TRANSMITTAL OF BAGHDAD PRESS ITEMS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00415R006400180001-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 46
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 9, 2004
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: October 26, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Relea'gr
se 2005192/14; CIA-RDP83-00415R006400180001-0
FORM NO. 51.61A
MAY 1949 CLASSIFICATION
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY 25XREPORT
INFORMATION REPORT CD NO.
COUNTRY Middle East
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQUIRED
Transmittal of Baghdad Press Items
NO. OF PAGES 1
NO. OF ENCLS. 12
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
FOCUN ENT CONTA INS INFORMATION AF FEC TINC THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
E UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT 50
U S C. 31 AND 32 AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR THE REVELATION
OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PRO-
HIBITED BY LAW. REPRODIICTION OF THIS FORM IS PROHIBITED
25X1
25X1
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
The attached material is sent in the belief that it may be of interest:
Daily Reviews of the Baghdad Press, Baghdad, Iraq.
These attachments are of a free classification.
25X1
STAT E
CLASSIFICATION RESTRICTED
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D A I L Y R E V I E
of the
B A G H D A.D F R E S S
Embassy of the U.S.A. Tuesday, October 3, 1950.
Baghdad, Iraq.
KOREA.
"What is next?" inquires Al-Ittihad Ad-Dasturi's political
commentator. The UN forces have crossed the 38th parallel in
Korea. The Soviet maneuver of occupying the whole of Korea has
"bitterly failed." It is unlikely that the Soviet Union
intervenes openly in Korea, because it means world war. However,
she may resort to the use of Communist China; but, this will not
be without risk for the new China has not yet healed its wounds.
The answer to this point will be known in the near future.
Stressing the Communist shrewdness of planning the attack
on South Korea, the paper says that Russia had thrown into the
field a well-trained and well-equipped army in an area to which
only the U.S. attaches much importance, with the prospect of a
ouick victory and dissension among the destern nations. But,
Russia has been outmaneuvered. Her boycott of the UN has proved
to be a big mistake.
Commenting on Chinese Fremier Chou En Lai's warning
against invasion of countries neighboring China, A1-Yagdha says-
that the view?6f the ulashington observers, that this is a threat
only and one which will not be carried out, indicates a "new
stupidity and short-sightedness", because there is a wide
difference betwet;n China, which shares the feeling of the North
Koreans, and Russia, which acts as much as required by her
interests and ambitions.
THE TANGIER CONFERENCE OF THE U.S. DIPLOMATS IN AFRICA.
Sada Al-Ahali says that the Tangier conference of the
U.S. diplomats in Africa was opened yesterday and is to elaborate
on matters already studied by the conferences held at Istanbul
and Cairo. The Tangier conference will deal also with the ques-
tion of the defense of the Middle East, as there is much
American propaganda about it these days; indeed, new Defense
Secretary Marshall conferred about it at the first meeting he
had with the Chiefs of Staff, and the Congress is expected to
send a m litary delegation to study conditions in the Middle East.
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2 - October 3, 1950.
The outcome of the Istanbul and Cairo conference of
the U.S. diplomats in the Middle East was the issuance of the
Tripartite Declaration which restored the partition of the
Middle East into spheres of influence among Britain, France
and the U.S., and the membership of Turkey into the Atlantic
Fact. "Thus," says the paper, "events have proved that the
theme of promoting stability, peace and prosperity in the
Middle East is meant by the U.S. to tie the area to her blocs,
to make it participate in all her military preparations, to
drag it into matters non-related to its interests and inconsis-
tent with world peace, and to make it accept what contradicts
its vital interests, natural rights and national aspirations."
The U.S. wants to exert pressure on some Arab states to
make peace with Israel. Most probably, the U.S. will renew
her efforts in this sense after the said conference, in addi-
tion to trying to expand her influence over Arab North Africa
in agreement with France.
ABDUL RAZZAK AL-DHAHER'S VIEWS ON POLITICAL REFORM.
Ex-Economics Minister Abdul Razzak A1-Dhaher set forth
his views on political reform in an editorial published by
Az-Zaman.
