headquarters, proposed to light the road thither by electricity, "like Paris." On being asked how many electric lamps he thought would be necessary, he reflected deeply and replied: "Three: one in the town, one in the village and one half way." Many of the small municipalities have benefited by the transference of the Property Tax to the Government Exchequer, for whereas they profited little by the tax, the reversion to them of 12 per cent. of their whole income, which was formerly a fixed contribution to General Revenues, is a solid gain. 3. The 'Iraq Police. During the period under review great progress was made in the extension of the control of Arab Commandants of Police over Police administration. At the close of 1924, the principle had been introduced in all Liwas except 'Arbil, and in the near future an Arab Commandant will be appointed to this Liwa also. In other Liwas, Arab Commandants assumed full responsibility, including control over accounts. A great reduction has been effected in the number of foreign personnel in the Police Department. The number of British gazetted officers was reduced from 24 to 15. The services of 19 British non-gazetted personnel were terminated, reducing their number to 14, and a large number of Indian clerks and inspectors were dispensed with, their places being taken by Arab personnel. The budget for the year 1924-25 amounted to Rs. 70,54,270/-, and included provision for a force of 3,134 foot and 2,755 mounted police. Although no increase is anticipated during the financial year 1925-1926, the budget will show an increase of one lakh of rupees owing to increased cost of horse rations. The above does not include Sulaimaniya, for which a separate budget has been submitted, amounting to Rs. 1,38,904. This includes provision for 100 police. No difficulty in obtaining recruits has been experienced in any part of the 'Iraq and the force is almost up to sanctioned strength. Health and discipline have been good, although in some cases outstations in charge of Inspectors or Assistant Commandants have shown a remarkable inferiority in discipline to Headquarter Stations where there are British Station House Officers. Great progress has been made in consolidating the position of the Police force throughout the country. Everywhere, improvements have been effected in regard to barrack accommodation. New headquarter police stations are under preparation at Diwaniya, Samawa, and Rumaitha. The building programme for the new financial year includes new police stations at Ba ‘quba, Kut and Falluja and thus ensures that progress will be well maintained. The Police Training School was abolished with effect from 31st July, 1923, owing to financial stringency, but was re-opened with effect from 10th June, 1924, as it was found impossible to do without it. A standardised rate of pay for the whole 'Iraq police was introduced during the year 1923, and this resulted not only in a large saving to government but also in greater efficiency in certain districts and a simplification of the system of accounts. GAZETTED OFFICERS. At the close of 1924 there were 15 British officers in the ‘Iraq Police. During the period under review, six officers left the force owing to the policy of reduction of British personnel. In the current financial year, budget provision has been made for 15 officers and it is the considered opinion of the British Inspector-General that public security will be endangered if further reduction is made. Already in places where there is insufficient British supervision and 'Iraqi officers are insufficiently trained, a marked decline in efficiency is noticeable, and crime has increased. In the last four years, i.e., from 1921 up to date, the cadre has been cut down from 30 to 15 and this in spite of the fact that prior to 1921 there were no ‘Iraqi gazetted officers in the force, and time to train them has been so short. At the end of the year 1924 the strength of 'Iraqi officers was 15 commandants and 24 assistant commandants. In the current financial year the numbers will remain unchanged. BRITISH NON-GAZETTED PERSONNEL. The strength of the British non-gazetted personnel, including railway police, at the end of the year was 14. They are employed in the following Liwas:-Baghdad, Mosul, 'Arbil, Kirkuk, Basra, Diwaniya, and Nasiriya, and in the Railway Police. In other Liwas their duties have been taken over by 'Iraqi inspectors and the progress made in this direction may be gauged from the reductions made in successive years, as below: British non-gazetted personnel are now mainly employed in supervising the training, clothing and discipline of the men and are responsible for the correct working of night patrols and the system of prevention of crime, guards and escorts. British non-gazetted personnel with cavalry training are, moreover, very useful in charge of the Mounted Police, especially in Liwas such as Baghdad, 'Arbil, Kirkuk, Nasiriya and Diwaniya, where there are Government horses. INSPECTORS. The total number of inspectors in the force is now 173, and no increase is anticipated. Indian inspectors and clerks are being gradually eliminated from the force. During the period under review, 9 inspectors and 15 clerks either reverted to India to their substantive posts or were otherwise disposed of. Indian inspectors are now mainly employed in railways and on highly technical work in the Finger Print Bureau. At present there are only eight Indian inspectors left in the 'Iraq Police, and this further shows the extent to which the country is now being actually policed by 'Iraqis. CENTRAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT. Criminal Branch.