Faisal I of Iraq Read online

  F A I S A L I O F I R A Q

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  F A I S A L I

  O F I R A Q

  A L I A . A L L A W I

  YA L E U N I V E R SI T Y P R E S S

  N EW HAV E N A N D LON D ON

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  Copyright © 2014 Ali A. Allawi

  All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form (beyond that copying permitted by Sections 107 and 108 of the U.S. Copyright Law and except by reviewers for the public press) without written permission from the publishers.

  For information about this and other Yale University Press publications, please contact: US office: [email protected] www.yalebooks.com

  Europe Office: [email protected] www.yalebooks.co.uk

  Set in Minion Pro by IDSUK (DataConnection) Ltd

  Printed in Great Britain by TJ International Ltd, Padstow, Cornwall

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-publication Data

  Allawi, Ali A., 1947–

  Faisal I of Iraq / Ali A. Allawi.

  pages

  cm

  ISBN 978-0-300-12732-4 (hardback)

  1. Faysal I, King of Iraq, 1885–1933. 2. Iraq—Kings and rulers—Biography.

  3. Iraq—Politics and government—1921–1958. I. Title.

  DS79.5.A45 2014

  956.704 1092—dc23'

  [B]

  2013021873

  A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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  The old order changeth, yielding place to new,

  And God fulfils himself in many ways,

  Lest one good custom should corrupt the world.

  Comfort thyself: what comfort is in me?

  I have lived my life, and that which I have done

  May He within himself make pure!

  Alfred, Lord Tennyson,

  Idylls of the King – The Passing of Arthur

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  C O N T E N T S

  Acknowledgements ix

  List of Illustrations xii

  List of Maps xiv

  Key Personalities xv

  Chronology of Events xviii

  Prologue – September, 1933: Death of a King xx

  Part I An Empire Disintegrates: The Ottoman Era (1833–1914)

  1 From the Desert to the Metropolis 3

  2 Return to Mecca 21

  3 Prelude to War 31

  Part II Breaking the Bonds: The First World War and

  the Arab Revolt (1914–1918)

  4 The Road to the Rising 43

  5 The Arab Revolt I: Consolidating the Revolt 70

  6 The Arab Revolt II: Breaking Out 87

  7 The Arab Revolt III: Railroad War 107

  8 To Damascus! 124

  Part III A Shattered Dream: Syria and the Paris Peace

  Conference (1918–1921)

  9 The Rudiments of a State 151

  10 First Footsteps in Europe 174

  11 At the Paris Peace Conference I 192

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  viii c o n t e n t s

  12 At the Paris Peace Conference II 210

  13 The Struggle for Syria 229

  14 The Collapse of the Kingdom of Syria 258

  15 Adrift 295

  16 A King in Waiting 314

  Part IV A New Beginning: Iraq (1921–1933)

  17 From Mesopotamia to Iraq 339

  18 King of Iraq 361

  19 Faisal, Cox and the Rise of the Opposition 382

  20 The Rebellion of the Ayatollahs 410

  21 Assemblies, Treaties, Constitutions 433

  22 Oil and the Mosul Question 450

  23 Struggling to Break Free 471

  24 Towards Independence 488

  25 Vindication at Last 515

  26 A Calamitous End 534

  Epilogue: Faisal the Great 561

  Notes 563

  Index 606

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  AC K N OW L E D G E M E N T S

  The idea of writing a biography of Faisal of Iraq had been germinating in

  my mind since 1998. In that year my father passed away in London and I

  was responsible for editing his papers, which later formed the basis of a book

  of memoirs. My father was the first of his generation of our family to attend a

  school with a modern curriculum, and later to graduate in the first cohorts of

  the newly established Baghdad medical college. His youth and university

  education in the 1920s were spent in the period when Faisal reigned in Iraq.

  His recollections of that period were replete with the sense of unbounded

  possibilities and optimism about the future of Iraq that he and his generation

  felt. He and many others like him enthusiastically took to the challenges of

  building a modern country which, in those days, were inextricably linked to

  the leadership that Faisal brought to this task. Their career paths often led to

  the pinnacles of their professions and to high public office, and would have

  been inconceivable without the modern institutions that Faisal so assiduously

  championed. My father’s respect and admiration for Faisal was mirrored by

  nearly all who shared with him their formative experiences in Iraq of the 1920s.

  My first debt of gratitude therefore goes to my late father, Dr ‘Abd al-Amir

  Allawi, who first kindled my interest in Faisal.

