Emir Faysal invites Nachum Sokolow to meet with him

(ZIONISM)

between 1918-1920

Carte-de-visite of Ahmed Kadry, Médecin particulier de S[a] A[ltesse] R[oyale] l’Emir Faysal [“private physician to His Royal Highness Emir Faysal”]. Message handwritten in French both sides the card: Prie Monsieur Socoloph de bien vouloir venir avec S.A. l’Emir Faïçal Jeudi, vers 6 heures du soir” [“requests M. Socoloph(!) to meet with his Highness the Emir Faysal at approximately 6pm.”]

Faysal I (1885-1933), son of Husayn ibn ‘Ali, Grand Sharif of Mecca, played a pivotal part in the Arab nationalist rebellion against the Ottoman Empire. When in 1918 an Arab military force occupied Damascus, Faysal was declared King of Syria. Two years later, France took over Syria and Faysal went into exile in London. Subsequently, the British seated him on the throne of the newly carved nation of Iraq. From 1921 until his death, Faysal reigned as King of Iraq. In 1918, Dr. Chaim Weizmann met with Emir Faysal in Aqaba (today Jordan), at which time, the Emir pledged in writing to recognize Zionist aims in Palestine, provided that the aims of Arab nationalism were realized in Syria and Iraq. Thus, the proposed meeting between Faysal and Sokolow, Weizmann’s very close associate. Alas, the Allies, Britain and France reneged on their promises to Faysal, who in turn, felt morally released from his assurances to Weizmann