TRANSIT RIGHTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20571, 3 June 1941, Page 5

TRANSIT RIGHTS

BRITISH IN IRAQ STORY OF CRISIS BAGHDAD EXCITEMENT (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. June 3, 10 a.m.) LONDON, June 2. Cairo reports state it is understood that the new Government of Iraq is acceding to the British request to allow the transit of British troops through the country, Raschid Ali’s refusal of which caused the Iraq outbreak. The Paris radio stated that the boy King Feisal, accompanied by several military personages and the Governor of Baghdad, has arrived in Iran. Some 500 British officials and business men who are resident in Baghdad have now been released after a month of confinement in the British Embassy and the United States Legation. • Women and children were evacuated on April 29, after which the British Ambassador instructed the remaining British subjects to assemble immediately at the British Embassy and the United States Legation, whichever was the nearer to their homes. • Bombing Witnessed

A party of 160 in the United States Legation saw much of the Royal Air Force bombing of the Iraqi army headquarters and also Raschid Ali’s camp, only two miles away.

May 4 was a critical’ day. The Iraqi Foreign Minister telephoned the United States Minister, Mr. Knabenshue, and instructed him to hand over all Iraqis employed at the legation because the building “might be bombed within an hoqr.” The Foreign Minister explained that the British commander had threatened to bomb the Government buildings at Baghdad, for which reason the Iraqis issued a counter ultimatum, “if the threat is carried out we will bomb British subjects in Baghdad wherever rihey are found.”

Neither threat was carried out.. At the height of the crisis the refugees offered to surrender as prisoners of war, but Mr. Knabenshue refused to consider the plan, although he was well aware of the risk of keeping the Britishers at his legation.

Proper Treatment Demanded

Both the British Embassy and the United States Legation are large twostorey buildings standing in their qwn grounds, so they would be easy tttrgets. Refugees hurriedly emptied the cellars of all inflammable materials. An hour later, the Iraqi Foreign Office ordered Mr. Knabenshue to hand over the refugees for internment as prisoners of war. He had no alternative except to agree, but stipulated that he must first receive a written guarantee that they would be treated in accordance with international law. The Iraqis later cancelled the demand for internment because “a suitable camp must be prepared.” _ . Finally the Britishers remained in the Legation, sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Mr. Knabenshue earned undying gratitude. Besides his courageous stand on their behalf he shared the inevitable discomforts which the presence of refugees created in the Legation.