IOR/L/PS/18/B255

The draft report of the Mesopotamian Administration Committee containing recommendations made by the committee.

These recommendations include:

• The occupied territories of Mesopotamia being administered in the future by His Majesty's Government and not by the Government of India;
• The Basra Vilayet territory remaining permanently under British administration;
• Proposed boundaries for the region which would ensure that Holy Places remained outside of British control;
• The proposed system of Arab Administration of the Bagdad Vilayet, including the committee's desire for the 'Irak Code' not to be implemented there and local judicial systems to be maintained where possible;
• The considerations needed over the title and place of residence of the future Head of the Mesopotamian Administration, which would depend on the future status of the Basra Vilayet, and on concerns over how a potential British position of 'High Commissioner of Mesopotamia' might look to the Arabs;
• The possible need for the creation of a Mesopotamia Civil Service which could be amalgamated with that of the Sudan and also the Levant;
• Arabistan [Khuzestan] and the Sheikh of Mohammera [Khorramshahr] remaining under the political influence of Southern Persia, which should be under British influence; and the Bakhtiari county to be included in the British sphere of influence of the Indian Government;
• the placing of responsibility for the Arabian littoral and Muscat under Mesopotamian authorities rather than the Government of India;
• The relieving of the Government of India of responsibility for Aden and its dependencies;
• That the administration of Mesopotamia should perhaps be arranged along similar lines to Egypt.