There is unanimous concurrence, says Abdul Razzak Al-
Dhaher, that drastic reform is required in Iraq. Rulers and
subjects talk of it equally. They agree on the defects; but
differ over the method. The ruling class will do everything
which occurs to its mind short of affecting its interests.
The only way to deal with Iraq's problems is that
"government machinery and politics should be based on a sound
and genuine democratic regime, inspired by the Iraqi Constitu-
tion, and that it should be implemented in letters and spirit."
A genuinely representative and freely elected parliament
will avert the need of resorting to tribal, military and
popular coups d'etat. Indeed, the people will be able to bring
to power those they want without shedding blood, like in Egypt
and Turkey.
The arguments of the old school against such a reform
are that this is impractical in tribal areas. On the contrary,
elections will be easier there, as tribesmen will select mem-
bers of the leading family.
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- 3 - October 3, 1950.
THE SAYID ABDUL MAHDI v. FAIQ AS-SAMERRAI CASE.
Al-Umma had charged that Faiq As-Samerrai censured Abdul
11`.~hdi because he, Faiq, was the attorney of Abdul Hussain Al-
Hemeidi and of Haddab A1-Kheiralla. Today, Liwa Al-Istialal
explains these two cases.
The case of Hussain Al-Hemeidi.- In the Shatra Qadha,
a murder occurred. Thirty persons were accused, under pressure
from Sayid Abdul N.ahdi. Some of them were acquitted and others
convicted. Among the acquitted, was Hussain Al-Hemeidi. The
file of the case was forwarded to the Mutasarrif of the Muntafik
Liwa; he approved the court's decision. Then, it was forwarded
to the Ministry of Interior. The Ministry of Interior found some
ground for convicting Hussain Al-Hemeidi; instead of referring
the case to the court after quashing its decisions, it sentenced
him to 14 years for instigating the murder and 5 years for the
attempt at murder, while the authors of the murder were condemned
to 14 years only. The Ministry of Interior resorted to this
action, because the Suwaidi government was resigning and Abdul
Mahdi was afraid that the sentence might be more lenient if
passed when he is out of power.
The case of Haddab Al-Kheirallah.- Haddab A1-Kheirallah
is the cousin of 'iohan Kheirallah. Their enmity is known by
everyone: in Nasiriyah. Mohan instigated Haddab's brothers to
file a suit against the "Sirkals" of Haddab. The decision of
the local authorities was quashed by the Ministry of Interior.
Court hearings were renewed; and he was denied the right to pro-
duce a legal document to prove his case. When forwarded to the
Ministry of Interior, the verdict w~is immediately approved; that
was at the time when Nuri As-Said was selecting his colleagues
for the new govt-rnment. (Liwa Al-Istiglal)
Addressing itself to the Independence Party, Al-Umma
says that the party, which is so low as to accept the f~ct that
Faiq As-Samerrai exploits it for his own purposes, does not
deserve to be answered.
After reviewing the Independence Party's stand on the
Jewish emigration, Faiq As-Samerrai, replying to Al-Umma, says
that the sophisms of Al-Umma cannot cover the big scandals which
are connected with the Jewish emigration and which took place
under the Suwaidi government.
SHORT....
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 Approved For Release 2005(0111
DAILY REVIEW
of the
B A G H D A D P R E S S
Embassy of the U.S.A.
Baghdad, Iraq.
06400180001-0
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Fridays September 15, 1950.
THE CABI'iET STORY.
According to Al-Hawadith and Al-Yagdha, the new cabinet
of Nuri As-Said will be announced on Saturday, September 16.
Al-Hawadith carries a list of the cabinet members, however,
it confesses that it is still not final. Here it is:
Nuri As-Said
Towfiq As-Suwaidi
Saleh Jabr
Abdul Karim Al-Uzri-
Shaker Al-Nadi
Abdul Wahab Merjan
Dhia Jaafar
Majid Mustafa
Khalil Kanna
Hassan Sami Tatar
Omar Nadhmi
Fadhil Jamali
Premiership and act. Interior
Deputy-Prime Minister
Foreign Affairs
Finance
Defense
works and Communications
Economics
Social Affairs
Education
Justice
ALinisters without Portfolio.
