The Independent Arab. by YOUNG, Major Sir Hubert

London, John Murray, [1933]. 8vo. Original blue cloth, spine lettered in gilt; pp. xi, 344, [2, advertisements], three lithographic folding maps; light spotting to edges, a little offsetting from endpapers; ownership inscription, dated August 1933, in pencil on front fly-leaf; a very good copy: First edition. In 1904 Sir Hubert Winthrop Young 1885-1950 was commissioned in the Royal Garrison Artillery stationed at Aden where he studied Arabic. Returning from leave in 1913 he travelled via Iraq and Syria and at Carchemish, stayed with T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), with whom he became friendly. In 1915 he served as assistant political officer in Iraq. At the request of Lawrence, Young was transferred to the Hejaz operations in March 1918, where he organised all transport and supplies for the composite force which cut the railway behind the Turkish army just before the final attack by Allenby. Later he was appointed to the newly formed Eastern Department of the Foreign Office, where his experience of both aspects of the Arab question helped to form the policy eventually adopted in Iraq. He also served in the Middle East Department of the Colonial Office as assistant secretary from its formation in 1921 until the end of 1926. Between 1929 and 1932 he was appointed as counsellor to the High commissioner for Iraq. O'Brian F1182.