ملف ٤٧٢٢\١٩١٨ الجزء ٨ "بلاد الرافدين: الوضع" [و‎‎٢‎٢‎٢] (٩٩٥/٤٥٤)

The issues at stake are of such Importance that I beg you to continue to
allow me to express my views freely on the whole situation as I see it.
I confirm my .telegram of -July 10th, 8312, which crossed your telegram
under reply and assuming that you give me the discretion requested above I.
am content to abide by the consequences.
Telegram—P.
From—Secretary of State for India, London.
To—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
No. Nil.
Dated 21st July, 1920.
Received 23rd July, 1920.
Your telegram 8422.
^°u may continue to report freely on the whole situation as it presents
itself to you. I agree that military and political aspect of the question cannot
m practice be treated entirely separate.
Telegram—B. (Ord.)
From—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
To—Secretary of State for India, London.
No. 8590.
Dated 16th July, 1920.
My telegram of 9th July, 8248, Saiyid Talib Pasha and Basrah, ex-Turkish
Deputies have agreed to join Committee, as also have deputies from Mosul and
Kirkuk. Baghdad deputies are hesitating being apparently in fear of
extremists.
Telegram—Cypher E.
From—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
To—Secretary of State for India, London.
No. 8586.
Dated 17th July, 1920.
In last paragraph of telegram of 12th July from Egypt force to Troopers
it is stated that channel of correspondence with Damascus Government is now
through High Commissioner, Palestine. I submit that this arrangement
lends additional force to views expressed in paragraph 5 of my telegram of
July 10th, 8312.
Translation of letter, dated nil from Yusuf al Suwaidi Ei-Saitfid Mohammad
Sasr-ul-Din, Baghdad, to the Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
In reference to our communication, dated the 30th June, 1920 (30th
Hazairan, 1920), addressed to the Political Officer and Military Governor of
Ba
eT hdad, wherein we urged for immediate formation of a General Mesopo
tamian Congress, in reply to the Notification issued on June the 17th, 1920
(providing for the formation of a General Mesopotamian Assembly next
autumn), we beg to state that we have not yet received a reply addressed to
us, in regard to our proposals, but we have read in the issue of Al Iraq, No. 35,
dated the 12th July, 1920, a Notification issued by your Excellency (copies of
which you sent, with special notes, to some of us), to the effect that, pre
liminary to the calling into being of the General Assembly it was necessary
to draw up an electoral law under which such assembly would be elected, and
to make other arrangements appertaining thereto, and His Majesty’s Govern
ment has authorised you to invite the notables who represent various localities
to co-operate with the Civil Administration in framing the projects under
which such an assembly could be elected and also in delimitating the various
electoral Areas. And you have notified the senators and deputies who are in
this city for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the Notification in
question, that is to say, to prepare Registers of electors, and to make other
arrangements.
It appears from this that His Majesty’s Government has approved our
proposals for the immediate election of a “ Congress ” for which we beg to
thank His Britannic Majesty’s Government. This will, no doubt, pacify
public opinion.
It is our duty, however, on behalf of our citizens, to invite your kind
attention to the following points : —
Doubtless, you know that International and Constitutional Laws require
the enforcement of the laws of a conquered state in the occupied territory of