mae A virtual military dictatorship has been established in Iraq following the coup d'etat, accomplished' without Dloodshed, in Baghdad, the Iraquian The man behind the scenes fs Gen. Bekr Sidky Bey, an ambitious and strong militarist, whose name does of appear in the list -of. Cabinet appointments.
The coup is believed in well informed circles here to be due to divergencies over the enforcement of military conscription-upon the nomad tribes in Iraq. Sidky Bey wanted to stamp out the revolt of the Shia tribes in the Euphrates and demanded an army and capable reinforcements, for which conscription was necessary.
"The Government under Gen, Yashin Hashimi, however, adopted a more moderate attitude, refusing to press the issue, Ruthless Methods Favoured is" anticipated that the new' Cabinet formed by Hikmat Salaiman will enforce a general conscription law, It 0, there is likely to be trouble, as all, tribes are opposed to such a' step."
Sidky Bey is known to favour ruthless methods. It. is believed that, if trouble develops, it will divert. attention from the Pan-Arab issue in Palestine. On the other hand, If the Iraq' tribes revolt, there isa Ukelthood that it will Tead to general unrest in the Middle East, Hikmat Salaiman's government, shortly after taking attlee, expressed friendly relations with Great Britain, and it is not anticipated that any aggressive movement against other powers is contemplated, According to despatches from Baghdad, only the resignation Gen. Yashin Hashimi's Cabinet prevented a march ov the capital by troops of the Iragui army, who were '70. miles Yor their annual monquvres.
Pamphlets were dropped on wnghdad by army aeroplanes, signed by Gen, Bekr Sidky Bey, demanding the Cabinet's resignation. They declared that the army had lost Fatleace with' members of the Cabinet, who were accused of looking ster their own Jaterests to the ex lusian of those of the public, Four warning bombs were subsequently dropped by military aeroplanes which flew over the city. One man was seriously injured and 4 score were taken to hospital sutfering from shock and minor injuries.
The resignation of the Washimi Cabinet was announced a few hours after the ra Salaiman, the new Premier in a manifesto to-day, requested th All shops were shut yesterday, but the city was quiet, Normal conditions are expected to be restored to-day. Reuter.
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