Page 260 - Gertrude Bell (H.V.F.Winstone)

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GERTRUDE BELL
that Faisal should be offered the throne of Iraq. On April nth
Cox wired to Churchill: ‘Long interview with the Naqib of
Baghdad in the presence of Talib.* He reported a conversation
regarding the need to cut military expenditure and the decision
to invite Faisal to the country. The Naqib ‘could not agree that
the Sharif or his family had the slightest claim to concern them­
selves with Iraq and he was confident that FIMG, with its well-
known sense of justice, would be of his opinion*.
‘I replied,* said Cox, ‘that I could not agree with him there; the
Sharif and his family had rendered FIMG valuable services ... and
HMG would not be justified in standing in the way of one of the
Sharif’s sons, if the Mesopotamian people expressed a desire for
him.* There was a final reference to the claim of another candidate,
the Shaikh of Muhammerah, who was openly canvassing for the
throne. Cox and the Naqib agreed that he had no chance of
candidature. Sayid Talib announced that he would continue to
serve his country but that he had no further interest in the ruler-
ship. Churchill, taking a Machiavellian view, suggested several
candidates so as to split the vote in Faisal’s favour. A few days
later, on April 16th, Percival Landon, the Daily Telegraph corre­
spondent, was invited to dinner by Talib to meet the French
Consul and his wife. Among the other guests were Mr and Mrs
Tod, he being a director of the Lynch company which ran the
Tigris ferries and had many other commercial interests; and two
distinguished Arabs, the Amir al Rabiah, a tribal leader from the
region of Kut, and Shaikh Salim al Khaiyun. After the ladies had
retired, Talib made a speech in Arabic. Sayid Husain, Secretary
to the Council of Ministers, sat next to the Daily Telegraph corre­
spondent and translated for him. Talib said that he wanted an
assurance that Britain would remain neutral in the matter of select-
mg a ruler and that he had reason to believe that certain British
officials were predisposed to the Sharif and were trying to exert
an improper influence. He turned to Landon and asked: ‘Do you
confirm what I say?* Landon is said to have replied that he had
the word of the High Commissioner that no improper influence
was being brought to bear. Talib is alleged to have declared that
! he would appeal to King George V, with a view to biased officials
being removed. Landon then said that he should address his appeal
to the High Commissioner, and added: ‘Many British officials
favour the Naqib.* Sayid Husain turned to Talib and said: ‘He’s
got us there.’ Talib is said to have blustered and then remarked: