ASSYRIANS MASSACRED

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 August 1933, Page 7

ASSYRIANS MASSACRED

SEQUEL TO REVOLT : IRAQ TROOPS’ EXCESSES [BY CABLE —TRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, August 1(!, “The Times” says: News has reached London that during the suppression of a recent rebellion by a section of the Assyrian minority in Iraq, the Iraq forces killed two hundred persons who had no connection with the revolt, H is also reported that a number of villages were burnt in the Dohuk district and elsewhere, north of Mosul, where the condition of* the Assyrian women and children is described as pitiable. There is reason to believe that these excesses have been committed less by tho Iraq troops than by the irregular police, who are mostly Kurds, who are at feud with the Assyrians. The commander of these police is also notoriously anti-Assyrian. The-news of these events which has been communicated to Mr. Ramsay MacDonald has caused deep concern in British official circles. Mr. Humphys, British Ambassador in Iraq, is hurrying to Baghdad from Norway, where he is on a holiday. It. is fully realised that the misbehaviour of Iraq irregulars is likely to provoke sharp criticism at Geneva, where there has been a marked tendency to regard the British belief in the capacity of the Arab Government control of its officers as being dangerously optimistic. It is also feared that the news may have a bad effect on the Assyrian levies who are guarding the British aerodromes at Iraq. CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE. [TIMES CABLES.] (Recd. August 17, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 16. The Assyrians were massacred near Simil. A British official visited several adjacent villages, which are filled with panic-stricken women and children. He counted 315 dead, many within two miles of the local headquarters of the Iraq army. They were apparently killed by the so-called Ir-. regular police. There is scarcely any doubt that the Assyrian rebels who entered Syrian territory in July, were responsible for the trouble. They promised to surrender their arms, but the small Iraq detachment did not attempt to disarm them, whereupon the Iraq soldiers were attacked and destroyed. The Northern Iraq commander made the first reprisal, ordering a dozen Assyrian prisoners to be 'shot without trial, excusing himself on account of indignation with the alleged mutilation of the dead. The British Charge d’Affairs at Baghdad has requested King Feisal to prevent such severities. MR MACDONALD RETURNS. (Received August 17, 1 p.m.) LONDON, August 16. Mr MacDonald is returning to London from Lossiemouth. It is understood his sudden dash to London is due to the Government’s increasing anxiety over the Iraq massacres. There is difficulty in getting Iraq to expedite action against the offenders and there are growing fears that the delay will prejudicially effect the Assyrian levies.