-In June, 1924, the Criminal Branch was definitely separated from the Special Branch and placed in charge of an 'Iraqi commandant of police under the supervision of the D.I.G., Police (C.I.D.). There has been a great increase in the number of cases handled entirely by the Department, which has, moreover, been of great assistance to the District Police in detection of crime by means of the finger print system and by means of the development and identification of prints left behind by criminals when committing crime. Many important cases were dealt with, including several Customs fraud cases in which over 1 lakhs of rupees were recovered for Government. A big political criminal gang in Baghdad itself was also broken up. Special Branch.-The Special Branch continued to keep Government informed of subversive political movements and intrigues. In addition, a considerable amount of external intelligence work has been done in the frontier Liwas and the work of consolidation and dissemination of information has been carried out. Finger Print Bureau.-Finger Print (Record) Slips on record in the Bureau increased from 11,986 to 21,808. A total of 13,795 Search Slips were received during the period under review which resulted in 1,105 persons being traced as using false names, and 1,856 persons as having previous convictions. There were 18 cases of escaped convicts being traced by means of finger prints. Transactions with foreign bureaux have been as follows:- Search Slips were received from foreign bureaux as under : Indian Bureaux 73 A total of 1,055 Search Slips were submitted by various departments, before employing subordinate personnel, with the result that 124 persons were traced as having been convicted of criminal offences. PASSPORT AND RESIDENCE DEPARTMENT Administration and Organisation. At the beginning of the year Passport Bureaux existed at Baghdad, Basra, and Mosul; and Passport Checking Posts existed at Khanaqin, Ramadi, 'Ana, Abul Khasib, Diaji, Tannumah, Ma'qil and Viceroy-Pier. The last four posts are in the environs of Basra. Owing to the return to normal conditions on the Turco'Iraqian borders, and the consequent resumption of trade between 'Iraq and Turkey, it was found necessary to establish Checking Posts on this frontier, but owing to the shortage of staff it was only possible to establish posts on the main routes. Posts were opened at Zakho and 'Ain Ghazal; the former to check traffic to and from Jazira-ibn-'Umar (Turkey) and the second to check traffic to and from Nisibin (Turkey) and Aleppo (Syria). Steps were being taken to establish a Passport Checking Post at Amadia and other important places on the Turco-'Iraq frontier at the time of the Turkish invasion of the frontier. In consequence of this, these proposals were held in abeyance and instructions were issued to the Passport Checking Post at Zakho to stop traffic to and from Turkey. On the Syrian frontier no changes took place. The unsettled conditions on the northern portion of the Persian frontier prevented the establishment of Passport Checking Posts there. From Khanaqin Passport Checking Post to Basra no posts were opened with the exception of a temporary post at Mandaliya. The latter was established because a number of Persian pilgrims entered 'Iraq by that route to avoid the Persian frontier post at Khosrowi. The inauguration of a motor-car route between Basra and Abadan via Siba in the latter part of the year necessitated the opening of a Checking Post at Siba. No change took place in regard to the checking of sea traffic which continued to be carried out by the Checking Posts at Ma'qil, Viceroy-Pier and Tannumah. Legislation. Although the Passport and Residence Laws were promulgated in July, 1923, up to the present they have not been executed in full as certain amendments were required, and until this was done no administrative rules could be framed. The laws have, however, to a considerable degree been executed in accordance with instructions issued by the Chief Residence and Passport Officer, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Criminal Intelligence Department). Immigration. A Residence Law controls the immigration of foreigners into 'Iraq. British Consular Officers (in Persia and Syria) acting as 'Iraqian Consular Officers, have been guided by "instructions issued by the Council of Ministers for the grant of visas to ‘Iraq. During the period under review 2,936 applications to enter 'Iraq were dealt with. Residence. Section 10 of the Residence Law (requiring foreigners to obtain Residence Permits) was not strictly enforced during the year owing to the non-promulgation of the Nationality Law. One thousand one hundred and forty-five applications for permission to reside in 'Iraq (including applications for local demobilization) were dealt with. One hundred and thirty-two cases of deportation of undesirable aliens were considered. In all cases, with the exception of two (one British and one Turkish Assyrian), deportation orders were obtained. Out of this number one hundred and five were deported; the others will be deported after the termination of their terms of imprisonment. The following is a statement of deportees by nationality:— British British Indians Portuguese Persians Russian Syrians Turkish Afghan 4 The number of passports and visas issued at various Passport Bureaux and Posts is as under : With effect from 1st January, 1924, the system under which Persian pilgrims proceeding to 'Iraq were required to obtain pilgrim passes from His Britannic Majesty's Consulates in Persia was discontinued, and a new system requiring pilgrims to be in (18153) с |