The British Vision of Iraqi Politics in the Reports of British High Commissioners 1925-1932: A Documentary Study

Abstract

   After the British occupation of Iraq, Britain tried to preserve its interests and position, so it appointed High Commissioners who played a major role in determining the fate of Iraq and directing its policy to serve British interests. The High Commissioner was the actual ruler of the country, and during the period extending from 1925-1932, three Commissioners held this important position, namely Henry Dobbs, Gilbert Clayton, and Francis Humphreys, Each of them had different orientations and policies, even their views on Iraqi independence differed. These delegates wrote reports on the situation in Iraq and analysed Iraqi politics in colonial terms. These reports were sent to the British Colonial Office, which used them to assess the situation and guide British policy to justify political and military intervention in Iraq. Despite the differences in policies and orientations between the three delegates, their visions agreed on maintaining British influence in Iraq, with varying degrees of encouragement or restriction of Iraq's steps towards independence, which contributed to shaping the course of Iraqi politics during this critical period.