When the coup d'état in Iraq was effected last month, and Rashid Ah seized power, a situation was created which was immediately recognized as grave. His assurance that he would abide by the Anglo-Iraq Alliance deceived no one, for he was well known as a German agent. Consequently, it was not surprising when the British moved into Basra for the purpose of protecting their in= terests. Obviously Hitler's design is to make the British position in the Middle East more dim cult and already he' has created a situa~ tion which will necessitate firm handling, It has been rightly said that if Hitler had been in the British position Rashid Ah would doubtless have been liquidated by now, but the British policy seems to be at present to protect its own position and await the organization of the strong section of: Iraq opinion, which opposes Rashid Ah and his followers, into a movement to throw out the usurping' Government, That, should not be impossible, especially with British assistance, and it would be a much better line to take than throwing substantial forces into Iraq which is precisely what Hitler wants, That there will be a heavy drain on British resources in the Middle East may almost be taken for granted, but the speed with which the British moved clearly indicates that they were well alive to the potentialities of the situation. It may be doubted whether the declaration of a holy war by a usurping Gov-jemment will meet with much response throughout the Moslem world, especially when the opposing elements in Iraq itself would refrain from joining it, This entry of an illegal Iraq Government into the war against Britain is highly significant for Tw key and Syria on both of which Hitler hi designs. Turkey can be subjected to a squeeze by Germany, Russia and_ possibly Iraq which may prove exceptionally embar~ rassing, But Hitler is out for oil first. His need for it is becoming desperate, and while the cutting of the pipe lines from the Mosul and Kirkuk oilfields, depriving Britain of very valuable of! supplies in the eastern [Mediterranean, would in itself amount to a major success the securing of those supplies for himself would be even greater.
As the "Daily Mail" rightly says this is no time for kid-glove methods. If force is necessary to bring Iraq into the line her egal Government pledged her to, then force must be used, If it is necessary to destroy the Mosul and Kirkuk ollfelds to prevent their produce falling into enemy hands, they must be destroyed and kept destroyed, The movement of British troops from Trans~ Jordania to Haifa indicates that, should the Germans make any attempt upon Syria, Bri~ tain will strike on their flank. What seems: most probable at the moment is that the Germans will seek to drop substantial parachute troops in Syria and Iraq for the purpose of cutting the two pipe lines running to Tripoli and Haifa, The length of, those two all ducts suggests that it may prove very dificult to maintain effective protection over them, and from that point of view they are very vulnerable, The situation of Turkey will naturally arouse some anxiety until the position is clarified, There are signs that Germany and Soviet-Russia may have some secret under standing for another territorial grab at the expense of the Turks, who for the time being are as completely surrounded as were the Poles when Hitler invaded their country. The Turks even at this late hour announce their determination to defend their interests wherever they may be menaced. They mi conceivably obtain some respite while the struggle for the Iragt oilfields is decided, but that they will in turn be attacked seems now: to be a foregone conclusion' It appears to be only a question of time, unless Britain can foil German machinations in Iraq, which may be difficult but should not prove impos~ sible, A reverse to the Germans in this part of the world would be just as, bad for them.
one would be for the British. The latter will not occur if the British continue to move with the rapidity and the firmness, they are displaying at present,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.