Page 262 - Gertrude Bell (H.V.F.Winstone)

238 GERTRUDE BELL

of that subsidy if he ever went near Iraq. He finally took up
residence in Munich. Britain, meanwhile, turned to Faisal. As
Churchill remarked to Cox, he represented the last opportunity
for beau geste on Britain’s part. On June 23rd, 1921 Gertrude
wrote: ‘Faisal arrives in Basra today...’ and on the 26th:
‘Yesterday we had news of Faisal’s arrival in Basra and an
excellent reception, heaven be praised. The news came from Mr
Philby whom by a master stroke of policy Sir Percy sent down to
Basra to meet Faisal. I can’t help hoping that Faisal will make a
conquest and that Mr Philby will come back an ardent Sharifian.’
It was a master stroke that was to lead to Philby’s dismissal
within a matter of days. Faisal’s reception was hardly enthusiastic.
The Arab leader of the welcoming procession cried to the crowd,
‘For the sake of Allah, cheer!’
After Faisal’s arrival at Baghdad, with Kinahan Cornwallis, who
had accompanied him from Jidda, Cox learnt that already the
Sharif’s son had been angered by being told that he (Cox) was
indifferent to his claim to the throne and that Philby wanted a
republic in the country. Philby, according to Cornwallis, had
‘stood back’ from the reception committee at Basra and had been
altogether discourteous.
On July 7th Gertrude wrote: ‘Mr Philby came back on Sunday
night [he had gone straight to Hillah where he stayed with the
Political Officer Major Dickson, allegedly suffering from fever]
and interviewed Sir Percy the following morning. Sir Percy told
him to hand over to Mr Thompson. It’s a real tragedy his dismissal
but he has himself to thank. Sir Percy has given him a very long
rope. He sent him down to Basra to meet Faisal in the hope that
the two would come to terms. Mr Philby did nothing but insist
on the merits of Ibn Saud and on his own conviction that a re­
public was what Iraq needed.’ Philby had told Dickson to carry
on with a tour that he had arranged in the district, so that the
Political Officer was not at his post when, soon after arrival,
Faisal went through Hillah on his journey to Baghdad. The
Major’s wife had arrived in the country as a newly wed a year
earlier, and was invited to one of the Khatun’s dinner parties.
She recalled: ‘The other guests were five senior Arab officials,
and most of the conversation in Arabic, but Miss Bell did make
one loud remark in English to the effect that it was such a pity that
promising young Englishmen went and married such fools of
women.’ Violet Dickson never quite forgave Gertrude, but her