Coll 17/10(4) 'Internal: political situation; relations with HMG' [‎376r] (751/1031)

7
Nuri-al-Said.
After a general reference to recent events in Iraq, Nuri-al-Said wished the
meeting was in camera in order that he might speak with greater freedom and
then proceeded as follows, referring to the speech of Naji-al-Suwaidi :—
41 His Excellency (Naji-al-Suwaidi) opened his speech by ascribing the cause
of the crisis to the failure to break off relations with the Italian Government.
Gentlemen, I assure you that the question of breaking off relations with the
Italian Government was not the direct cause of that violent crisis
When, in June last, Italy entered the war, we discussed at the Council of
Ministers the advisability of proceeding slowly about the breaking-off of relations
with Italy, on two grounds : firstly, the collapse of France, following which it
was difficult to appraise the position of Britain, and, secondly, the desire on our
part to ascertain the attitude of the Egyptian and Turkish Governments. So
we decided to wait for a while until the situation created by France’s collapse
had been cleared up and the attitude of Egypt and Turkey had become clear.
Accordingly, to speak of the non-breaking-off of relations with Italy as having
been the direct cause of the crisis is incorrect.
During the six months which followed that decision nothing arose between
the British Embassy and the Iraqi Government of a nature suggesting that any
problems had arisen on account of the said decision. The crisis had existed long
before that date. During the course of last summer we made attempts at solving
these crises, undertaking for the purpose several journeys by air and rail. These
crises, however, had nothing to do with our relations with Italy or any other
country, nor with any interference on the part of the British Embassy, as some
believe or claim.
Gentlemen, Iraq’s relations with Britain are relations of allicmce, determined
by treaty, and, contrary to the views advanced by some, Iraq cannot adopt an
attitude of neutrality so long as the Treaty of A lliance stands and is not denounced
or altered by either party. It is not right that we should impress upon public
opinion the wrong idea that we are neutrals. The treaty defines our obligations
in time of war as well as in time of peace, and in the war our country is a non
belligerent State.
It is true that we are an independent State and that every such State can
dispose of its affairs as it likes. But should the fact that we are conscious of
our independence induce us to neglect thinking about our interests, instead of
acting to remove such harm as our country may suffer and to promote further
its welfare ?
If we find that certain activities calculated to create for us difficulties with
our Ally are incompatible with our general policy, we should take steps to
suppress such activities. An independent country must discharge its respon
sibilities at a time such as the present and the leaders of such country must
enlighten public opinion and not allow it to grope about in darkness. If any man
among the men of Iraq has any new policy, other than the one just alluded to,
and he believes it to be in the interests of Iraq, then let such man boldly and
courageously reveal that policy of his. / have not, however, come across or heard
of any man in Iraq, whether in a place of responsibility or otherwise, who differs
from the one commonly held view that Iraq must maintain the policy of alliance
with Britain and avoid any act likely to prove detrimental to that policy and,
ultimately, to the interest of Iraq.
Being as we are all agreed upon that course of policy, it only remains for us
courageously and frankly to follow it, affording no opportunity for action by
those wishing to play foul with the country's destinies.
Gentlemen, so much for our relations with the British Government.^ As
regards present policy and the immediate future, by which lattei term I lexei to
the time when the present war is over, I am among those who believe that the
present world situation affords a great opportunity for all peoples, particularly
small ones, to obtain a larger measure of justice than they were able to obtain in
the past. It would appear to me that “ matters ” [sic] will no longer remain in
the hands of one nation or of a limited number of nations, but that all the nations
of the world, including the peoples of the American Continent, will enter the held.
We must, therefore, seek to prepare for ourselves conditions better than those in
which we have lived in the past and secure for ourselves a greater position than
that we were able to secure in the past ....