Administration in Iraq & the Dominions

Administration in Iraq, 1914-1947

Managing policy during and between the two world wars was an incredibly difficult job. Britain was forced to balance defence demands with tensions at home and in her colonies.

The Iraqi revolt of 1920

In World War One, British soldiers fought against the Ottoman Empire in Mesopotamia (which is now known as Iraq). British troops captured Baghdad in 1917.
After the war, the League of Nations gave Britain a mandate over Iraq, giving it control of the country.
In 1920, a fatwa was issued by Muslims in Iraq, highlighting that Islamic law did not support Muslim people being ruled by non-Muslim people (the British).
Kurds (from northern Iraq) also rebelled, wanting freedom from Iraq.
People began protesting British rule in Baghdad. 1,000 British soldiers were killed and up to 10,000 Iraqi soldiers were killed.

The Cairo Conference, 1921

Essentially, Britain had claimed Iraq as their nation as the victor in World War One, rather than because of a historic connection to the country.
Iraq's borders had been drawn arbitrarily by the Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916.
In 1921, a meeting at the Cairo Conference agreed to allow Iraq to have some self-determination, but British control was maintained.
Formally, Iraqi representatives from the Hashemite family would rule the country, but British influence was undisputed.

The Anglo-Iraqi Treaty, 1922

The Anglo-Iraqi treaty, signed in 1922 made Faisal I of the Hashemite dynasty the King of Iraq.
Faisal I was well-respected in Iraq as a Muslim leader, but the British thought he would remain loyal to British policy demands.
British advisors led Iraq's government and British troops ran military bases and the Iraqi Army.

The Anglo-Iraqi Treaty, 1930

The Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of 1930 was a military and foreign affairs pact agreeing on co-operation between Britain and Iraq.
Britain could use Basra's air bases and keep troops in Iraq for 25 years.

Independence of Iraq

In 1932, independence was granted to Iraq.
This independence was granted on the conditions that Britain could keep using its military bases in Iraq, could influence government affairs, and could continue to benefit from Iraqi oil.
Britain had bought 50% of the Turkish Petroleum Co. from the Ottoman Empire before WW1 via its Anglo Persian Oil Company in Iran.
The Turkish Petroleum Co. was renamed the Iraq Petroleum Co. in 1929.

Administration in the Dominions, 1914-1947

Managing policy during and between the two world wars was an incredibly difficult job. Britain was forced to balance defence demands with tensions at home and in her colonies.

The Commonwealth

On the 11th of December 1931, Britain created the Commonwealth.
South Africa had become independent in 1910, Australia in 1942 and New Zealand would become independent in 1947.
The Commonwealth would be an informal organisation of collaboration that could help Britain to continue to influence the Dominions and former colonies after they became independent.

The Statute of Westminster

In 1931, the Statute of Westminster set out the rules for Dominions gaining independence.
- e.g. Dominions could pass laws without British interference.
The Statute of Westminster focused on increasing the rights of white dominions but did not provide the same acceptance of independence to other colonies.

Case Study: Gertrude Bell

Gertrude Bell was the first woman to map Arabia and was pivotal in the formation of Iraq. Bell was the only female holding influence in British policy in Iraq.

Bell's career

Bell was the sole woman at the British table carving out British influence in the Middle East.
She supported the Hashemite dynasty in modern-day Iraq.
In 1909 Gertrude Bell met TE Lawrence (later known as Lawrence of Arabia) and advised him on his travels in the Middle East.

Gertrude Bell's later career

Her Uncle, Frank Lascelles, was Britain’s minister in Tehran, Persia.
Bell travelled to Persia and became fluent in Arabic, Persian, and Ottoman Languages.
In 1907 Gertrude Bell Published a book Syria: The Desert and the Sown, detailing her trip around the Middle East. The Desert and the Sown was used by British intelligence and military forces to navigate the Middle East's desert.
Gertrude Bell was given the title of Oriental Secretary in Iraq in 1917.

1High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914

1.1Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890

1.1.1Empires over Time

1.1.2Key Questions About Empires

1.1.3Expansion into Africa

1.1.4History of Egypt

1.1.5Control of Egypt

1.1.6Control of Sudan

1.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890

1.2.1The British Empire & India

1.2.2The British Raj

1.2.3International Relations with other Powers

1.2.4Scramble for Africa

1.2.5The Informal Empire

1.3Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890

1.3.1Trade & Commerce in the Empire

1.3.2Infrastructure of Trade & Commerce

1.3.3Products of Trade & Commerce

1.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890

1.4.1Explorers

1.4.2Missionaries

1.4.3Traders & Colonial Administrators

1.4.4Government Attitudes Towards Imperialism

1.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890

1.5.1Relations with India

1.5.2Relations with South Africa

1.5.3British-Boer Relations

2Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914

2.1Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914

2.1.1Consolidation & Expansion into Africa

2.1.2Consolidation & Expansion in South Africa

2.1.3Historical Interpretations: Expansion into Africa

2.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914

2.2.1Policy in India

2.2.2Policy in Egypt

2.2.3Native Policy in Colonies

2.2.4International Relations with Other Powers

2.3Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914

2.3.1The Benefits of Trade

2.3.2Costs of the Empire

2.3.3Debates Over Trade

2.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914

2.4.1Key Administrators - Chamberlain & Rhodes

2.4.2Key Administrators - Baring & Milner

2.4.3Key Administrators - Curzon

2.4.4Government Attitudes to the Empire

2.4.5National Efficiency & the Boer War

2.4.6Popular Attitudes Towards Imperialism

2.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914

2.5.1Challenges in India

2.5.2Challenges in Africa

2.5.3Challenges in South Africa

2.5.4Historical Interpretations of the Boer War

2.5.5Relations & Business with Iran

3Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967

3.1Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947

3.1.1Impact of WW1

3.1.2Palestine

3.1.3Ireland & WW1

3.1.4Impact of WW2 on the British Empire

3.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947

3.2.1Administration in India & Palestine

3.2.2Administration in Iraq & the Dominions

3.2.3Imperial Defence

3.3Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War

3.3.1Economic Impact of WW1

3.3.2Inter-War Trade & Commerce

3.3.3Economic Impact of WW2

3.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914

3.4.1Colonial Administrators

3.4.2Trusteeship

3.4.3Gandhi

3.4.4Montagu, Haig & Linlithgow

3.4.5Cameron, Mitchell, Cohen & Furse - African Admins

3.4.6Imperialist Ideals

3.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947

3.5.1Ireland & India 1914-1947

3.5.2The Middle East and Africa

4The Wind of Change, 1947-1967

4.1Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967

4.1.1Reasons for Decolonisation

4.1.2Decolonisation in East & West Africa

4.1.3Decolonisation in Central & South Africa

4.1.4Decolonisation in Asia

4.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967

4.2.1Relations & Business with Iran after WW2

4.2.2The 'Winds of Change'

4.2.3The Suez Canal Crisis - 1956

4.2.4International Relations 1947-1967

4.3Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967

4.3.1The Economic Impact of WW2

4.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967

4.4.1Colonial Administrators: Cohen & Arden-Clarke

4.4.2Local Leaders in the Independence Movement

4.4.3Pan-Africanism in Nationalism

4.5Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967

4.5.1Windrush & Immigration

4.5.2Commonwealth Immigrants Act

4.5.3Residual Impact of the Empire

4.6Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967

4.6.1Challenges to Colonial Rule Post 1947

4.6.2Kenya & the Mau Mau Uprising

4.6.3Nigeria & Rhodesia

Jump to other topics