IOR/L/PS/18/B343

This printed memorandum, dated July 1920, is a report outlining the summary of proposals by the Bonham-Carter Committee for the constitution of Mesopotamia [Iraq]. The report gives a list of the members of the committee, who include: Sir Edgar Bonham-Carter, Judicial Secretary; Lieutenant-Colonel E B Howell, Revenue Secretary; Major H F M Tyler, Political Officer, Hillah [al-Ḥillah]; Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Cecil Campbell Balfour, Political Officer, Baghdad; and Major Reader William Bullard, Deputy Revenue Secretary.

The report is divided into the following sections: 'Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations'; 'The Anglo-French Declaration of 8th November 1918'; 'Conditions to be fulfilled before the wishes of the people can be ascertained'; 'Wishes of the people to be expressed by an elected Legislative Assembly'; 'Framing of a suitable form of Government'; Conditions laid down for the Constitution'; 'Mandate should be granted soon'; 'Recital of the Mandate and its purposes'; 'Reservations in favour of the Mandatory Power'; 'Reservations in favour of certain foreign subjects'; 'Religious liberty to be a constitutional right'; 'Council of State (or of Ministries)'; 'Legislative Assembly, Constitution'; 'Functions of the Legislative Assembly'; 'The Capitulations'; and 'Enquiry into working of systems of Government after a period of years'.

The report contains an appendix with the following sections: 'Method of Election to Legislative Assembly' and 'Qualification for Candidates of Legislative Assembly'.