'File 11/44 Leading Personalities in Iraq, Iran & Saudi Arabia' [‎32v] (64/96)

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His Majesty’s Ambassador in eradicating pro-Nazi
propaganda in Iraq and it was due to his initiative
that Iraq declared war on the Axis Powers in
January 1943.
In the summer of 1943 Nuri Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. visited Egypt
to discuss Arab unity with the Egyptian Prime
Minister Nahas Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. . He also went to Syria and
Palestine for talks with Arabs there. He remained
Prime Minister throughout 1943, but there were
many changes in his Cabinet, and he formed his
ninth Government on the 25th December, 1943.
Resigned in June 1944 wdth his whole Cabinet
after an unedifying brawl in the Chamber between
some of his supporters and the Opposition, which
convinced him that he did not enjoy the Regent’s
confidence and support. In any case he was tired
and needed a rest. Accompanied the Regent on his
travels in America and Europe during the summer of
1945.
In July 1945 he was elected President of the
Senate.
In April 1946 he negotiated a treaty between Iraq
and Turkey covering economic and commercial
matters but the Tawfiq Suwaidi Cabinet which had
come into power during the negotiations wished to
recall him on the ground that he had gone too far.
When he returned he contrived, with his usual
ability to have all his actions sanctioned retro
spectively, and the treaty was accepted.
During the summer he went to London wuth the
Regent and then returned to Syria and Turkey in
the hope of arranging an understanding, and perhaps
a treaty, between the two countries.
He refused to represent Iraq at the Palestine
conference partly through jealousy of Azzam and
partly because, having been one of the negotiators
who obtained the 1939 White Paper, he feels it
beneath his dignity to attend a conference whose
point de depart is its abrogation.
Nuri Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. is still amazingly youthful and
vigorous, both in mind and body, and is likely to
remain for some years one of the few Arab states
men with an international outlook and an inter
national reputation.
He again became Prime Minister after the collapse
of the Cabinet of Arshad-al-Umari in the autumn of
1946. In this position he missed no opportunity to
declare that the long-postponed elections would be
free and neglected no step to ensure the return of
his and the Palace’s nominees. Still incomparably
the ablest Iraqi politician, he has gained no affections
from the others by this display of his superiority in
intrigue and manipulation.
He refused to form the new Government himself
on grounds of health, but is thought by many, not
altogether correctly, to be the real power in Saleh
Jabr’s Government.
He accompanied His Royal Highness on his
European trip and was selected to represent Iraq at
the U.N.O. General Assembly on Palestine.
99. Rafail Petrus Butti
Born Mosul 1901. Christian. Journalist and
editor. Educated at the Syrian Orthodox School,
Mosul, and at a secondary school in Bagdad, he
graduated from the Law College after extra-mural
studies in 1929. He entered Government service
as a clerk in the Ministry of Interior on the recom
mendation of Razzuq Ghannam, for w’hose paper
El Iraq he contributed articles. He himself also
published a weekly magazine El Huriyeh which was
violently anti-British but which also criticised the
Administration for subservience to the British
Advisory and Inspectorate staffs. There is no doubt
that he received encouragement and support for this
as part of the general propaganda campaign for the
termination of the Mandate. He over-stepped the
mark in 1927 when, after a particularly venomous
attack on the British Inspector-General of Police,
British policy and the Government, he w’as dis
missed. Within a few weeks, however, he was given
a better job in the Ministry of Interior as Translator.
Here he was comparatively safe. He remained so
employed until he graduated from the Law College
when he resigned and in partnership with Jebrun
Melkun published El Bilad. Until the conclusion
of the Anglo-Iraq Treaty he backed his patron,
Nuri el Said; then he switched over to Nuri Pasha’s
chief opponent, Yasin Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. el Hashimi and the t
Hizb el Ikha el Watani and became a constant and
bitter critic of Nuri and his pro-British policy. This
was his first change of raiment: there were others,
viz., 1921-23, Nuri el Said. 1923-29, mainly Nuri el
Said, but occasionally el Hashimi. 1930-35, Yasin
el Hashimi and Rashid Ali. 1936-37, Bekr Sidki.
1937, he toadied to Jamil Madfai after the murder
of Bekr Sidki, but el Madfai would have nothing to
do with him and, when his paper became abusive,
suppressed it for a year. 1938-42, Rashid Ali.
1942-43, Interned. 1943-45, Rashid Ali when he
dared. 1946, anti-British.
He has been a Deputy on two occasions, first in
1935 for Mosul and secondly in 1939 for Basra. He
was rabidly anti-British both in Parliament and in
his paper but his seat in Parliament protected him
until July 1942 when in a clear up of probable Fifth
Columnists he was interned. Within a short time he
whined, said he repented his folly and asked for
release. In spite of every opposition he was released
in July 1943, but on conditions. These he respect|^^v
more or less, and in January was permitted to restart
publication of El Bilad. Censorship prevented a
good deal, but the cloven-hoof showed occasionally
and called forth reprimands. As soon as the war
ended and the internment camp was cleared, he
came forth with all his old-time venom. Recently,
for reasons at present unknown, he suddenly removed
himself to Egypt whence he wrote saying that he
intended to take up permanent residence in that
country. His wife sold up the house and furniture
and has joined him. He still owns El Bilad although
he has for the moment leased it at a monthly rental
of ID. 25 or ID. 30.
Butti is probably the most capable of the Iraqi
journalists and is curiously fearless in his comments.
Since he first came to notice he has been bitterly
anti-British and anti any Government or Politician
whom he considers to be in any way favourable to
Britain or British policy. It has been suggested that
this is a phobia the result of extreme disappointment
at not obtaining preferment as a Christian on
occupation by British forces. This has been
observed, although in a lesser degree, in other
Christians—particularly of Mosul—of about his age.
The real reason for his presence in Egypt is as yet
unknown, but it has been suggested that it is not
unconnected with Iraqi interests in the Arab League.
It is probable that he could be induced to support
any policy for a consideration.
100. Rashid Ali-al-Gilani
Sunni of Bagdad, born 1892. A distant relation
of the Naqib. In Turkish times was a clerk in the
Waqf Department. Fled to Mosul with the Turks
on the capture of Bagdad, and after the fall of Mosul
practised as a law’yer. In May 1921 he was appointed
a judge in the Court of Appeal. His work as a judge
won him the good opinion of his advisers. Was
appointed Minister of Justice in Yasin Pasha’s
Cabinet in 1924. Resigned over the signing of the
Turkish Petroleum Company’s Concession in March
1925, which, at Yasin Pasha’s instigation, he strongly
opposed. Became Minister of Interior in the second
Saduniyah Cabinet in June 1925, but resigned almost
immediately on being elected President of the
Chamber of Deputies. From November 1926 to
January 1928 was Minister of the Interior. Re
elected to the Chamber of Deputies in the general
election of 1930. but resigned his seat in March 1931,
in company with Yasin-al-Hashimi, Naji-al-Suwaidi