890g.01/225
The Consul at Baghdad ( Randolph ) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 9.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to article V of the Anglo-Iraq Treaty of October 10, 192217 which gives the British at least a partial control over Iraq’s foreign relations.
When the writer came to Baghdad towards the end of 1923 it was the practice of this Consulate to address official communications to the Iraq Government through the High Commissioner for Iraq.
When I first called upon the High Commissioner (Sir R. C. Dobbs) he suggested that the above procedure be continued.
A year later, when I called to present the new Italian Consul, His Excellency made a similar suggestion for the benefit of the Italian Consul, namely, that all official communications to the Iraq Government be addressed through the High Commissioner.
This practice is still followed by the Consul of the United States, although I understand that some of the Consuls of other Powers [Page 299] write direct to the Iraq Government, specially those Consuls whose Governments have recognised the Government of Iraq.
Enclosed is a copy of a communication No. 8902 dated August 24, 1929, from the High Commissioner18 concerning the manner in which different foreign Consuls in Baghdad should address the Iraq Government.
Whereas official communications have been addressed by this Consulate through the High Commissioner I have been continuously dealing direct with different officials of the Iraq Government for trade information and in connection with protection of interests.
I have [etc.]