the extreme folly of allowing this scheme to ripen and the grave danger of exposing to retaliation the 'Iraq shepherd tribes who at that season were obliged to go out into the desert pasturage. He also strongly advised the Ministry of Interior to order all the refugee tribes away from the frontier, and as soon as the conditions of pasturage allowed to move them into the Jazira desert west of Mosul. In the meantime orders were issued to the refugee Shammar not to move south of a given line, and pledges not to raid were taken from all tribes in southern ‘Iraq. But these measures were not enough to control small bodies of the Mutair and other Nejd tribes encamped in 'Iraq territory and petty aggressions continued to take place, though the shepherd tribes, anxious for their own safety, were clearly eager to prevent them and ready to come to private terms with the Nejd shaikhs, as they had always been accustomed to do in the past, and to go out to the desert grazing grounds under their guarantee. It looked, indeed, as if the problem might be resolved in time-honoured fashion by the tribes among themselves, and in the middle of December yet stricter measures were taken to check the proceedings of the Mutair and other breakers of the peace. The High Commissioner was asked to inform Ibn Sa'ud of the orders which had been issued by the Ministry of Interior and to request him to give similar orders to his tribes, but before the communication could be made, hostilities broke out afresh, the Akhwan carrying out two raids on a large scale on 26th and 30th December, the helpless shepherd tribes being once more the victims.

Thus at the close of the period under report the position between 'Iraq and Nejd remains as difficult as it had been before, with the difference that the capture of Mecca has added immensely to the prestige of Ibn Sa'ud.

7. Relations with Persia.

CONDITION ON THE FRONTIER.

The Persian frontier, like the Syrian frontier, is the home of tribesmen, but the Kurds of the eastern border are only seminomadic and have fixed and recognized migrations. They pass the winter in the lower ground of 'Iraq where they engage in cultivation, and they go up in summer with their flocks to the Persian highlands. The sheep tax is levied from them by the 'Iraq Government during their stay in its territory. These conditions apply to the whole length of the frontier from Ruwandiz to Pusht-i-Kuh where the position is somewhat different. Here the semi-autonomous Wali has come to an arrangement with the 'Iraq Government through the British High Commissioner as to the terms on which the flocks of the Arab tribe of Bani Lam may use his pasture grounds during the spring, a subject which had previously given rise to a long series of bickerings. It has been decided that the Wali shall demand a sum of 600 liras annually for his grazing rights.

The Wali himself holds property within the 'Iraq frontier and has pressed for its registration in Tapu. The question was considered by the Council of Ministers in March, 1924, when it was decided that his property in Mandali, Badra and Zorbatiya should be divided by him among his sons and registered in their name. With regard to the acquisition by him of further holdings in Iraq, the Council made exemption for the future of the frontier Liwas of Diyala, Kut and 'Amara, but the Wali may if he chooses purchase property in the interior Liwas.

THE SHAH'S JOURNEY.

His Majesty the Shah passed through Baghdad on 8th November. He arrived by train in the morning and left in the afternoon by car. The High Commissioner visited him at the station, together with the Air Marshal, the Chief Aide-de-Camp of King Faisal and one of his Chamberlains, and the Lord Mayor of Baghdad. The Shah spent the night at Ramadi where he was entertained by the Administrative Inspector on behalf of the High Commissioner.

CONTROL OF THE SHATT-AL-'ARAB.

A difficulty arose with the Persian Customs authorities concerning the right of the 'Iraq Government to control navigation in the Shatt-al-'Arab. The Turco-Persian Frontier Commission of 1914 fixed the Persian frontier on the Shatt-al-'Arab at low water line on the east bank from a point two miles below Fao. Thus the waterway is at Fao subject to the jurisdiction of the 'Iraq Government, and craft navigating the waterway are bound by regulations which have been in force for several years and were legally promulgated by the 'Iraq authorities. These regulations provide for a customs examination at Fao, with a view to the prevention of smuggling, and for the payment of port dues by foreign craft in order to cover the cost of buoying and of controlling the waterway.

On 3rd March, acting, as it was alleged, on instructions from Tehran, the Director of Customs at Mohammerah established a customs post on an armed sea-going launch which was placed opposite Fao in 'Iraq waters, and orders were issued forbidding Persian craft, proceeding either to Abadan or to Fao, to call at Fao customs post or pay port dues.

At the request of the 'Iraq Government, which behaved with signal moderation, the High Commissioner asked His Britannic Majesty's Minister in Tehran to expostulate with the Persian Government, and was informed on 7th April that the Director General of Customs had realised the importance of the principles involved, and was sending orders to the launch to depart and not to return without direct orders from Tehran.

After various delays, the British Collector of Customs, on behalf of the 'Iraq Government, and the Belgian Director of Customs on behalf of the Persian Government, met at Mohammerah and came to an agreement for reciprocal assistance, subject to confirmation by both Governments. An outstanding difficulty is the payment of port dues which involves the important principle that the 'Iraq Government has the sole right of control over vessels using the main stream of the Shatt-al-'Arab. Pending settlement, the dues are collected under protest and registered in a separate

account.

RECOGNITION OF THE IRAQ GOVERNMENT BY THE PERSIAN

GOVERNMENT.

In October, 1924, the Persian Government announced its willingness to recognize the Kingdom of 'Iraq.

The detailed arrangements for the visit of a ceremonial mission to Tehran announcing the accession of King Faisal to the throne, and for the subsequent negotiation in Baghdad of a treaty of amity, were being elaborated at the end of the period under review.

