'Personalities. 'Iràq (Exclusive of Baghdad and Kàdhimain), 1919' [‎106v] (217/318)

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the C.U.P. He met this threat with his usual vigour and by his customary methods
In June his adherents assassinated the Turkish Commandant in the heart of the town
The Turkish authorities were effectually cowed, the Wall was dismissed and in August a
programme of reforms was issued. But these steps did not satisfy the ambitions of Saiyid
Talib. The Arab Committee, which was wholly in his hands, circulated an address amon°-
the soldiers and the Tribes calling on all Arabs to throw off Turkish tyranny and declare
the independence of the 'Iraq. Enver Bey, who was then in power, ordered the arrest of
Talib, but the Wali reported that he was powerless to carry out these instructions, and in
December Talib sent a second threatening address to Constantinople. Enver submitted
to the force of circumstances. The Walis of Basrah and Baghdad were bidden to consult
Talib in all matters, and a high order was conferred on him. Thereat he issued a manifesto
saying that he would henceforth support Ottoman authority. In the spring of 1914 he
was used by the Turkish Authorities to carry on negotiations with Ibn Sa'ud touching the
latter’s position in the Hasa, a province from which Ibn Sa'ud had expelled the Turks
in the previous year, and in August Tala'at informed the British Ambassador in Con
stantinople that Talib was to be appointed Wali of Basrah. Secret instructions for his
arrest had, however, been issued to the Wali of Baghdad, who, to this end, set out in
October, 1914, with a considerable force, arriving in Basrah just after the outbreak of war
with Great Britain. Saiyid Talib had got wind of his intentions and retired to Kuwait
ostensibly with the purpose of completing the negotiations with Ibn Sa'ud. Just before
the war he was negotiating through the intermediation of the Shaikh of Muhammarah
with the British Authorities with a vjew to co-operating with us in the event of \rar
between Great Britain and Turkey, but he put forward extravagant pretensions, and had
not come down to any reasonable terms when war broke out. He had precipitately to
expedite his departure for Najd, whence he went into a voluntary exile in India. Saiyid
Talib is a man between 45 and 50, a heavy drinker and addicted to all the vices of the
East. ^ His constitution has suffered from life-long indulgence in every form of excess
and his restless energy has probably been to some extent diminished. In spite of in
numerable crimes, he still retains among Muhammadan Arabs—especially among those
who have not been brought into immediate contact with him—a high religious position
as the descendant of a sacred house, but it is doubtful whether he would carry any weight
as a political reformer except in exceedingly primitive communities. He has still the
support of many of his former adherents in Basrah, but his reputation among the educated
togo^to Egypt^n 0 ^^ 03 ^ 10617 ^ ° f perSOnal ac q uaintan ce. He was permitted
NAQIB ZADAH OF BASRAH, SAIYID YtlSUF.
Brother of Saiyid Talib. A man of no account, stupid and narrow.
NASIR IBN FAISAL.
MusaT^b Strict Fa rt a !d 1 MUg ?T (Juhaish) now looking after his father’s interests in
lUusaiyib district. It is too early to say whether he is likely to be a success or not. (1918).
nAsir al mAjid.
positFon n of L s”aikh Br T F T 0 turjhwi. miid ’ and a mUCh better man ’ D ° es not want the
nAsir qaraghul, saiyid.
tribaf disputes.* 141 land ° Wner at Da g h irah, Diwaniyah district. Useful as arbitrator in
nAsir ibn thajil.
Sudan. See Amr ibn Suwaif.
nAsir al yasir, hAji.
he is E still S S\.^lFLn a t h u7arYt fi L, B l 'EY “W’ W outlawed,
chain, and Nasir is therefore better Wrn "f , he ch ! ef ruhn g house of the Hach -
prominent man of the tribe 111 ^ an ~ asic ^ a * -^ ap b who is at present the most
NIJRIS AL QA'tlD.
prisoner to Mosul by Muha^m^d Wtha D^eT' 1 ’ ' • ^1 m 5 in the J azirah - Was taken a
able that it became little mre tLn ffLc^ i^ 1 m l 914 ’ kept in a captivit y 50 honour -
tribe. After the occupation of Baghdad h^ ^ ubse< 4 uentl y allowed to return to his.
come in to us and finally went over to the !i esitated fo ^ some tin ie as to whether he should
probably take no other bourse H P , Turks - As he had property near Hit, he could
opinion is in his favour In anneal m" ln when we finall y occupied ‘Anah. Local
avour. In appearance Nijns is a tall, fine-looking man of 45, and would