NEAR EAST.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17060, 3 February 1921, Page 7

NEAR EAST.

♦— PERSIA AND MESOPOTAMIA. (By Cable—Press Association—Copyright.) ■("The lime*.") LONDON, February 1. "The Times" correspondent at Bagdad strongly opposes the withdrawal of British troops from Persia. He says the decision has caused a panic. Old established businesses will bo torn up by the roots, and tho wholo fabric of British influence, moral and economic, which has been built up by devoted labours' extending over more tlian a 1 century, threatens to collapse before the menaco of a few scallywags sitting at Resht, pretending to bo Bolsheviks, and who have discovered that if they make a noise thev can frighten everybody, including Europeans. The correspondent says that with the troops withdrawn, the Kemalista may attack Mesopotamia. The Turks are conducting a powerful propaganda in Bagdad in favour of establishing Burhan Eddin. fourth son of Abdul Hamid, as Amir, while Hedjaa and Syria are conducting propaganda in favour of Sheriffians. Referring to the internal conditions of Mesopotamia, the correspondent says that some of tie wealthiest corporations in the world have financial interests there, and asks why those do not make a-huge loan to Britain in order to develop irrigation which, he claims, would send the value of land up, in some instances from Is' to £2OO per acre. When responsible government is established through. the proposed assembly, tho security should' be an absolute charge upon Mesopotamia. The correspondent concludes by saying that if neither the corporations nor the ( Treasury will_ take the risk the sooner Mesopotamia is evacuated the better. ARMENIA AND RUSSIA. (Received Februarv 2nd. 10.25 p.m.) ■WASHINGTON, February 1. .President Wilson has received a cable from Sir James Drummond stating that the President's Armenia-Rusjia Note will be submitted to the next meeting of the League Council, and that it already has been brought under the notice of the Premier at the meeting at Paris.