NORMAL STATE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20571, 3 June 1941, Page 9

NORMAL STATE

TERMS IN IRAQ ENDING REBELLION RETURN OF REGENT FRIENDSHIP TO ALLIES (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.l (Reed. June 2, 3 p.m.) LONDON, June 1. Fighting in Iraq ceased at 8 a.m. under the terms of the armistice. It is officially stated that the terms c)3 the Iraq armistice include the return of Iraq troops to the normal peace-time stations, including the Ramadi garrison, which harassed our forces at Habbaniyah. The terms also involve the release of British prisoners of war and the internment of several hundred Italians and Germans captured by the British. ’lraqi prisoners are being handed over to the Iraqi authorities. The Italians and Germans now interned are believed to number about 600, and they will largely be left in the hands of the Regent. It is authoritatively stated that the text of the armistice signed in Iraq was drawn up in accordance with the declared policy of the British Government to abstain from any infringement of Iraqi independence and to afford the Regent every assistance in re-establishing legal government and assisting the Iraqi nation to resume its normal, prosperous existence. A Cairo communique states: “Following our acceptance of the armistice asked for by the committee set up to administer Baghdad after the flight of Raschid Ali and his gang the situation i.n the city remains quiet.” A message from Cairo states it is understood there that the signing of the armistice in Iraq, based as it was on a state of rebellion and not of war, will mean no alteration from the prerevolt position, as it has been plainly shown that the rising did not represent the national feeling, but merely the personal views of Raschid Ali and his Axis-paid supporters. Welcome To Regent The Regent, the Emir Abdul Illah, arrived in Baghdad this evening and was met by Parliamentary leaders. King Feisal is safe in Baghdad, according to Iraqi sources in Cairo. The Regent was received in Baghdad by a large gathering of notabilities, including the British Ambassador and the head of the British Military Mission. Citizens gave the Regent an enthusiastic welcome. He held a reception shortly after his entry, and among those he received was Mr.’ Paul Knabenshue, the American Minister. A few minutes afterwards he received a short telegram from the newly-consti-tuted Government accepting, the British terms for the armistice. The general officer commanding the Imperial ground forces paid a warm tribute to the Royal Air Force for the part it played in the campaign. Thirty days of war, he said, had been brought to a rapid and successful conclusion because of the close and harmonious co-operation between the ground and air forces. He and Air Vice-Marshal Dalbaic, air officer commanding, had been in consultation hourly and daily from six in the morning till midnight. Co-operation Praised

“It has been a most wonderful example of air force and military cooperation,” said the general officer commanding. “It is possible that the tremendous attack which the Royal Air Force made on the insurgents’ machine-gun and artillery positions on Friday, finally broke the rebels’ morale, for an hour or two afterwards they asked the British Ambassador to find out from the British commanders their terms for an armistice.”

A message from Baghdad said that all oil wells in Iraq were undamaged. It is learned in Cairo that the Mosul oilfields are in the hands of authorities friendly to Britain. The Iraqi governor of the Mosul area from the beginning opposed Raschid Ali’s movement.