The departure of the 'Iraq mission was delayed by the absence of the Prime Minister from Tehran. After the completion of his work in Arabistan, he made a short pilgrimage to the holy places of 'Iraq, but King Faisal was not in Baghdad and the Sardar Sepah stayed there only for an hour or two and received no official visits.

8. Archaeology.

LAW OF ANTIQUITIES.

A law of Antiquities, based on that which was adopted in Palestine, was published in the 'Iraq Gazette of 15th September, 1924, in accordance with Article XIV of the Anglo-'Iraq treaty. The text is included in the compilation of 'Iraq legislation.

The Oriental Secretary to the High Commissioner continues to serve as Honorary Director of the Department of Antiquities, which has been placed under the Minister of Communications and Works.

EXCAVATIONS AT KISH AND UR.

The excavations at Kish were re-opened at the end of September, 1923, by Mr. Mackay and Colonel Lane on behalf of the Oxford University and Field Museum. Professor Langdon joined the party in December. The results of the season's work were signally successful. Excavations in the temple lying round the Uhaimir mound, which represents the zigurrat, were continued but the problems presented there were not elucidated. The ruins would appear to belong to the Semitic period, dynasty of Hammurabi. Under the eastern mound work was carried on in two large places of the Sumerian period which may be approximately dated at the beginning of the fourth millennium. Very remarkable decorative inlaid plaques were found in the chambers.

Excavations at Ur were re-opened early in November, 1923, under Mr. Woolley, Mr. Fitzgerald and Mr. Gadd. Mr. Newton came out in January. A considerable amount of work was

carried out during the season.

The brick zigurrat of Ur Ungur

was cleared, revealing for the first time the means of ascent on to a zigurrat, which in this case was a triple stair. A great courtyard lying below the zigurrat was also laid bare. But the discoveries at the small mound of Tall al 'Ubaiyidh, four miles from Ur, were yet more striking. The mound was found to contain a temple and a cemetery of the first dynasty of Ur, about 4000 B.C. Most remarkable remains of the decoration of the temple facade in its earliest period were unearthed and the pottery and human remains recovered from the cemetery are of the highest importance.

Both at Kish and Ur the season's work was brought to a close in March, 1924, when a division of the objects found was carried out by the Honorary Director of Antiquities. On both sites work was re-opened in the early winter of 1924, but reports are not yet available.

The Joint Committee, which is presided over by the Chief Librarian of the British Museum and constitutes the highest archaeological authority in Great Britain, has expressed itself satisfied with the manner in which the division has been made in this as well as in former seasons.

BAGHDAD MUSEUM.

The Department of Antiquities has secured a room in the Sarai which serves temporarily to lodge the treasures which have fallen to its share. The existence of a museum is a source of considerable pride to the people of Baghdad and attracts many small gifts of antiquities.

The overland route has facilitated the visit of distinguished archaeologists, from whose learning the Department has derived much benefit. In October, 1923, Professor Clay arrived with a party and inaugurated an American School of Historical Research. Pending the provision of funds, this school has not actually materialised.

Annexure.
No. 1.

The High Commissioner for 'Iraq to the Prime Minister of Iraq.
THE RESIDENCY, BAGHDAD,

MY DEAR PRIME MINISTER,

26th March, 1924.

In addition to the Military, Financial, Judicial and British Officials Agreements, it is provided by Article X of the Treaty that separate agreements should be concluded to secure the execution of any treaties, agreements or undertakings which His Britannic Majesty is under obligation to see carried out in respect of 'Iraq. The British Government does not propose to press the 'Iraq Government to conclude these special agreements

at the present moment when it is fully occupied with the ratification of the Treaty and the four subsidiary agreements mentioned above, and when it may not have developed fully the machinery for carrying out the international obligations by which, like other independent Governments, it will eventually be bound.

His Britannic Majesty's Government is, therefore, prepared to rely on the 'Iraq Government to carry out its obligations under Article X of the Treaty in due course when the proper time arrives. It is, however, desirable that the High Contracting Parties should be agreed now as to the treaties and agreements which are referred to in Article X, both to avoid any question arising in the future and to enable the Minister to answer any questions which may be asked in the Constituent Assembly as to the scope of Article X.

His Britannic Majesty's Government consider that the following are the Treaties, Agreements and Undertakings referred to in Article X, and, if the 'Iraq Government agrees, I should be glad to receive an official reply notifying the Government's concurrence :

The Covenant of the League of Nations.

The Treaty of Lausanne.

The Anglo-French Boundary Convention.

The San Remo Oil Agreement, and,

Any other general international agreements already existing, or which may be concluded hereafter with the approval of the League of Nations, in respect of the following:

The Slave Trade.

Traffic in Drugs.

Traffic in Arms and Ammunition.

Traffic in Women and Children.

Commercial Equality.

Freedom of Transit and Navigation (as soon as local conditions allow).

Aerial Navigation.

Postal, Telegraphic or Wireless Communications and Measures for the protection of Literature, Art or Industries.

The documents referred to have all been made public and I shall be glad to furnish any further information which the Government may desire to have.

The Prime Minister of Iraq to the High Commissioner for 'Iraq.

DEAR SIR HENRY,

SECRETARIAT OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS,

BAGHDAD,
10th July, 1924.

With reference to your letter, dated the 26th March, 1924, and in view of the Council of Ministers' two resolutions adopted at the meeting of the 26th May and the 26th June, respectively, which resolutions have been approved by His Majesty the King, I am now able to inform Your Excellency that the 'Iraq Government has accepted the Agreements, Treaties and Obligations referred to in Article X of the Anglo-'Iraq Treaty