مجموعة ١٠/١٧(١) "شؤون داخلية: الوضع السياسي؛ العلاقات مع الحكومة البريطانية" [ظ‎‎٤‎٠‎٨] (٩٨٢/٨٢١)

11th September, in the presence of a special session of the Senate and Chamber
of Deputies, King Ghazi again took the prescribed oath of loyalty to the Organic
Law, and the constitutional formalities of his accession were thereby completed
5. The death of King Feisal has naturally come as a great shock to everyone
in Iraq, and the processions of mourners which have daily thronged the streets
of Bagdad since the news of his demise was received testify to the grief which
his passing has stirred in the hearts of the people. In political circles wher^'
his shortcomings were realised and often severely criticised, his death has brought
with it a keener appreciation of the great work which he accomplished, and a
fresh proof of the old adage that water is not rightly valued until the well runs
dry. It is realised that King Feisal’s death has left a gap in the political life of
the country which will never, perhaps, be filled. It was he who founded the Iraq
State and who guided it through the many perplexing difficulties which have been
encountered during the twelve years of his reign, and those whom he has left to
carry on his work are beginning to appreciate more fully the great burden of
heavy responsibility which he bore. It was King Feisal’s skill and political
subtlety which enabled him to hold the delicate balance between Sunni and Shiah
and through his profound understanding of the Arab mind he was able to deal
with his turbulent tribal chieftains with a marked degree of success The new
King has neither the training nor the experience to fit him to continue this work
and there is, I fear, a danger that a Government in which a Sunni Effendi
element is always likely to predominate may fail through want of sympathetic
understanding either to conciliate the Shiahs or to control the sheikhs as success
fully as the late King. In internal political circles the loss of his guiding hand
will also be acutely felt. In spite of the faults inherent in his highly-strung and
imaginative temperament, his noble birth and his romantic leadership of the Arab
cause placed nim in an exalted position which commanded respect; a position
above the local party rivalries and personal jealousies of the country from which
he could and did, m a very great measure, rule as well as reign. His successor
f n r kp 0me yea ^ S an y rat T w ] n *? ave t0 P^y a less influential role, and it remains
to be seen whether, deprived of King Feisal’s control, the governing class will
have the wisdom to subordinate party feeling to the interests of the cSuntry.
r a fi 18 Ma J est y s death will also bring about a big change in the nosition
fao S W Lt”* ^ Iraqi HitLto B^ti^epksenU
all matters cnt<hrlp’tif 1 6 ma i n ’ exercis ®d their influence on the Government, in
iilte“course with f-° pe ° f T° rl ? al relat , 10ns > through friendly and confidential
relations with the fV 11 ^ utule they will have to rely on more direct
either bv netnasinnT nment ’ 811106 14 ,S Unlikel y that Kin g G haz i will be able.
Ministers. At orislnt k P p S t Ure ’ to exert much effective influence upon his
the same close touch i 6 upnet seem to be genuinely anxious to ensure that
been 8 spwiiaihf remiestcrMf Wltk the Em bassy as in the past, and I have
myhremrent visl^f^o ^hL ‘P L™* Minister and by Yasin Pasha to continue
found that the death nf aC T? ^ an fi c ip a te that as time passes it will be
effective means whth h. ^ F eisa l will deprive the Ambassador of the most
of the Iraqi Government. & ^ ^ dlsposal of g md mg unobtrusively the policy
none^of his v^ded^xo^rienPp^h tdrone of his father’s glamour and
aporeciation of the nn^ihi'l v’ n 1 eW c.^ 111 ^ 18 not a factor to be ignored in an
tcLhow sfgL ofe future. Though young, he isLid already
character of those whn^n'n r V e ^ °P mi onated, and much will depend on the
to a great extent been mnnl i over the present his views have
his companions, and though hL U'f 116 - voun S.°th cers °f the army, who have been
and keen cavalry officer^ th S mdl tary training has made him a plucky horseman
sufficient equipment for nnp e , fi^hties and ideals of a beau sabreur are not
Mol of thelrm^re is exposed If t0 S1 ‘ securel y on th e Throne of Iraq. As the
lead him to disregard thP A f n iasi dious temptation to vanity that may well
and experience 8 wnfbrincf him ffl 8 m6n ’ but 14 is to be bo P ed that time
flattery which is the worn enemy of Eastern^ infs arm ° Ur that W ° rthleSS
„ the future is neces^rdi frUi r gs :
oi tne new King the on hi ip or, ? ^ uncer tainties, but the personal assurances
revealed to me in private bv p>r t ine Minister, the confidences
all point to a present resol vp Tp 111 il as j ia and the tone of the semi-official press
relations with Great Britain I tde cont inuance of close and friendly
at Britain. I bel.eve that even the extremist politicians realise