Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-19
lroq Joins Up

1raq'S declaration of war against
the Axis and its consequent addition
to the roster of the United Nations
is an event Of some Importance.
Materially, it adds little to the STRAIT
egic situation, but psychologically
and politically it is significant in
several respects.
Iraq, formerly known as Mesopo-
tanlia, is geographically quite a
large country, approximately half
the size of Texas. But much of it is
desert, and its population does not
exceed 100000. The habitable heart
of the country is concentrated along
its twin rivers, the TigriS and Eu-
| pirates, much as Egypt is along the
river Nile. But, unlike Egypt, it's
ancient prosperity, dependent as it
was upon elaborate systems of irriga-
ton, has long since vanished, and
its historic capital, Bagdad is only
shadow of the days Of Haroun al
RaShid.
| Nevertheless, Iraq has acquired
new economic Importance through
the development of it's rich oil
deposits, which are piped to the
Mediterranean coasts of neighboring
Syria and Palestine Also, it is the
natural exit for the still richer oil
fields Of Southern Persia through it's
| port of Basra at the head of the
| Persian Gulf. A glance at the map
reveals its strategic role as key
piece in the iigsaw puzzle of the
| Near East.
Down to the First World War, Iraq,
then MeSopotamia, was a neglected
and discontented Turkish province.
Conquered by British arms, it was
assigned to Britain as a League man
date at the peace conference. That
war had aroused the nationalistic
aspirations of its Arabic inhabitants,
and after rebellious interIude those
desires were satisfied by the termina-
ton Of the mandate and the recogni-
ton OF Iraq as a sovereign state in
1882. The country was fortunate in
having an able monarch in the per-
son of King Feisal, stanch friend
| of Britain, who concluded close
treaty of alliance with the British
government
Unfortunately, Feisal soon died
and was succeeded by his son, who
lacked his fathers ability. Still more
unfortunately, the new ruler likewise
died in an automobile accident on
the very eve of the present war, leav-
| ing a son only four years old. This
meant a regency, fought over by
ambitious factional leaders who had
already begun to get out of hand.
Even before the war, the Axis Powers
had begun to fish in the troubled
waters of Iraki politics. Before long,
a pro-Axis government took office
which fiirted openly with the Axis
| after the fall of France in the sum-
mer of 1910 laid Syria open to Axis
penetration and threatened Britains
entire position in the Near and
Middle East. The trouble came to
head the following spring, when
British troops, acting under treaty
rights, entered Iraq, defeated the
pro-Axis regime after stiff fighting,
and installed pro-British govern
ment in its stead. The situation was
further assured by the Anglo-Rus-
sian occupation of neighboring Iran
(Persia) whose attitude had likewise
been dubious, and still later by Brit
aims expulsion of the Vichy French
regime in Syria.
These events closed the door to
effective Axis penetration and in
sured British military supremacy
throughout the Near East. Never
| thelesS, German prestige still i'm
pressed those Oriental peoples, al
ways susceptible to the argument Of
force. 1t has taken the recent Axis
defeats in North Africa and in Russia
to convince the Irakis and others
that the United Nations are going to
win the war. and that it might be
wise to come out openly on the
victors' side.
This the Iraki government has
done. 1t is the first Arab state
fully to join the United Nations.
Thereby, IraQ is entitled to seat at
the peace settlement, besides bene-
fitting economically through lend
lease and in other ways. "A Near
Eastern rush for the band wagon
may have started.