'File 11/44 Leading Personalities in Iraq, Iran & Saudi Arabia' [‎23r] (45/96)

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for Foreign Affairs in 1938 and Acting Director-
General and Director of Political Affairs in 1941.
He was much upset when Dr. Fadhil Jamali was
made Director-General in 1944, leaving him merely
as Director of the Political Department of the
Ministry. On the 21st December, 1944, he joined
the Cabinet of Hamdi al Pachachi as Minister of
Social Affairs. He talks English well, if rather
pedantically, and has always been consistently pro-
British. He has recently married a second wife who
appears in public, which is surprising for a Shia
Since February 1946 has held no post in the public
service. Created C.B.E., for war services, 1946.
15. Abdul Qadir-al-Gilani
Elder brother of Yusuf Gilani. Born Bagdad
1904. Entered Government service 1926, and shortly
afterwards was appointed attache in the Iraqi
Legation in London. While in London he studied at
the London School of Economics. Speaks good
English.
Appointed third secretary at Iraqi Legation in
Cairo 1934. Promoted second secretary 1938. On
many occasions he was in charge of the legation and
maintained excellent relations with the British
Embassy. In Egypt he married an Egyptian girl of
good family and was popular in Egyptian society.
Appointed Master of Ceremonies at the Royal
Palace, April 1940, where he appeared likely to
dkercise a good influence.
' These hopes were, however, disappointed, and he
associated himself closely with his cousin Rashid
Ali when the latter became Prime Minister in March
1941, and during the rebellion led by Rashid Ali in
May 1941. When it collapsed he took refugee in
Persia. After the Allied occupation of Persia he was
arrested by the British forces, and after some
months’ internment in Ahwaz he was sent to
Southern Rhodesia. Was sent back to Iraq with the
other Iraqi internees for trial in April 1944. Tried
in August 1944, he was found guilty of having, in
May 1941, insulted the Queen Mother on the tele
phone. Although he was sentenced to three months’
imprisonment, the Regent intervened and he was
detained in the Police School, Bagdad, and later
transferred to Amara. Released in October 1944.
H as been described as arrogant and selfish, he
certainly gives the impression of being a faux bon-
homme.
During 1946 he and his wife have made determined
J^Torts to return to public life and to win the favour
this embassy.
16. A bdul Qadir-al-Rashid
Sunni of Bagdad, related to the Gilani family.
Born 1894. Speaks English well.
Appointed secretary to the Council of Ministers in
1924 in succession to Hussein Afnan. Remained in
that post, the duties of which he discharged with
noteworthy tact and efficiency, until November 1932,
when he was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs
in Naji Shaukat’s Cabinet. Resigned with Cabinet
in March 1933. Was appointed an assistant manager
in the Rafidain Oil Company in October 1933 and is
now well received in British business circles.
His Turkish wife is one of the most accomplished
women in Bagdad and one of the chief hostesses of
the capital.
He was awarded the King’s Medal for service in
the cause of freedom in 1946.
17. Abdul Razzaq Hussein
Born in Bagdad 1893. Sunni Moslem of a poor
family. Educated in Bagdad and received his
military training in Istanbul. Appointed as officer
in Machine Gun Corns of Turkish army in 1912.
Was captured bv the British in 1915(?) and
iiunrisoned in Cairo Citadel, where he learned to
speak English and, as he savs, to appreciate the
English. Took no part in Arab revolt. Joined Iraq
army on the 15th February, 1924.
Is very pro-British. On the 17th May, 1943, he,
along with eleven other Iraqi officers, went on a tour
of the battle areas of the Western Desert on the
invitation of the Commander-in-chief, Middle East.
As a brigadier he was Director-General of Defence
Affairs, and in November 1944 he was promoted Amir
Liwa, which rank he now holds as Officer Com
manding 3rd Division of the reorganised Iraq army.
Led the Iraqi contingent in the London Victory
Parade in June 1946. Is jovial and fond of gay
parties.
18. Abdul Razzaq al Uzri
Bom about 1890. Shi’ah. A Bagdad lawyer.
Deputy 1931-32. Public Prosecutor in 1932. Sub
sequently held post of Mutessarif of Kerbela and
Diyala. Appointed Minister of Social Affairs by
Nuri Said in November 1942. Ineffective and lacking
in personality, he became a Minister only because no
other eligible Shi’ah could be found.
Lost his portfolio when Nuri Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. reformed his
Cabinet in December 1943. Appointed Mutessarif
of Hillah in August 1944 as a result of Saleh Jabr’s
intrigues. Mutessarif of Bagdad March 1945.
Director-General of Tapu, October 1946.
19. Abdul Wahab Mahmud
Sunni. Born Basra 1909. Brother of the late
Muhammad Zaki Mahmud, a former Minister of
Justice, who was at one time President of the
Chamber of Deputies. Brother-in-law of Ismail
Namiq. Educated Basra and Bagdad, where he
graduated in law in 1932. Reported during the
thirties to hold decided Communist views and to
have distributed Communist propaganda; his house
was raided in 1934, but it was believed that his
brother’s influential position saved him from arrest.
Engaged in anti-Madfai Government propaganda in
1938; toured the Diwaniya tribes in an attempt to
unite them against the Government. Arrested
December 1938 on the orders of Jamil Madfai and
despatched to residence forcee in North Iraq.
Released shortly afterwards when Nuri became
Prime Minister. Deputy since 1939 and rapporteur
of the Finance Committee of the Chamber of
Deputies during 1945. Minister of Finance in the
1946 Suweidi Cabinet.
20. Abdul Wahid, Shaikh
Chief of the Fatlah tribe, son of Haji Sikkar, once
the most powerful sheikh on the Euphrates. Abdul
Wahid cultivates extensive properties on the left
bank of the Mishkab from Abu Sukhair to the
Ibrahim. Throughout recent years he has steered
his course with a view to maintain to the utmost his
political and tribal influence. His support and
loyalty were carefully cultivated by King Feisal. and
all political parties have thought it worth while to
try to make him an adherent.* He has many friends
and many bitter enemies, and is reputed to deal
harshly with his fellaheen Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. .
He was prominent as a leader of discontent in the
Middle Euphrates area in the spring of 1935. working
with Rashid Ali-al-Gilani to overthrow Ali Jaudat’s
Cabinet.
He had much influence during Yasin-al-Hashimi’s
tenure of office, but so abused it that after Yasin’s
fall in October 1936 he was afraid to return to his
tribe.
He was elected to the Chamber in February 1937,
but in July 1937 he was arrested and imprisoned for
fomenting tribal disturbances in Diwaniyah. After
the fall of Hikmat Sulaiman’s Government in
August 1937 he was released from prison, but kept
under surveillance first in Sulaimani and later in
Samawa.
He was permitted to return to his home in July
1938 and elected Deputv for Diwaniyah in June
1939.