  Closely following are two of my father’s colleagues and friends. They, in

  their London exile, formed the band who, together with my father, were affec-

  tionately known as ‘The Three Musketeers’, elder statesmen of the Iraqi exile

  community who brought caution, foresight and wisdom to the business of

  opposing the regime of Saddam Hussein. They were also products of the

  Faisalian era: patriotic, proficient and dedicated men. ‘Abd al-Ghani al-Dalli

  was a former Iraqi minister of agriculture and ambassador; ‘Abd al-Karim

  al-Uzri was monarchical Iraq’s last minister of finance and an authority on

  modern Iraq’s history. Both were driven into exile after the 1958 revolution

  that did away with Iraq’s monarchy and the kingdom that Faisal had

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  x a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t s

  established. ‘Abd al-Ghani al-Dalli had always spoken of the debt that Iraq

  owed to Faisal, and repeatedly mentioned that Faisal had not yet found his

  biographer. I promised al-Dalli that I would write a biography of Faisal, not

  quite appreciating the scale of the task that I had set for myself. In numerous

  discussions with
‘Abd al-Karim al-Uzri I came to realise that Faisal occupied a

  position of signal importance in the formation of Iraq. He also asked for a

  comprehensive biography of the king.

  Last of this group to whom I owe a debt of gratitude is Muhammed Fadhel

  al-Jamali, the internationally known pedagogue and past prime minister of Iraq.

  His first cabinet in 1953 included a number of talented Iraqis who had grown

  into manhood under Faisal. Though later based in Tunis, al-Jamali’s frequent

  visits to London were the occasion when I had the chance to hear him reminisce

  about the Faisalian era. His son, and my good friend, Usameh, kept reminding

  me of the need for a biography of Faisal, and when I had started on the work he

  often asked about it, keeping me alert to the task at hand. I hope that with this

  book I have fulfilled my promise to all these people and to their memory.

  This book would not have been possible without the support of various

  academic institutions and scholars of Iraq and the Middle East who welcomed

  such a biography. In Britain, I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation

  to the Middle East Centre at St Antony’s College, Oxford University, and to its

  director, Eugene Rogan; at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London

  University, I would like to thank Professor Charles Tripp for his insights and

  for reading the manuscript of the book. In the United States my appreciation

  and thanks go to Professor Roger Owen of Harvard University. His support

  and advice have been invaluable.

  Professor Peter Sluglett of the University of Utah, and now Research

  Professor at the Middle East Institute of the National University of Singapore,

  has been unstinting in his advice and comments. He is deservedly one of the

  leading academic authorities on Iraq and especially on the period covered in

  this biography. I would like to thank him profusely for his detailed remarks and

  his careful reading of the manuscript. At Williams College, Massachusetts, I

  would like to express my gratitude to Professor Magnus Bernhardsson. He

  graciously agreed to read and comment on the manuscript of the book, and

  provided invaluable comments on the socio-cultural setting of the Faisalian era.

  I would like to thank the Carr Center at the Kennedy School of Government,

  Harvard University, for offering me a fellowship for the 2008–2009 academic

  year. It allowed me time to reflect and ponder on the biography, and to use the

  incredible facilities of Widener Library at Harvard. This extraordinary library

  should be classified as one of the national treasures of the United States. My

  thanks also go to Rory Stewart, MP, the then director of the Carr Center, and

  to Charlie Clement, the Carr Center’s executive director.

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  a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t s

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  In Iraq, I extend my deepest appreciation to Dr Saad Eskander, the head of

  the National Library of Iraq. He allowed me full access to the library and

  archives of the country, and to the National Library’s collection of early Iraqi

  newspapers.

  Several people have helped me in researching the book. Ibrahim al-Marashi

  was my first research assistant and helped to trawl the National Archives of

  Britain. Alper Bahadir was my assistant in Harvard and helped to uncover

  Ottoman-era documents at both Harvard and from the Ottoman archives in

  Istanbul. Lamia al-Gailani provided me with rare photos of the period, recov-

  ered from the former Royal Palace in Baghdad. Tamara al-Daghestani provided

  me with photos as well as detailed information about the extended Hashemite

  family. Russell Harris provided me with remarkable photos of Faisal, and I

  would like to thank him for his support.

  Ann and Henry Wilks were extremely generous in sharing with me the

  recently discovered diaries and letters of Sir Henry Dobbs. I reserve special

  thanks for them, and for Patrick Cockburn, who was kind enough to introduce

  me to the Wilks family.

  Lastly, I offer my appreciation and thanks to Sharif Muhammed ibn

  al-Hussain, grandson of King Ali of the Hijaz. Sharif Muhammed has been an

  indefatigable reader of the biography in its various drafts, and his comments

  and observations have always been constructive and apt. He has proven to be

  the true mirror and reliable commentator that any writer needs.

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  I L L U S T R AT I O N S

  1. Young Faisal with brothers and tutor Ahmad Safwat, probably 1895.

  2. Nuri al-Sa’id, Ja’far al-‘Askari and Ali Jawdat as Ottoman officers, 1909.

  3. Faisal with Lowell Thomas, 1917. Courtesy of Lowell Thomas Archives,

  Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY.

  4. Nasib Bakri with Bisha. Courtesy of Lamia al-Gailani.

  5. Faisal and Chaim Weizmann, Aqaba, 1917.

  6. Faisal during the Arab revolt, 1918. Courtesy of Lowell Thomas Archives,

  Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY.

  7. Faisal emerging from the Victoria Hotel, Damascus, 1918. Courtesy, Sami

  Moubayed.

