Abstract: Ten War Office maps, three with attached folios, portraying the disposition of troops in the aftermath of the Mesopotamia campaign of the First World War. As follows:ff 1-1a 'Persia and Afghanistan. 7. Feb. 1919.'f 2-4 'Map of Eastern Turkey in Asia, Syria and Western Persia [Iran]. Disposition. 7.4.20.'f 5 'Eastern Turkey in Asia. Situation on 17.5.20.'f 6 'Syria & Mesopotamia. Situation on 17.5.20.'ff 7-7a 'Anatolia. Situation on 17.5.20.'ff 8-8a 'Map of Eastern Turkey in Asia, Syria and Western Persia. Map Showing Present Disposition of Troops With Reference to Railheads...12.6.20'f 9 'Sketch Map of Turkey in Asia. Military Situation'. 1916-1920?f 10 'Anatolia. Disposition of Turkish Western Army so far as is known from sources up to 29th. Sept[ember]. 1922.'Physical description: 10 map sheets and 3 folios
Abstract: Maps as follows:f 1 'Arabia and Middle East'. 'Friendly' and 'Hostile' Confederations with manuscript additions [1916?]f 2 'Lower Mesopotamia between Baghdad and the Persian Gulf'. Created by the War Office, 1916f 3 'Country North of the Persian Gulf'. Created by the War Office, 1916f 4 'Sketch Map showing Enemy's Position Wadi to Kut'. Created by the War Office, 1916f 5 'Map Showing British Position on the Tigris 13th. December, 1916.' Created by the War Office, 1916f 6 'Map Showing British Position on the Tigris 31st. January, 1917.' Created by the War Office, 1917f 7 'Map showing Enemy's Position at east end of Suwaicha Marsh'. Created by the War Office, 1916f 8 Kut to Sheikh Saad [Shaykh Sa'd]. Created by Ordnance Survey, 1916.Physical description: 8 map sheets
Abstract: The file contains memoranda, correspondence, and other papers relating to the Mesopotamia [Iraq] Commission (the parliamentary commission of inquiry into the Mesopotamia campaign), British policy in relation to Mesopotamia after the First World War, and the Cabinet Committee on Iraq.These papers include:‘MEMORANDUM BY LORD CURZON ON THE REPORT OF THE MESOPOTAMIA COMMISSION.’, printed for the War Cabinet, 4 June 1917 (ff 2-7)‘BRITISH POLICY IN MESPOTAMIA. Memorandum by Lord Curzon.’, 21 September 1917 (ff 14-18)‘PEACE CONFERENCE. MEMORANDUM RESPECTING MESOPOTAMIA.’ (with appendices, some of which are in French), by Sir Erle Richards, printed for the War Cabinet (ff 19-33), which includes three maps on folios 30, 31 and 32 (Mss Eur F112/286, f 30; Mss Eur F112/286, f 31; and Mss Eur F112/286, f 32)Conclusions and draft conclusions of meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Iraq of 8 December 1922 and 18 January 1923 (ff 34-44 and ff 59-64 respectively)The report of the Cabinet Committee on Iraq, 23 March 1923 (ff 70-76)‘Memorandum on the Assyro-Chaldean Situation.’, Foreign Office, 11 October 1923.The correspondence consists of letters to Curzon from: Leopold Charles Maurice Stennett Amery, First Lord of the Admiralty; Sir Eyre Alexander Barby Wichart Crowe, Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; and Ronald McNeill, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. There is also a letter to Robert Gilbert Vansittart, Private Secretary to Lord Curzon (as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs), for Curzon’s information, from Sir John Evelyn Shuckburgh, Assistant Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, enclosing a private letter to Shuckburgh from Sir Henry Dobbs, High Commissioner for Iraq, regarding the political situation in Iraq.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 95; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The confidential letter reports on the tribal situation in Mesopotamia [Iraq], describing the various tribes located in the different listed geographic areas and noting whether they were friendly or hostile to British forces. The sections in the letter include:General - reporting on the check received by the British force at Ctesiphon, 22 November 1915, which had temporarily changed the progress of their advance, but that it had not appeared to have changed the tribes attitudes towards them;Euphrates Line, reporting on the tribes of the Nasirayah [al-Nāsirīyah] neighbourhood and of Ajaimi [al-‘Ajamī] of the Muntafik [al-Muntafiq] who was in the Samawa [al-Samāwah] neighbourhood;Shatt-al-Hai [Shaṭṭ al-Gharrāf], reporting that Khayun-el-Obeid, the Chief of Al Abudah had been stirred up by Turkish officers and had now abandoned his allegiance to Britain, detailing which other chiefs in the area were likely to follow him, and reporting on the Bani Rubiah who were now actively hostile towards them;Tigris Line, reporting that good relations had continued with some of the tribes along river, with the exception of the Zubaid [al-Zubayd] and Shammar Toqah Arabs as there had not been sufficient time to develop British relations with them;Karun [Kārūn], reporting that there were tribes in the area loyal to the Shaikh of Muhammareh (Shaikh Khaz‘al bin Jābir al-Ka‘bī) [Muhammarah, now Khorramshahr] , an ally of the British, and that Germany had attempted to gain influence around the oil-fields in the area, but had not succeeded;Persia, discussing the British-Persian alliance which was under negotiation, and the fact that the British would have sufficient warning should any force move towards Bushire;Arabia, reporting on the conclusion of a treaty with Ibn Saʻūd and relations with the new Shaikh of Kuwait (Jābir bin Mubārak Āl Sabāh).Physical description: Foliation: The foliation for this description commences at folio 28 and terminates at folio 29, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in the volume; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence.
