867N.01/8–2245: Telegram
The Chargé in Iraq (Moose) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 23—9:10 a.m.]
316. Local group of Arab nationalists gets into acute state of nerves whenever problem of Palestine, i.e. Zionism, is brought up. This group includes majority of Arab city dwellers of Iraq, literate Arabs, and ruling classes. It contains all Iraqi party leaders, right or left, of whatever racial origin, and is not an issue of local partisan politics. For practical purposes, Zionism has no local supporters. Whatever part of the population does not enthusiastically support Arab nationalism is apathetic. For example, Bedouin Arabs, village Arabs and Kurdish and Turcoman minorities know little and are little concerned about Palestine, though their Moslem background makes them sympathetic to Arab and therefore Islamic aspirations. Excitable group, however, is in charge of machinery of state and its importance is all out of proportion to its numbers. If so minded, it can easily rouse ignorant tribesman and villager to violence, and can direct violence against Jews or wherever else it wishes.
Besides fundamental causes of Arab nationalism, nationalists feel that there is overwhelming urgency now, just after end of hostilities, to do something. They critical time when they can lose Palestine, or perhaps wider area of Near East, to Zionists. This belief has origin in American and British references to settlement in Palestine “after the war”, in uncompromising Zionist statements, in belief that Zionists are accumulating arms in Palestine, in conceit of [Page 726] Arabs who attribute to their own efforts rebuffs to French in Lebanon I in 1944 [1943?] and in Syria in 1945,21 and in natural desire to try out; efficacy of brand new Arab League22 about which they talk so much.
Rabid nationalists have little sense of proportion and usually concern themselves with Palestine and Arab rights to greater extent than with Iraqian rights. They accept program of their group as article of faith rather than as matter subject to reason; and make little use of the many good points which can be adduced in support of Arab claims. They freely predict bloodshed over Palestine, and attribute blame therefore to United States, British or Zionists, but never to Arabs. Anyone not also vocal Arab nationalist is regarded as potential Zionist or Zionist sympathizer; and any statement short of unqualified endorsement of Arab pretensions in Palestine is likely to be target for critic against the President’s statement of August 16 (re Department telegram 254, August 18, 3 p.m.23 and Legation telegram 309, August 20, 7 p.m.). Similar outbursts have followed previous declarations, but Arab nationalist tempers are shorter now than they were formerly. Current month of fasting (Ramadan) does not help.
One Government has pursued policy which has been notably successful here. It has made no declarations of policy or preference, and Arab nationalists look on it as being sympathetic. That Govt is USSR. It has greatly increased its influence in Iraq by refraining from declaring its position in Palestine. Trend among extreme nationalists is to look to Soviet Union for help against Zionism and nations sympathetic theoreto. Soviet Union’s secret weapon hereabouts has been its ability to maintain silence, and this weapon has been effective in building up good will and considerable measure of influence while retaining for USSR full liberty of action.