§ Sir D. MACLEAN(by Private Notice) asked the Leader of the House whether he has any further information in regard to the mission of Sir Percy Cox?
Mr. BONAR LAW (Leader of the House)This is a long reply, but I think that the House would wish me to read it.
An appreciation of the political situation has now been received from Sir Percy Cox, High Commissioner, Mesopotamia.
The energetic steps taken to suppress the rising have proved so successful that there is no further cause for serious anxiety. The arrival of Sir Percy Cox aroused general expectancy as to the steps which he proposed to take in the direction of giving effect to the intention of His Majesty's Government to form a national Government. Already for some time past a Committee of about 30 172 ex-deputies has been occupied in framing an electoral law for the creation of a representative Congress of all sections of the people of Mesopotamia. The draft of this law will be complete very shortly, but a considerable period must elapse before the elections can be completed and a decision reached on fundamental issues. Meanwhile, to meet the immediate requirements of the situation, the High Commissioner has adopted the following purely provisional measures:
The Naqib of Baghdad, whose public prestige and the respect in which he is generally held make him eminently suited for the position, has been invited to form a Council of State, with himself as President, for the conduct of the administration until such time as a National Assembly can meet and decide upon the future form of Government. This Council of State will be representative of all parts of the country, and will consist of 17 or 18 members. Of these members, eight (in addition to the Naqib himself) will hold portfolios for the administration of the existing Departments, with the advice of the present Secretaries and subject to the guidance and direction of a High Commissioner. The portfolios, which are to be assigned by the Naqib, are as follows:—Minister for the Interior, Minister for Finance, Minister for Justice, Minister for Pious Foundations (namely, something in the nature of our Charity Commission), Minister for Education, Minister for Defence, Minister for Public Works, and Minister for Commerce.
It is understood that the following gentlemen have been invited by the Naqib to accept office in the Provisional Government: Saiyid Talib Pasha (Basrah), Sassoon Effendi Haskail (who held office under the Ottoman Government before the War), Hassan Pachachi (a leading lawyer of Baghdad), Mustapha 'Alusi (Baghdad, formerly Qadhi of Mecca), Izzat Pasha (Kirkuk), Ja'afar Pasha (who held rank as Major-General in the army of Emir Feisal), Muhammad Fadhli (Mayor of Mosul), and 'Abdul Latif Pasha al Mandil (leading merchant of Basrah). The remaining members of the Council include a leading Christian of Baghdad and one of Mosul, a prominent Kurd of Sulaimaniyah, the head of a leading Shia' family of Baghdad, and two of the most influential Shaikhs among the settled Shia' tribes.
173 The distribution of portfolios will be reported later. The above steps were taken by the High Commissioner after visits to all three Vilayets (Basrah, Baghdad and Mosul), during which he interviewed all important Shaikhs and leaders of opinion both publicly in Durbar and privately in conversation with each important individual, to whom he explained the policy of His Majesty's Government and the objects of his own Mission.
§ Lieut - Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask if a Grand Council is going to be assembled in Ireland to administer the law in that country?
Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSMay I ask if my right hon. Friend is aware of the very large opinion that there should be a Debate on this question, and whether, in consequence of the very important statement which he has just made, he does not think that it is quite desirable that there should be a Debate? Would he give a day or half a day between now and Christmas having regard to the fact that the Secretary of State said that probably the Supplementary Estimate would not be introduced until next Session?
Mr. BONAR LAWIn any case, I will consider the suggestion, but I think, probably, it is desirable that we should first have a written communication from Sir Percy Cox. This has only come by telegraph.