مجموعة ١٠/١٧(٣) "شؤون داخلية: الوضع السياسي؛ العلاقات مع الحكومة البريطانية" [و‎‎٧‎٩] (٥١٣/١٥٧)

r
DISTRIBUTION B.
INDIA DIRECT
• ®
From: IRAQ. •
Decypher.
Sir B* Newton'(Bagdad)
8th February, 1941.
D. 11.31 p.m. 8th February, 1941.
R. 10.45 ami. 10th February, 1941.
No, 120-
[][][]
r- My telegram No«109.
^ /. •
New Prime Minister returned my call to-day and I
expressed my appreciation of the jetter guidance he had
already given to public opinion in his speech to the
Chamber and in his address to journalists,,
2. Continuing my rec: tal of the specific factors
nrejudicial to goo3 relations I drew his attention to the
pernicious influence of Palestinian agitators and other non-
Iraois who, to the disadvantage of both our countries,,
exploited Iran for ulterior purposes.
. General Taha said they were not al lowed to e ngage in
politics and I hope that he may be in fact novJ iuui^ ineiined
to control such activities.
V
3. I also referred to the Army officers wh<pse
political activities, according tc reports [? which I] could
not disregard, seemed to have threatened the stability of
the state of Iraq and have been anti-British andporo-Nazi.
Without admitting the latter report, the Prime Minister said
that the Army would in future be kept out of politics c
What success he will have remains to be seen but accounts
from several sources indicate that officers are somewhat
[grout) undecypherable] and that* he is genuinely displeased
mth them and anxious to deprive them of their political
influence*
4. General Taha repeated his desire for dollars [sic]
md said that his requirements could be .subdivided. He is
Darticularly anxious to obtain raw materials for ammunition
factory.. I replied that I had already ^ telegraphed you on tne
subject but feared that you would be disappointed with his
l natality to break off relations with Italy, pha also
;nquired whether some of the captured Italian rifles coula
supplied for training students and for use of police in ir q,
thus releasing 15,000 rifles for the army. He was pleased wn n
; said that I Mad again mentioned his desires for an-i-
ilrcraft guns.
Repeated to Cairo telegram No.40 (please pass to Midd
Sast Intelligence Centres at telegram No*17), and saying
Cehran telegram No. 18, Angora telegram No. 10, Jedda
^o.7, Government of India telegram No.12, Jerusalem te^ ^
Vio.lS.