97
Berlin radio. Thus the convenient cover arrangement, devised by
Cornwallis in cooperation with SOE, was not just functional in its decep-
tive aspect; it also brought together people with a shared creative interest
in and mastery of propaganda work. Perowne, notionally in charge, actu-
ally looked after only official government information (white propaganda)
and relieved Stark of the administrative chores she so loathed. Stark there-
fore appeared to ‘assist’ Perowne, but in reality devoted her time indepen-
dently to developing and running her Ikhwan-al-hurriya (Brotherhood of
Freedom) organization under the watchful eye of L.F. Rushbrook Williams
at the Ministry of Information (MOI) in London. Bishop, while also
appearing to ‘assist’ Perowne, handled the SOE ‘dark side’—black propa-
ganda and other ‘dirty’ jobs, like bribery and ‘whispering’ or rumour cam-
paigns, known as ‘sibs.’ He was doubtless fully aware that Hugh Dalton,
the originator of SOE, had made it clear from the start that the organiza-
tion was to be responsible for ‘waging subversive warfare, which included
not only sabotage but also incitement to revolt and the promotion of
disaffection.’^20 Bribery proved to be an especially effective tool in getting
influential Iraqis to cooperate after the Gaylani interregnum. Its successful
use can be credited to the organizational flair and regional ‘feel’ of person-
nel like Bishop and his immediate successor, A.J.B. ‘John’ Chapman (D/
KF), though the latter’s talents were limited to his singular interest in
Kurdish rather than Arab society, as we shall see.^21 One imagines that from
time to time Seton Lloyd would have dropped in, for he had his own sepa-
rate workplace in Gertrude Bell’s old office at the Antiquities Museum.
When asked during a visit to Baker Street^22 in March 1941 what work he
felt needed to be done in Iraq, Seton Lloyd’s proposal was so much in the
spirit of Freya Stark’s Ikhwan scheme that it is clear that Stark must have
briefed him thoroughly before he left for London: ‘...one thing that is
needed is an organized team of British residents all over the country who
have gained the respect of the Iraqis and who shall be encouraged to
entertain and talk to their Iraqi friends,’ Lloyd said.^23 Initially, Perowne’s
embassy department also provided the rest of Bishop’s SOE team with a
physical workplace. However, later in 1941, SOE managed to obtain a
short-term lease on a beautiful old Ottoman house at South Gate on the
banks of the Tigris which became their official Baghdad HQ and provided
the ideal secluded office space and comfortable accommodation they
needed. Bishop and Lloyd, who was a qualified architect, took great pains
to restore the old building to its former glory. It is touching how Bishop,
who had never had a real home of his own before, lavished much loving
SOUTH GATE