MARSHALL' S APPVINTTM jT`T1 1,0 ~)Er'ENSE.
The world) says Sada Al-Ahali, has been surprised by
Johnson's resignation and 1:arshall's appointment to the post
of Secretary of Defense. It does not matter that the Secretary
of Defense changes, because the American public does not approve
of the various Secretaries' appeal for war. Johnson must share
Matthews' desire for "preventive war". What matters is
I"arshall's appointment at this important post at such a time.
Marshall has a strong perm nality and his prestige is
worldwide. Due to his mission to China, Marshall is familiar
with this problem; and in view of his "realistic views, it is
likely that he will influence the American policy and will put
MacArthur in his place regarding Formosa.
In......
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2 - September 15, 1950
In view of Marshall's stand on China, Truman, in the
opinion of A1-Yagdha, will achieve two ends by appointing him
to the Defense, namely to avert a conflict with the Peiking
government and to bring the American policy in line with the
British.
COI+MENTS.
Prompted by the recent Israeli violation of the Israeli-
Jordanian armistice lines, dada Al-Ahali doubts of the usefulness
of Jordan's protest and General Riley's subsequent report, be-
cause the UN did not lend any attention to previous complaints
about such acts of violations. "Tie unquestionable fact,"
affirms the paper, "is that the U1 is partial in dealing with
problems submitted to it... It is being driven by the United
States..."
Commenting on the British rearmament program, Sada Al-Ahali
quotes British Premier Attlee that American assistance will be
needed to carry it out. The paper, therefore, expresses the
fear that the British Labor government will become more subser-
vient to the United :States which will be encouraged to carry on
its disquieting military preparations.
Commenting on the "new Jewish aggression", Liwa Al-Istigr lal
is gratified t _fttEgypt is reported to be giving much attention
to the incidents, and urges that the Jews living in the Arab
states should be accorded a treatment similar to the one of the
Arabs in Israel.
It criticizes the government for having been very lenient
towards the Jews in Iraq. It blames Premier Towfiq As-Suwaidi
for granting passports to wealthy Jews, and attributes it to
his friendship with Moshe Shouhet, the Jewsih Community Chief.
This state of affairs has led some "Arab Moslems" to sell their
consciences to Jews and to forge the signature of the Minister
of Interior. The paper urges that they be severely punished.
SHORT NEWS.
The new Iranian Ambassador-designate is expected to arrive
in Baghdad this afternoon. (Al-Ittihad Ad-Dasturi)
Dates.......
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-3-
September 15, 1950
Dates Association DG Abdullah Al-Qassab is expected to
return in Iraq next month from Europe. (Al-Ittihad Ad-Dasturi)
Syrian Minister of State Hassan Al-Hakim will leave
shortly for Amman and Baghdad. In Amman, he will negotiate
the resumption of diplomatic and consular relations with Jor-
dan. In Baghdad, he will. negotiate a trade agreement. (Al-Nabaa)
The Council of Ministers has approved an ordinance impos-
ing on Andrew Weir the duty of col_l,~cting the export tax on dates
provided for by law No. 14 of 1950. (Al-Nabaa)
The Egyptian government his granted scholarships to
three of the sons of. Mohammed Mahdi Aj-Jawahery. Jawahery has
just returned from Egypt, where he attended the Arab cultural
conference. (A1-Alam Al-Arabi)
In view of the repeated acts of aggression on the part
of Israel, Egypt has got in touch with the other Arab govern-
ments for common measures to treat the Jews living in the Arab
states as Arabs are treated by Israel.
Accordi- to informed sources, which is described as
"very important", the Egyptian proposal has been communicated
to Iraq.
';
.e have learned that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will
provide the Iraqi delegation at the Ur with the latest measures
to counteract the repeated Israeli acts of aggression. (Al-
Akhbar)
Saad Omar, Minister of Education in the out oing Suwaidi
government, has returned from Lebanon. ( z-Zama n)
Saleh Jabr and Abdul Karim Al-Uzri are leaving for
Europe on personal. business trips. (Az-Z