FEISUL

or FEISAL, Hmir, King of Iraq (Me so pot am i a), born in 1887, the third surviving son of Hu ein, King of Hejaz. Educated at Constantinople, Feisul held several posts under the Turkish Government, but took an active part in the revolutionary movement which resulted in the deposition of Sultan Abdul Hamid. He then returned to Arabia, where he commanded the Arabs against Ibn Saud, the head of a new religions sect, who threatened his father’s emirate. During the Kurepean War Hu ein sided with the Allies, and Feisul organized and commanded a regular Arab army, which formed Lord Allen by’s right wing, and took part in the latter’s operations in Palestine. As a reward for his services an independent, or semi-independent, state was established at Damascus under Feisul, and the prince was proclaimed King o Syria in March, 1920. Serious friction, however, arose between the French authorities and the Arabs, and hostilities broke out in July. The French, under General Gouraud, occupied Damascus, compelled the Arabs to recognize the French mandate for Syria, and deposed the new King of Syria. In August, 1921, Feisul became the first Arab king of the new state of Iraq (Me so pot am i a), set up by the Bricish Government. He was crowned with great splendour at Bagdad on the 23rd of Aug., in the presence of a great gathering of his people and the representatives of the British Government. A personal me age from King George V was handed to Feisul, and the British High Commi ioner, Sir Percy Cox, formally announced the recognition by Great Britain of the new ruler ot Iraq.