Abstract: The letter from Lieutenant-Colonel William George Grey to Sir Frederic Arthur Hirtzel encloses a copy of a letter No. C/8 of 1915 by Grey, as Political Agent in Kuwait, to the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, dated 9 June 1915, regarding Arab co-operation with the Turks in the Shatt al-Arab [Shaṭṭ al-‘Arab] country.The letter refers to remarks made by Lord Curzon of Kedleston both in the House of Lords and in relation to an address given by Mr P Landon on Basrah and the Shatt al-Arab at the Society of Arts in April 1915. The remarks are regarding Arab tribes supporting the Turks, and further observations made by the Secretary of State for India on the Battle of Shaiba, at which it was reported that the Turkish troops had been joined by almost 10,000 Arab combatants. The letter also raises the question of why they were now siding with the Turks given their previous relations with Britain.Grey's response to these observations includes a detailed explanation of the composition of the tribes involved as being primarily from Arab communities in Iraq, and the Muntafiq [al-Muntafiq] tribe of the Euphrates and Shatt-ul-Gharaf [Shaṭṭ al-Gharrāf, also known as Shaṭṭ al-Ḥayy] regions. His response also notes that the tribes involved are not those of the Persian Gulf region as had previously been assumed by Lord Curzon.The letter goes on to explain these tribes' relations with the Turks and the reasons for their having sided with them. The letter concludes by providing information on some of the tribes of the Persian Gulf, in particular the Zaffir [al-Zafīr] who had declined Turkish invitations to take up arms; and the Yuarin, Bani Malik [Banī Mālik] and Shammar all of whom had chosen to remain neutral.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation for this description commences at folio 26 and terminates at folio 26, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in the volume; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence.
Abstract: This file contains papers relating to the tribal situation in Kurdistan in 1933, and an alleged increase in Kurdish nationalist feeling in 1940 in Iraq and Iran. The main correspondents are Alan Charles Trott (Military Attaché in Tehran) in 1933, and Reader William Bullard (HM Minister at Tehran) and Basil Cochrane Newton (British Ambassador at Baghdad) in 1940.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 9; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The volumes contain the General Routine Orders [until 25 September 1916 referred to as Force Routine Orders] by the Commander of Indian Expeditionary Force D between 28 December 1915 and 10 July 1918, along with annexures to these orders and lists issued with the orders. Topics covered include:Appointments and promotionsEquipment and suppliesClothing and rationsArrangements for postal and telegraphic communicationsChanges to the organisation of Force DDetails of those in receipt of honours and rewardsCompensation awardedInterpreters: discharges, postings, and transfersAccounts and expenditurePay and allowancesReports and forms to be submittedDetails of Courts MartialLocal temperature readings and other meteorological observationsLists of candidates who have passed the Field Service Tests in Arabic and Turkish.There are also Orders of the Day relating to the above subjects, as well as two Special Orders of the Day containing messages to the armed forces from George V of Great Britain and Ireland (f 95) and Mary, Queen Consort of George V (f 367).Physical description: Foliation: this file consists of two physical volumes. The foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio of volume one (ff 1-188) and terminates at the last folio of volume two (ff 189-378); these numbers are printed and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers of the two volumes. The sequence contains one foliation anomaly, f 308a.
Abstract: This file relates to two War Cabinet committees: the Middle East Committee (originally named the Mesopotamian Administration Committee), and the Eastern Committee, both chaired by George Curzon.The first half of the file consists almost entirely of printed minutes of meetings of the Middle East Committee, dated 19 January, 26 January, 2 February, and 18 February 1918 respectively (ff 2-9). The main topics of discussion in these minutes are British policy in Palestine and future British policy in Mesopotamia.The second half of the file contains correspondence received by Curzon regarding the workings of the Eastern Committee, which inherited the responsibilities of the Middle East Committee (ff 10-21). The correspondents are as follows: Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, War Cabinet; Edwin Samuel Montagu, Secretary of State for India; Robert Cecil, Foreign Office. The letters discuss the dissemination of the committee's minutes among military representatives, the frequency and attendees of committee meetings, and whether the committee should be severed from the War Cabinet and absorbed by the Foreign Office's recently created Middle East Department. One letter touches on Anglo-Persian relations.Also included is a note by Curzon, dated 27 October 1918, regarding a memorandum from the advisory committee of the Foreign Office's Eastern Department (ff 17-18).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the final folio with 21; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The file comprises the Minutes of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth meetings of the Mesopotamian Administration Committee held between May and July 1917.The minutes consider the administrative structure in post-war Mesopotamia and staffing of the High Commission. It also considers British and French positions and interests as well as the position of other allies such as Italy and Russia. The correspondence discuss the proposals for an Arab state and how it could be aligned with British interests. The formation of an Arab Legion military force features in a note by Sir Mark Sykes with commentary by the Foreign Office and Sir Ronald Wingate (ff 22-31).Correspondents include Sir Ronald Henry Amherst Storrs, Sir Mark Sykes, and Sir Percy Zachariah Cox.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 39; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional typed mixed foliation/pagination sequence is also present between ff 3-38.
