MESOPOTAMIA

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 134, 22 February 1923, Page 7

MESOPOTAMIA

BRITAIN’S RESPONSIBILITIES DRASTIC CURTAILMENT SUGGESTED \ HOUSE OF COMMONS REJECTS LIBERALS’ MOTION A Liberal amendment to the Addross-in-Reply in tho House of Commons, suggesting a drastic curtailment of British responsibilities In Mesopotamia, was defeated. BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT. (Rec. February 21, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 20. In the House of Commons Mr. G. Lambert (L.), resuming the Address-in-Reply debate, moved an amendment, suggesting an immediate drastic curtailment of British responsibilities in Mesopotamia. He said it was not intended 1 to condemn the present Government, because they were the heirs of an unfortunate policy. Nearly £150,000,000 had been expended since the Armistice. He hoped the House would refuse to ratify the Treaty, which pledged Britain to defend Mesopotamia for twenty years. The very word “Mesopotamia” stank in the nostrils of the people of this country. Colonel Wedgwood (Lab.) appealed to the Government to reopen the whole question of the- Mesopotamian mandate with a view to avoiding future serious risks. General Davidson (C.), declared that we had pledged ourselves to--the hilt that the Arabs should be freed from Turkish rule and we should stand by our pledges. Several Government supporters indicated their intention, to vote against the retention of Mesopotamia. Mr. H. H. Asquith (L.) declared that there had never been a worse investment of British money. “We went to Mesopotamia,” he said, “as part of a military operation, promising to establish an autonomous Arab State. We carried out these pledges, but Britain ought to remember that £150,000.000 of British money is already sunk there without visible or material result. If we had withdraw*! in 1919 £50,000,000 might have been saved. Britain was not prepared for any additional commitment for the future of Mesopotamia.” Mr. Bonar Law replied to the debate. He was in agreement with much that Mr. Asquith had said. The fact that we had been in Mesopotamia for seven years brought certain obligations in its train, which no country would desire to avoid. It would be most unwise to come to any decision before the Treaty of Lausanne was signed. As the Angora Government would be discussing the Treaty tomorrow, it.would-be a mistake for the House of Commons to pass any resolution on the matter now . The Government was seriously considering the whole subject, but wanted time to consider all its aspects. He could assure tho House that no question of oil was keeping us in Mesopotamia. ■ Answering an interruption. Mr. Bonar Law said Britain once offered Mesopotamia to America for administration. The amendment was negatived by 273 votes to 167.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ..' '