FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQ IN THE BRITISH ADMINISTRATION (1921-1925)

Can Deveci

Article Details

FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQ IN THE BRITISH ADMINISTRATION (1921-1925)

Authors:

Can Deveci

Publisher:

Erciyes University

Main Topics:

Yakınçağ Tarihi (Diğer)

Journal:

Erciyes Akademi Vol.37 Issue 3, pp.1235-1250

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001299727

pISSN:

2757-7031

Keywords:

Abstract:

 During the First World War, Britain occupied Basra in 1914, Baghdad in 1917, and Mosul in 1918. Thus, the provinces consisting of different ethnic and religious groups were called Iraq and military administration began. Arnold T. Wilson, an officer in the British Indian bureaucracy, was appointed as the top manager of the military administration in Iraq. Wilsons primary goal in terms of finance is to collect taxes from the people within the borders of Iraq, regardless of province, religion or ethnicity. However, this situation led to reaction against the British rule in Iraq in 1920. This reaction also destabilized Iraqs financial situation and increased Britains military expenses. After the San-Remo Conference 1920, the civilian administration of Iraq was established and Sir Percy Cox was appointed high commissioner. In order to reduce the economic costs of the British in the region, Cox made the necessary political and financial arrangements in Iraq in line with the decisions taken at the Cairo Conference 1921, which was organized by the Middle East Department, a sub-unit of the Ministry of State for the Colonies. He prepared reports identifying the financial situation of Iraq. Dobbs focused on increasing production in every area in Iraq where he could collect taxes and making Iraqs financial situation not needing the support of Britain. In this article, the developments in the financial field in Iraq are examined based on the management reports submitted by the high commissioners to the League of Nations. It has been determined that England is in an effective position prioritizing its own strategies while managing Iraqs finances and that Iraqs annual production capacity is integrated with international British trade.

 During the First World War, Britain occupied Basra in 1914, Baghdad in 1917, and Mosul in 1918. Thus, the provinces consisting of different ethnic and religious groups were called Iraq and military administration began. Arnold T. Wilson, an officer in the British Indian bureaucracy, was appointed as the top manager of the military administration in Iraq. Wilsons primary goal in terms of finance is to collect taxes from the people within the borders of Iraq, regardless of province, religion or ethnicity. However, this situation led to reaction against the British rule in Iraq in 1920. This reaction also destabilized Iraqs financial situation and increased Britains military expenses. After the San-Remo Conference 1920, the civilian administration of Iraq was established and Sir Percy Cox was appointed high commissioner. In order to reduce the economic costs of the British in the region, Cox made the necessary political and financial arrangements in Iraq in line with the decisions taken at the Cairo Conference 1921, which was organized by the Middle East Department, a sub-unit of the Ministry of State for the Colonies. He prepared reports identifying the financial situation of Iraq. Dobbs focused on increasing production in every area in Iraq where he could collect taxes and making Iraqs financial situation not needing the support of Britain. In this article, the developments in the financial field in Iraq are examined based on the management reports submitted by the high commissioners to the League of Nations. It has been determined that England is in an effective position prioritizing its own strategies while managing Iraqs finances and that Iraqs annual production capacity is integrated with international British trade.

 During the First World War, Britain occupied Basra in 1914, Baghdad in 1917, and Mosul in 1918. Thus, the provinces consisting of different ethnic and religious groups were called Iraq and military administration began. Arnold T. Wilson, an officer in the British Indian bureaucracy, was appointed as the top manager of the military administration in Iraq. Wilsons primary goal in terms of finance is to collect taxes from the people within the borders of Iraq, regardless of province, religion or ethnicity. However, this situation led to reaction against the British rule in Iraq in 1920. This reaction also destabilized Iraqs financial situation and increased Britains military expenses. After the San-Remo Conference 1920, the civilian administration of Iraq was established and Sir Percy Cox was appointed high commissioner. In order to reduce the economic costs of the British in the region, Cox made the necessary political and financial arrangements in Iraq in line with the decisions taken at the Cairo Conference 1921, which was organized by the Middle East Department, a sub-unit of the Ministry of State for the Colonies. He prepared reports identifying the financial situation of Iraq. Dobbs focused on increasing production in every area in Iraq where he could collect taxes and making Iraqs financial situation not needing the support of Britain. In this article, the developments in the financial field in Iraq are examined based on the management reports submitted by the high commissioners to the League of Nations. It has been determined that England is in an effective position prioritizing its own strategies while managing Iraqs finances and that Iraqs annual production capacity is integrated with international British trade.

