مجموعة ١٧ / ١٠ (٤) "شؤون داخلية: الوضع السياسي؛ العلاقات مع الحكومة البريطانية" [ظ‎‎٨‎٨] (١٠٣١/١٧٦)

and, Great Britain and her Allies, on the other. The war has since so spread
that it has attained its present degree of magnitude.
The right policy that should have been adopted by all States—particularly
those that are small and recently created—was to denounce and, resist any
aggressive policy pursued by any bullying Power. Had all the States of the world
combined, before the outbreak olt the present war, and agreed that each one would
join in opposing any armed aggression even if the State attacked was a distant
one unconnected with them by special ties or interests, we should not have recentl)/^
witnessed one State after another losing their independence and becoming victims
of aggression, with all the sufferings and evils entailed thereby. Events have
proved that to be indifferent to aggression is to encourage it and to allow it to
expand and spread until in time it attains its climax.
The Axis Powers, who did so much harm to Iraq by encouraging and nourish
ing the elements of weakness therein, have gradually put into execution their
aggressive plans and have succeeded in widening the scope of their plans so that
a large number of countries, such as Czechoslovakia, Poland, Yugoslavia, Greece,
Norway Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Siam, and even some parts
of China, Russia, and the possessions of the United States, are now groaning
under the oppressive yoke of Axis occupation. There is clear evidence of the
threat of an early extension of armed aggression to other States and countries at
the first opportunity, and among those threatened are the Iraq State and other
Arab countries where the Axis Powers have indulged in secret and open intrigue
and propaganda for some years past.
Undoubtedly, most of the loyal leaders in those countries now regret their
failure to resist the policy of aggression in its initial stages and realise the folly
of their once cherished belief that they could save their countries from aggression
by being indifferent to the aggressive acts which, as onlookers, they saw being
committed in detail against other States.
Had all the victims adopted at the outset the wise policy of each country
promptly resisting aggression as it occurred to the full extent of her capacity,
the outlook of the present world war would have now been quite a different one
and, perhaps, the leaders and promoters of this aggressive policy would not have
put it into effect.
5. The policy of armed aggression met with a great success at the beginning
of the war and brought destruction upon all the countries which the powers of
evil were able to enter.
In 1940 the Axis victories attained their climax and began to threaten
materially the whole world with the evils of subjugation and destruction.
The policy of treachery and destruction adopted by the Axis Powers caused a
shock of terror and anxiety unprecedented in the annals of history. The world
then turned towards heaven, searching for a ray of hope to enlighten the dark
future. During those hard times and before the United States entered the war,
Mr. Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, and Mr. Franklin
D. Roosevelt met and announced on the 14th August, 1941, the f ‘ Atlantic
Charter,” by which they expressed the common principles underlying the policy
of their respective countries for the guarantee of a happy future when peace,
co-operation and confidence will replace doubt, suspicion and rivalry amongst the
peoples of the world.
The Charter consists of eight articles, of which the second and third ones
specially concern us. They read :—
Second .—They desire to see no territorial changes that do not accord
with the freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned.
Third .—They respect the right of all peoples to choose the form of
government under which they will live, and they wish to see sovereign rights
and self-government restored to those who have been forcibly deprived of
them.
These two articles enlighten the path along which the Arab cause is
advancing. They contain the cures for its complications and sound principles for
the solution of its problems, as well as the means for the attainment of its ideals.
Undoubtedly, these principles will continue to be valid as long as the American
people have unanimously resolved to take part in world affairs under Mr.
Roosevelt’s leadership for the benefit of the American people as well as for that
of the whole world.
The most important factor in shattering the belief of men in international
justice and shaking the spirit of mutual confidence among nations after the last
world war was undoubtedly the withdrawal of the Government of the United