Abstract: The file consists of a document by Sir John Evelyn Shuckburgh, the Secretary for the Political Department in the India Office, discussing the problems with retaining civil service staff during the period of transition in Mesopotamia from Ottoman to British rule. Recommendations are offered at the end of the document for encouraging staff to remain in Mesopotamia.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at f 26, and terminates at f 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 present in parallel; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.