in War Section, 23rd July 1919.)
From—The
Political Resident
A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
, Baghad,
To—India Office.
(Repeated Simla, copy to General Baghdad, the Foreign Secretary to the Government of
India in the Foreign and Political Department, Simla.]
I venture at the risk of incurring His Majesty’s Government’s displeasure
to recall the views submitted in my telegram 10973, of 10th December last (Dy.
No. 99408).
I submit that if we are to prevent anarchy in the Middle East the political
problems of Mesopotamia must be regarded not primarily from the Arab stand-
point but in relation to our policy in the Middle East and in consequence we
must be prepared to interpret declaration of November 8th less literally here
than in other Arab speaking countries. Persia, Kurdistan, Syria, Turkey,
Arabia the historic homes of disorder, these are our neighbours and from no one
point can they be so effectively influenced as from Baghdad.
The oriental Christian community of Kurdistan look to us as their last
hope. The Kurds as a w'hole still stand aloof, but Kurdish leaders such as
Simko and Sayyid Taha and those with whom Major Noel is in touch are
looking for a sign and if w r e could give them a lead they would follow it.
It is impossible to install a real Arab Government in Mesopotamia an
if we attempt it we shall abandon Middle East to anarchy.
If I may be permitted to say so declaration of November 8th took little
account of facts as they are in Mesopotamia hut it is not too late to give this
pronouncement a fresh and virile interpretation which will enable us to make
Mesopotamia the key-stone of our policy in the Middle East.
Much of political intrigue wdiich appears in police reports is due. to un
certainty of mind wEich this declaration and the approach of a “ Commission ’
has engendered our own silence and inability to counter that intrigue by pro
paganda or repression has encouraged men’s doubts.
There is still a strong body of inarticulate opinion w 7 hich will remain soid
with us if we steer a steady course and make known our intention to, stay and
govern.
Capital value of Mesopotamian oil-fields is at a conservative estima
50,000,000 pounds sterling and there are other potential sources of wealth
Hallways, steamers, ports, roads, and buildings built by British capital whether
public or private counting for a least another 10,000,000.
Trade has not yet revived but imports this year are estimated at about
10,000,000 mainly British.
Detention and development of these assets depend on existance of a stablo
Government.
About this item
- Content
The volume contains a chronological list of brief summaries of papers relating to the activities of the Indian Expeditionary Force D (also known as the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force) between 1 and 31 July 1919. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, memoranda, and tables.
An index to the contents of this volume can be found at folios 3-7.
The volume concerns:
- Supply of food, weaponry, construction materials, and other items to Force D
- Military personnel issues, including reinforcements, demobilisation, and travel and accommodation arrangements for families of soldiers
- Railway construction in Mesopotamia
- Intelligence concerning a planned ‘Pan-Islamic upheaval after Ramzan [Ramaḍān]’
- Discussion of the activities of the King-Crane Commission
- Discussion of propaganda produced by ‘Feisal’ [Fayṣal Al-Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī] calling for the ‘complete Independence of Arabia’
- British censorship of telegrams, photographs, and newspapers
- Disposal of surplus weaponry by Force D
- Report on the conditions in South Kurdistan following the defeat and capture of ‘Sheikh Mahmud’ [Shaikh Maḥmūd Barzanjī]
- Financial administration of Mesopotamia
- Matters relating to the government of Mesopotamia, including: requests by Arab officers for a ‘purely national Civil Government in Mesopotamia’; British opposition to greater involvement of local populations in government; and the usefulness of Mesopotamia for British policy in the wider Middle East
- Assessment by the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. of the conditions in Basrah [Basra] and Nasiriyeh [Nasiriyah] (ff 54-55)
- Discussion of violence in Central Kurdistan, including: the killing of administrative officials by ‘local Gendarmerie’; reports of Kurds near Amadia [Amadiya] ‘attacking Christian villages’; and British preparations for ‘quietening the district’
- The appointment of Colonel William Nafew Haskell as the Allied High Commissioner in Armenia
- Events in Persia [Iran], including: the surrender of high profile rebels: the activities of Bakhtiari [Bakhtiyārī] tribes; and British attempts to recruit Persian Kurds to fight ‘in case of incursion by Bolsheviks’.
The volume also contains:
- Weekly returns of sick and wounded for the weeks ending 24 May 1919 (ff 9-10), 31 May 1919 (ff 16-17), 7 June 1919 (ff 39-41), 14 June 1919 (ff 67-68), 21 June 1919 (ff 77-78), and 28 June 1919 (ff 92-94)
- Ration strength of Force D on 10 May 1919 (ff 36-38), 5 July 1919 (ff 43-44), 12 July 1919 (f 58), 19 July 1919 (f 81), and 26 July 1919 (f 109)
- Distribution of Force D including details of lines of communication, 1 July 1919 (ff 110-122).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (124 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 124; 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. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 3-122; these numbers are printed and are located in the bottom centre of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
Dimensions: 21 x 33cm
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 60. (From 1st to 31st July 1919.)’ [80r] (164/252), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3324, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100143647432.0x0000a5> [accessed 29 June 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100143647432.0x0000a5
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100143647432.0x0000a5">‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 60. (From 1st to 31st July 1919.)’ [‎80r] (164/252)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100143647432.0x0000a5"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000232/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3324_0164.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000232/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3324
- Title
- ‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 60. (From 1st to 31st July 1919.)’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:123v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence