Another factor which greatly contributed to the growth of pan-Arab nationalism was emergence of various Muslim and Arab societies like Muthana Club which preached pan-Arab ideals among the people.
Inspired by the German methods of indoctrination and Iraqis launched youth movement Al Futiiwo and tried to foster pan-Arab ideas and ideals through educational curricula. As a result soon the radical views penetrated to the root level of the Iraqi society.
The arrival of Mufti of Jerusalem to Baghdad in October 1939 also provided an impetus to the Arab-nationalism. The Mufti (Haj Amin Al- Husseini) greatly impressed the four colonels and they soon established brotherly ties with him.
Soon the Mufti emerged as the most influential person in Iraq in religious as well as political circles. As the Mufti had serious grievances against the British, the pan-Arab nationlism assumed strong anti-British basis.
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In 1940 the Mufti formed an Arab Committee under his chairmanship with the four colonels as its members. The Arab committee decided to establish contract with the exis powers and laid the
Newcombe after his visit to Baghdad urged the British Government to take some positive and constructive steps to conciliate the Arabs and to silence the anti-British propaganda regarding Palestine.
However, the British Government did not accept his suggestion because they were not in favour of any concessions on Palestine at that stage due to fear of Jewish disorder. Thus the Newcombe mission failed in its objectives. This gave a serious setback to the moderate and pro-British elements and greatly strengthened the position of Mufti group, which grew closer to the Axis powers.
In April 1941 Rashid Ali staged a coup and established new Provisional Government of National Defence. He excluded Nuri Pasha and other pro-British elements from the government. As the new Provisional Governments was pro-Axis, the- British decided to put economic and political pressure on Rashid Ali and intervene militarily in May 1941 to forestall the moves of the Iraqi nationalists.
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Rashid Ali appealed to the Germans for assistance but no assistance came forth as the Germans were deeply involved in Greece and Crete. As a result Rashid Ali’s government fell and the four Colonels as well as Mufti left the country.
According to Gomaa “The Rashind Ali movement was the first Arab national uprising of note since the First World War. It was a movement in which nationalists from Palestine and Syria took an active part, and which had the general support of the Arab public all over the area.
Resort to the Axis powers for assistance was meant as a temporary expedient. All contacts with these powers centred on the need to obtain double assurance of support for Arab independence and anity.
The whole situation was reminiscent of that which had preceded the Great Arab Revolt in 1916. This time the Arab nationalists were more careful and insisted on having clear and definite pledges covering all the territories of Arab Asia as well as Egypt and Sudan.”
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He further asserts “The Rashid Ali movement was also a gesture of defiance to British and to the existing state of affairs which seemed to perpetuate Arab weakness and divisiveness.
It was an attempt by the Arabs to convince themselves that they were capable of resolution and action. On its positive side, it was an attempt to reconstruct the Arab East and to provide its people with effective leadership and a sense of purpose.
Its main weakness was in the fact that it was based on high ideals espoused by rather rash army officers and amateur politicians who had so little grasp of the limitations of their own power and of the disintegrative forces in the Arab World.”