The Struggle for Independence 193
government with no direct authority for Arab politicians and no
opportunity for men of talent and ambition to rise higher than very
secondary positions in the administration. The states which had
achieved full political independence were those on the outer edge
of the Middle East: Turkey, Persia, Sa'udi Arabia, Yemen, under
their autocratic rulers Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Riza Shah, Ibn
Sa'ud, and the Imam Yaliya;1 and even these, in ascending order,
were hampered in their dealings with greater Powers by their
economic weakness and the social backwardness of their peoples.
1 Imam Yahya of the Yemen was muidered in a rising of 'progressive'
elements in February, 1948; but the Ciown Prince Ahmed succeeded in re-
asserting his authority in the following month icf. Times editorial, 16 March,
1948).