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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT).
105
SECRET.
C.0.S.(40)813,
9TH OCTOBER 1940
*ANY.
E
isken to
C.L.
Den ene Sour¤üy of the
WAR CABINET
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.
COPY NO. 29
SITUATION IN IRAQ.
Memorandum by the Chier of the Imperial General
1
ས |-r? "
Staff.
The situation in Iraq is rapidly deteriorating, and anti-British feeling is growing to such an extent that serious consquences may result if no steps are taken to improve matters. Three months ago no difficulty was anticipated in the passage of British troops through Iraq under the terms of the Anglo-Iraqi treaty. When it was decided to send a division from India (Niblickforce) to Basra, His Majesty's Ambassador welcomed the step but felt that an invitation from the Iraq Government might be difficult to obtain. The position now is that the presence of British troops would be unwelcome though there would probably not be active opposition if adequate precautions were taken.
2.
Reliable information recently obtained shows that the Mufti is in close touch with the Axis powers, and has received a promise of financial support in return for fomenting anti-British activities. Furthermore we know that an agent of the Mufti has put certain proposals to the German Government. The Mufti claims that these proposals are made with the agreement of the Governments of Iraq, Saudi Arabia and political Nationalist leaders in Syria, Summed up briefly these proposals amount to:-
(a) Public recognition by the Axis powers of the
independence of the Arab states (including Syria, Palestine, Trans-Jordan, Sudan, Aden Protectorate and part of the Yemen).
(b) Arab states to be free to form a "Union".
In return the Iraq Government will:-
(a) Declare strict neutrality, thereby
automatically preventing the passage of British troops through Iraq.
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