Mr William Ormsby-Gore: asked the Secretary of State for War whether an Indian garrison stationed to the west of the Euphrates in Mesopotamia has been surrounded and cut off by rebel Arabs; whether several attempts have been made to relieve this isolated garrison, so far without success; what are the British and Indian casualties to date; whether the rising is more than purely local in character and what was its...
Arab Tribes.
Arab Officials.
Brigadier-General Herbert Surtees: asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has received any confirmation regarding the attack by Arabs with regard to the cutting of the Baghdad Railway and the isolation of and attack on a considerable body of British forces; whether such Arabs belong to the Arabic rulers who were subsidised by this country and India; and what steps are being taken to prevent serious native uprisings?
Lieutenant Alfred Raper: Is it known what the attitude of the Arab Government will be?
...economic jealousies. The effect of our accepting the mandate for Mesopotamia was not primarily to put a material advantage into our pocket, but so to administer Mesopotamia in the interests of the Arabs living there as to make it a territory under the guardianship. of humanity. Then any feeling of jealousy or friction that might be engendered in the minds of our competitors would be very...
Mr George Lambert: 45. asked the Prime Minister if he is assured that the British officials at present occupying high administrative positions in Mesopotamia favour the Government policy of establishing there an Arab state; when Sir Percy Cox will return to Mesopotamia; and will he be instructed to facilitate the economic development of the country by promoting and encouraging local initiative in accordance...
Mr Archibald Williamson: ...garrison is still holding out. The health of the troops is good, although the heat and weather are very oppressive. All the railways in Mesopotamia are intact except between Samawah and Mahmudiyah. Arab raids still go on.
Lieutenant Alfred Raper: 49 and 50. asked the Prime Minister (1) whether the Arab government has been consulted regarding the negotiations in progress between Great Britain and France for establishing permanent northern and eastern frontiers for Palestine; and what attitude the Arab government has adopted: (2) what is considered to be the southern boundary of the area under the French mandate in those parts of Syria...
...on Tuesday last, except that the insurrectionary movements are being effectively quelled, and the condition of the country will soon be favourable enough to enable Sir Percy Cox to discuss with the Arab Leaders the form of Government best adapted to meet the wishes and interests of the people.
Lieutenant Alfred Raper: ...are responsible for the British administration in Mesopotamia; and if His Majesty's Government have yet decided when they propose to fulfil their pledge of granting self-government to the Arabs in Mesopotamia?
Mr William Ormsby-Gore: ...the Emir Feisal or King Hussein of the Hedjaz any representation regarding the carrying out by the British Government of the undertaking given to the latter of the pledges given by them before the Arabs entered the War as our allies; and, if so, what reply has been sent to the Emir Feisal or King Hussein?
Colonel Charles Yate: 12. asked whether in the recent outrages in Mesopotamia any of the bands of Arabs were led by Syrian officers of the Sherifian army?
Colonel Charles Yate: Why is Palestine taken out? Are there not continual Arab raids and other things?
Lieutenant Alfred Raper: May I ask whether Sir Percy Cox suggested in his report that the time has arrived when we should, without any further delay, agree to the formation of an independent Arab Government?
Mr William Ormsby-Gore: 8. asked the Secretary of State for India what progress has been made with the formation of locally recruited levies in Mesopotamia; how many British and how many Arab officers have been appointed to this force; is the force organised on a military or police basis; what is the estimated annual cost of this force; and will this fall entirely on the Mesopotamian Budget?
Mr William Ormsby-Gore: Is it not a fact that the riparian tribes form some of the best Arab troops that have served in the Turkish Army for 400 years?
Sir J. D. REES: Can it be said that the Hedjaz is a nation? Is it not merely a section of Arabs?
Mr David Lloyd George: First of all, we have to establish an Arab authority, and it will then be for them, on the advice of the Mandatory, to choose their own method of developing the oil fields.
Mr Winston Churchill: A total of 8,200 casualties to Arab insurgents during the recent rebellion between 1st July and the present date has been reported by the General Officer Commanding, Mesopotamia. The proportion of killed to wounded is estimated at one to three. No reports of any other Arab casualties have been received.