867N.01/1712
The Minister Resident in Iraq ( Knabenshue ) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 16.]
Sir: I have the honor to give below a summary of recent comment in Iraq on the developments in Palestine.
Al-Istiqlal of March 26, 1940, gives the text of a letter sent by the Grand Mufti to the London News Chronicle, in response to its inquiry as to his attitude towards the recent land transfer regulations promulgated in Palestine. This article may be summarized by stating that the Grand Mufti expresses complete dissatisfaction. This letter has, in all probability, been reported by the Embassy in London, but a copy of it is enclosed,14 as it may differ in some respects from the version published in London, which was subject to censorship.
An interesting sidelight on the attitude of political exiles from Palestine now residing in Baghdad is given by Abdul Razzak, leader of the [Page 842] Palestine rebellion, who called at the Legation in connection with his desire to send his brother to the United States for graduate study. When it was remarked that conditions in Palestine seemed to be much more quiet in recent months, he replied succinctly, “That’s because I’m here.” His attitude regarding the land transfer regulations was essentially that of the Grand Mufti, namely that the Jews already possessed all of the good land, and that the regulation prohibiting further transfers would offer no solution for existing problems.
The then Prime Minister, and present Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nuri as-Said, made a statement regarding Palestine during the debate on the budget of the Foreign Office on March 29. While making no comment on the land transfers, he remarked, “I should like to point out once more, in the name of the Iraqi Government, the Iraqi Nation, and the whole of the Arab world, that the only way to settle the present difficulties in Palestine and Syria is to establish self government and independence in both countries.” A translation of the complete statement is enclosed.15
The Iraqi Government has, through the Chamber of Deputies, made a further practical contribution to the Palestine Arabs in the form of a grant of I. D. 6,000 for the relief of distress in Palestine. This is in addition to an earlier contribution of I. D. 6,000.
The reaction of the Jews in Baghdad has not been particularly evident, and one gathers from conversations with local Jews that they regard the land transfer regulations as a logical outcome of the White Paper, and a matter which does not particularly concern them.
Respectfully yours,