NATIVE AGITATIONS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLI, Issue 9290, 11 August 1920, Page 5

NATIVE AGITATIONS.

MESOPOTAM3AN DISORDERS

BRITISH OFFICER MURDERED.

(Per Press Association Copyright.) (Received August IX, 9.10 a.m.) DELHI, August 10. The Khalifat Committee of India, for organising opposition to the Tur- ' Irish peace, was refused by the Government passports for a deputation it proposed to send to Mesopotamia, Hedjaz, and other Islamic countries, »n ■view of unres^ prevalent .in these areas. Investigations show'.;the present disturbances in Mesopotamia are due to Sherifian propaganda directed «rom the borders of the new Arab State, effectively seconded by. Turkish I agents operating from Kurdistan. The I Arab national movement is making great headway among Mesopotamia notables, particularly in Bagdad, which now supplies Damascus . with some of its most conspicuous agitators. Details from Bagdad of the murder of a British officer, Captain Gerard, outside Tabriz, show that the carriage wag surrounded by several hundred tribesmen. The escort of Persian sowars fled. He put up a good fight for nearly two hours, but was finally afoot dead and his kit looted. Owing.to the... state of public order it is improbable the Persian Government will be in the, position to adequately, -punish Jthe tribes concerned. - - l

(Received-August 11, 12,55 p.m.) DELHI, August 10. Advices from Kabul state the Government '.is discussing the proposed treaty with Britain in view of the concessions offered by Britain.. Bolshevik influence is waning, and it "is under- , stood delegates will shortly leave again , for India to conclude a treaty.

It is reported a strong party is trying' to oust the Amir from the throne, but so far its efforts have ben futile. Reports from Turkistan state the Bolsheviks have dismissed all Modem teachers from the schools ,and introduced Bolshevik propaganda. They have confiscated the. valuables of rich merchants and placed them' under surveillance, to. prevent them escaping from the country. In order to escape 'Bolshevik rule streams of emigrants '&X 4 during over the fronties into India, where the Foreign Political Department has been created into a special sectiori{ jvith a view to combating Bolshevik propaganda there and in Middle Asia. ? Advices from! Bagdad istate that a column r under " Brigadier-General Con- . ingham, returning from Dewaniyah, reached Hilla after dealing 'with the rebel villages en route. All the rolling 'stock I'of railways in the disturbed dis.wipt has been .'secured. * ;*. An ineffective attack was made by rebels on Mohhidiza OR' Saturday night. There are indications that the rebels are demoralised and the spread of disturbances is checked. Reinforcement troops from India have begun to reacxi Basra. ' '■•