THE ASSISTANT POLITICAL OFFICER AT BAGHDAD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3611, 29 May 1923, Page 59

THE ASSISTANT POLITICAL OFFICER AT BAGHDAD.

Somebody has already called Miss Gertrude Lowthian Bell “The Real Ruler of Mesopotamia”; and he is not far wrong in using such a title for this remarkable woman. For hers is a very real power in Iraq when it comes to discussions, decisions, arrangements, and ambassadorial work between the British Government and the turbulent Arab chieftains. If any sheik, any important Moslem, or local “King” wants to know this or that, to suggest this or that, to gain certain ends, or carry out special proposals, you will be safe to say that in most cases he has enough sense to ask what Miss Gertrude Bell thinks of the thing, what her advice or move will be, ere he troubles himself to go

further with it. There is no question in the Arab mind as to who is the dominating power, the most friendly ruler, the British authority best calculated to counsel and help the natives in their troubles, dilemmas, and national a hairs. What the Arab mind makes of the fact that this wisdom and power are lodged in a woman current history does not tell us of the Occident, though, doubtless, in the bazaars of Baghdad much could be heard upon the subject. Miss Gertrude Bell, who had a notable career at Oxford and London Universities ere she went off to the r.ast, bears the official title of “Oriental Secretary to the High Commissioner” ; or, sometimes, “Assistant Political Officer at Baghdad. ’ Bhe might just as well be officially called anything else, for it would as exactly (or as little) express what she really is and what she really does. 1 recollect (says a writer in the World’s Work), talking with Sir Hugh Lowthian Bell, her father, the well-known Middlesbrough ironmaster, about her when interviewing him some years ago for this magazine. He was telling me at that time bow keen his daughter was on her visits to the Arabs anct tribes in Mesopotamia, and how quickly she could pick up any language there and use it almost as well and fluently' as the natives themselves. This is only one of the factors which has stood her in tremendous stead since Miss Bell went out some years ago to Asia Minor. She has won the hearts and confidence of all the natives; she has dressed, eaten, lived after their style; has had free entrance tot houses, tents, harems, and all sorts of places usually' hidden from the ordinary woman tourist. What Miss Bell dees not know about every' tribe and place between Smyrna and the head of the Persian Guif may well be left alone by most folk as not worth troubling about. She has traversed all the deserts there, visited every town, talked with every' leader and sheik again and again, till her name and fame have become veritable “household words” amongst them all. So that if to-day they want anything, if they have any trouble nationally or locally, if they need an intercessor or arbitrator, the" very first person they think of or go to is Miss Gertrude Bell. This wonderful woman has written many volumes dealing with all the various phases cf life and work in Asia Minor : the best-known is Syria, published by Willi am Heinemann. .'oerns, essays, stories, descriptions of travels—all come alike to her clever and facile pen; and all she does in that way' is done well, with the best literary style, enlivened by popular vigour and keen insight. Wile is truly one of the most wonderful women in the world to-day. %