Abstract: The file comprises typescript, printed and manuscript memoranda, dated 1918 and 1920 by: Edwin Samuel Montagu, Secretary of State for India; Arthur James Balfour, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (up to October 1919); Henry Wilson, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, War Office; and Foreign Office officials as instructed by Lord Curzon, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (from October 1919).The memoranda cover the different views expressed by the Foreign Office, India Office and War Office, on the conduct of the War in the East and British policy in the Middle East, in particular the following:The effectiveness of policy being conducted by the Eastern Committee of the War CabinetThe roles of the Government of India and the India Office, and the Foreign Office, in that region, notably in Arabia, Persia [Iran] and Mesopotamia [Iraq]Whether a separate department should be established by the Foreign Office and War Office to deal with Middle Eastern affairsCriticism by the Eastern Committee, and the Foreign Office and Lord Curzon, of the administration of Mesopotamia by Arnold Talbot Wilson, Acting Civil Commissioner, notably for being too 'militaristic', anti-democratic, insufficiently focused on civil administration, and antagonistic to Arab nationalism.Several of the memoranda written in 1918 are responses by the Foreign Office and the War Office to Montagu's memorandum entitled 'War Cabinet. Eastern Committee. The War in the East', 5 July 1918 (ff 10-11), in which Montagu expresses doubts about the Eastern Committee's conduct of war policy in the Middle East. The memoranda written in 1920 document the Foreign Office's views on the 'Wilsonian policy being pursued in Mesopotamia' (ff 24-36).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 60; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are located in the bottom right corner of the recto side of each folio and are not circled.
Abstract: This printed memorandum is a copy of a letter to the Under Secretary of State offering observations on points raised in a minute by the Secretary of State concerning Indian immigration to Mesopotamia [Iraq]. The memorandum details the role of Indian troops in the Mesopotamian Campaign, relations between India and Mesopotamia, and the subsequent administration of Mesopotamia. Further details are given concerning Indian labour and the problems which Indian immigration could cause.Physical description: The foliation for this memorandum commences at folio 74, and terminates at folio 78, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between folios 7-153; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence.
Abstract: Correspondence, in English and French, between M Sazanof, Ministre des Affaires Étrangeres (Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs); Maurice Paléologue, Ambassadeur de France en Russie (French Ambassador to Russia); Paul Cambon (French Amabassador to the United Kingdom); and Sir Edward Gray, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.The correspondence relates to the agreement made by France and Great Britain for the constitution of a state or federation of Arab states which would include Syria, Cilicia and Mesopotamia, including details of the agreement itself and the signing of it by Sir Mark Sykes and Monsieur Francois Georges-Picot (British and French Diplomats who signed the Sykes-Picot agreement). Also included are discussions with the Russian Government over the treaty, and their willingness to accept it on the condition that Russia may be permitted to annex Erzeroum [Erzurum], Trébizonde [Trabzon], Van, and Bitlis;and that the regions of Kourdistan [Kurdistan] and Merga Var be ceded to them; and that in return the areas of Ala Dagh, Césarée [Kayseri], Ak-Dagh, Yildiz Dagh [Strandzha], Zara, Eghin and Kharpout [Harput] will be recognised as French.The correspondence includes the following letters:Mr Sazanof, Ministre des Affaires Étrangeres, Pétrograd to Maurice Paléologue, Ambassadeur de France en Russie,26 April 1916;Maurice Paléologue, Ambassadeur de France en Russie, Pétrograd, to M Sazanof, Ministre des Affaires Étrangeres, 26 April 1916;Paul Cambon, Ambassade de France (French Embassy), Londres [London] to Sir Edward Grey, 9 May 1916 (received 10 May 1916);Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Office (London) to Paul Cambon, 15 May 1916;Paul Cambon, Ambassade de France, Londres to Sir Edward Grey, 15 May 1916 (received 16 May 1916);Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Office (London) to Paul Cambon, 16 May 1916;Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Office (London) to Count Alexander Konstantinovich Benckendorff (Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom), 23 May 1916;Paul Cambon, Ambassade de France, Londres [London] to Sir Edward Grey, 25 August 1916 (received 26 August 1916);The Marquess of Crewe, Foreign Office (London) to Paul Cambon, 30 August 1916Count Alexander Konstantinovich Benckendorff, Ambassade Impériale de Russie (Imperial Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom), Londres [London] to Viscount Grey (Sir Edward Grey), 1 September 1916Viscount Grey, Foreign Office (London) to Count Alexander Konstantinovich Benckendorff, 23 October 1916.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation for this description commences at folio 133 and terminates at folio 142, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present between folios 6-153; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence.