Evening star., 1948-02-01

Nights"
Iraq is one of the Arab nation!
that have come into being since
World War I. This long belt of ter.
ritory, wedged in between noun.
famous Iran or Persia on the cas-
and the Syrian desert on the west
looks quite large on the map bu
has population of only 3,500,000
Many of them are nomad tribesmen
the settled element being along the
rivers. Neglected for centurie:
under Turkish rule, Iraq is still 6
relatively poor and backward land
though development of its oil re-
sources has brought a measure ol
prosperity, and a modern irrigation
system could revive the agriculture.
wealth of ancient times.
Liberated from the Turks by Brit
ish arms, Iraq started out as Brit.
ish mandate of the League of Ma
tions after World War l. But later
on, Britain recognized Iraq as SOW
ereign state under royal dynasty
descended from the Husseini family
of Mecca, another branch of the
family ruling the Arab state Of
Trans-Jordan, just east of Palestine
Iraq has a parliamentary form OF
government, with cabinet respon-
sible to a Legislature Unfortunately
as in other recently modernized
Oriental lands, these governmental
forms have worked imperfectly
Iraq politics are run by groups and
cliques which tend to crystalline
around personalities rather than
principles. The bulk of the popula-
ton, ignorant and largely illiterate
has only a rudimentary political
consciousness, although the masses
can easily be aroused by demagogic
appeals to their passions and preju-
dices. Lastly, the dynasty has been
weakened by the successive deaths
of the founder, Faisal l. who was an
able man, and his successor, Ghazi,
who was killed in a motor accident
in 1899, leaving a 4-year-old son,
Faisal II, VINO naturally could rule
only under regency.
New Treaty Negotiated
1t is against this background that
the extraordinary happenings of
the past fortnight should be evalu-
ated. On January Is, a new treaty
was signed between Iraq and Brit
ain. This treaty, the result of pro-
longed negotiations, was intended to
supersede the 25-year pact negoti-
ated in 1882, under which Iraq
stood in special relationship to
Britain, particularly in matters of
defense. The new treaty eliminated
several British privileges under the
old pact, such as full control Of air.
bases and joint control of the rail-
ways and the port of Basra. 1t
likewise provided for financial as
sistance and expert British person.
mel for the development of Iraq's
resources and the raising of living
In fact, this was sup
posed to be a model for similar
treaties with the other Arab states,
the aim being to reconcile British
interests with local nationalist sus-
Apparently there was no objection
on the Iraqi side. The draft text
was approved by the Iraqi Parlia-
ment by 98 out OF 1870 votes. 1t
likewise had the regents sanction.
SO the Prmie Minister, Saleh Jabr,
came to Britain and signed the doc
ument with due ceremony and full
Everything seemed to be
settled.
Ratification Stopped
Then, suddenly, as II out of no.
storm clouds rose on the po-
itical horizon. When the news Of
The signing reached Iraq. riotous
broke out in Bagh-
jod opd of Sorno other poiptS
These demonstrations, attended by
oloodshed when police and troops
to restrain the rioters,
we're led by students, who inveighed
against British imperialism" while
similar charges were hurled by op-
position deputies in Parliament.
At first, the Government con-
demned the demonstrations as
inspired. But when