174 A Short History of the Middle East
both the tax-system and the execution of the law were given a
pronounced bias in their favour.
In 1925 the Council of the League of Nations was so doubtful
about the fitness of Iraq for self-government that it recommended
that the Mandate should continue for twenty-five years, unless she
were previously admitted as a member of the League. Two years
later the British government announced that it would propose the
admission of Iraq in 1932 'provided that all went well in the inter-
val, and the present rate of progress in Iraq was maintained*; it in-
sisted, however, on a government 'friendly and bound by gratitude
and obligation' to Britain. In 1928 the Iraqi government asked
that it should be allowed to assume immediate responsibility for
external and internal defence, and that British control of the army
should cease. It rejected counter-proposals, and for three months
Iraq was without a government. Sir Gilbert Clayton, the recently-
appointed High Commissioner, urged the British government to
break the deadlock by a declaration that would at least partially
satisfy Iraqi aspirations. He died in 1929, but was the posthumous
father of the Treaty of 1930, which was to come into force when
Iraq was admitted to the League of Nations, and to last for twenty-
five years: (i) Britain was to have air-bases at Habbaniya, in the
desert west of Baghdad, and at Shu'aiba near Basra, and to have the
right to move troops and supplies across Iraq by any means.
(2) In the event of war or the threat of war Iraq was to furnish
Britain with all facilities and assistance, and place all means of
communication at her disposal.
(3) Britain's diplomatic representative was to have precedence
over those of all foreign Powers.
(4) Britain would continue to give military assistance to Iraq
and send her a military mission, Iraqi service personnel sent abroad
for training would normally go to Britain, and when engaging
foreign experts Iraq would give preference to British subjects.
(5) Britain would sponsor Iraq's admission to the League of
Nations.
The Treaty was ratified by a comfortable majority in the Iraqi
parliament, and the progressive transfer of the administration to
Iraqis was accelerated, though the High Commissioner had fre-
quently to restrain an inclination to disregard British advice and
cancel the contracts of British officials. When Iraq's application
for admission came before the League of Nations, there was some