  8. Faisal with Allenby, Damascus, 1918. Courtesy of Lowell Thomas Archives,

  Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY.

  9. Faisal with Captain Pisani, 1919. Courtesy of Lamia al-Gailani.

  10. Faisal with T. E. Lawrence, Nuri al-Sa’id, Rustum Haidar and Tahsin Qadri,

  Paris, 1919.

  11. Faisal, 1919.

  12. Faisal with Anatole France, France, 1919. Courtesy of Sami Moubayed.

  13. Celebrations in Damascus for the coronation, 1920. Courtesy of Sami

  Moubayed.

  14. Lawrence and Amir Abdullah, Jerusalem, 1921.

  15. British troops entering Baghdad, 1918.

  16. Ja’far Abu al-Timmen.

  17. Faisal with Zaid, Baghdad, 1921. Courtesy of Russell Harris.

  18. Coronation as King of Iraq, 1921. Courtesy of Lamia al-Gailani.

  19. Sir Percy Cox © National Portrait Gallery, London.

  20. Grand Ayatollah Abul Hassan al-Isfahani, Najaf, Iraq.

  21. Faisal, with Gertrude Bell and Saiyid Hussein Afnan, Baghdad, 1923.

  Courtesy of Russell Harris.

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  i l lu s t r at i o n s

  xiii

  22. Faisal with his son Ghazi, 1924.

  23. Faisal with Harry Sinderson, 1928.

  24. ‘Abd al-Muhsin al-Sa’adoun.

  25. Sir Henry Dobbs © National Portrait Gallery, London.

  26. Faisal reviewing detachment of Iraqi cavalry, 1929. Courtesy of Lamia

  al-Gailani.

  27. Faisal in London, 1930.

  28. Faisal and Nuri, 1930. Courtesy of Lamia al-Gailani.

  29. Faisal with Askari at the School of African and Oriental Studies,

  London University, 1930.

  30. Faisal, 1930. Courtesy of Cecil Hourani Collection.

  31. Yasin al-Hashimi.

  32. Faisal with ‘Abd al-Aziz of Saudi Arabia on board HMS Lupin, 1930.

  33. Faisal and brothers ‘Abdullah and Ali, Baghdad, 1932.

  34. Official photo of Faisal, 1932. Courtesy of Lamia al-Gailani.

  35. Nuri al-Sa’id.

/>   36. Faisal at celebrations of Iraq’s independence and acceptance into

  League of Nations, 1932.

  37. Unveiling of equestrian statue of Faisal by Italian sculptor Canonica,

  Baghdad, 1932.

  38. Faisal, Jerusalem, 1933.

  39. Faisal with ‘Abdullah, Jerusalem, 1933.

  40. Faisal with Ja’far al-Askari, Gleneagles, Scotland, 1933.

  41. Faisal in Switzerland, 1933. Courtesy of Lamia al-Gailani.

  42. Faisal in Bulle, Switzerland, 1933. Courtesy of Lamia al-Gailani.

  43. Faisal at the racecourse, Berne, 1933. Courtesy of Lamia al-Gailani.

  44. Faisal at lunch, Interlaken, Switzerland, 1933. Courtesy of Lamia

  al-Gailani.

  45. Funeral of Faisal, Baghdad, September 1933. Courtesy of Lamia

  al-Gailani.

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  1 Young Faisal (l) with brothers and their tutor Ahmad Safwat. Safwat later followed Faisal to Syria and then Iraq (Istanbul, probably 1895).

  2 Nuri al-Sa’id (r), Ja’far al-

  ‘Askari (c) and Ali Jawdat (l)

  as Ottoman officers, 1909.

  They were Faisal’s three most

  important Iraqi col aborators

  during the Arab revolt.

  3 Faisal with Lowell Thomas, the American reporter, 1917. It was Thomas (r) who popularised the Lawrence of Arabia image.

  4 Nasib Bakri with Bisha during Arab revolt.

  5 Faisal and Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann, Aqaba, 1917. Faisal was noncommittal but wary regarding Weizmann’s representations on the objectives of Zionism in Palestine.

  6 Faisal during the Arab revolt, 1918.

  7 Faisal emerging from the Victoria Hotel, Damascus, 1918.

  8 Faisal with Allenby, Damascus,

  1918. Allenby was sympathetic to

  Faisal but was bound to implement

  Allied policies in the Arab east.

  9 Faisal en route to England, 1919. Captain Pisani is second from left.

  10 Faisal with T. E. Lawrence, Nuri al-Sa’id (2nd from l), Rustum Haidar (l) and Tahsin Qadri (r), Paris, 1919. Nuri would later become Prime Minister in Iraq.

  11 Faisal, 1919.

  12 Faisal with Nobel Laureate Anatole France, 1919, St Cloud, France. Dr Ahmad Qadri is standing at the front (2nd from l) as is Rustum Haidar (2nd from r).

  13 Celebrations in Damascus for the coronation, 1920.