 İngiltere Birinci Dünya Savaşı sırasında, 1914te Basrayı, 1917de Bağdatı, 1918de Musulu ise işgal etmiştir. Böylece birbirinden farklı etnik ve dini gruplardan oluşan vilayetler Irak şeklinde anılmış ve askeri idare başlamıştır. Iraka askeri idarenin üst yöneticisi olarak İngilterenin Hindistan bürokrasisinde görevli Arnold T. Wilson atanmıştır. Wilsonun maliye ile ilgili öncelikli hedefi vilayet, din, etnik yapı fark etmeksizin Irak sınırları içerisinde bulunan halktan vergi toplamaktır. Fakat bu durum 1920de Irakta İngiliz idaresine karşı halk tepkisine yol açmıştır. Bu tepki aynı zamanda Irakın malî durumunu istikrarsız hale getirirken İngilterenin de askeri masraflarını arttırmıştır. San-Remo Konferansından 1920 sonra Irakta sivil idareye geçilmiş ve Sör Percy Cox yüksek komiser atanmıştır. Cox, İngilterenin bölgedeki ekonomik masraflarının azaltılması için Sömürgelerden Sorumlu Devlet Bakanlığının alt birimi olan Ortadoğu Bölümünün tertip ettiği Kahire Konferansında 1921 alınan kararlar doğrultusunda Irakta gerekli politik ve malî düzenlemeleri yapmıştır. Irakın mali durumunu tespit eden raporlar hazırlamıştır. Coxtan sonra yüksek komiserlik görevine Sör Henry Dobbs atanmıştır. Dobbs, Irakta vergi toplayabileceği her alanda üretimin yükseltilmesine ve Irakın mali durumunun İngilterenin desteğine ihtiyacı olmayacak hale getirilmesine odaklanmıştır. Bu makalede, mali alanda Irakta yaşanan gelişmeler yüksek komiserlerin Milletler Cemiyetine sunduğu yönetim raporları esas alınarak incelenmiştir. İngilterenin, Irakın maliyesini idare ederken kendi stratejilerini önceleyen etkin bir konumda yer aldığı ve Irakın yıllık üretim kapasitesini uluslararası İngiliz ticareti ile bütünleştirdiği tespit edilmiştir.

Article Details

FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQ IN THE BRITISH ADMINISTRATION (1921-1925)

Authors:

Can Deveci

Publisher:

Erciyes University

Main Topics:

Yakınçağ Tarihi (Diğer)

Journal:

Erciyes Akademi Vol.37 Issue 3, pp.1235-1250

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001299727

pISSN:

2757-7031

History

British

High Commissioner

Iraq

Financial DevelopmentsTarih

İngiltere

Yüksek Komiser

Irak

Mali Gelişmeler

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Can Deveci

Publisher: Erciyes University

Main Topics: Yakınçağ Tarihi (Diğer)

Journal: Erciyes Akademi Vol.37 Issue 3, pp.1235-1250

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 9/2023

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001299727

pISSN: 2757-7031

Issues

Authors:

Can Deveci

Publisher:

Erciyes University

Main Topics:

Yakınçağ Tarihi (Diğer)

Journal:

Erciyes Akademi Vol.37 Issue 3, pp.1235-1250

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001299727

pISSN:

2757-7031