BRITAIN’S HONOUR

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 October 1924, Page 9

BRITAIN’S HONOUR

EXTRA EDITION.

TO BE MAINTAINED. LABOUR MINISTER’S WARNING. STRAIGHT SPEAKING TO TURKS. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION--COPYRIGHT. (Received Oct. 15, 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 14. Mr. J. H. Thomas, in ra speech referring to Iraq, affairs, said that no- step would he omitted to avert war, hut the Government was determined to maintain the honour and prestige of Britain.—Reuter. THE MOSUL QUESTION. CONDITIONS IN MESOPOTAMIA. JEALOUSY AND TRIBAL RISINGS. Some intere,sting sidelights on the present condition of unrest which pie- - vails among the Oriental races in Mesopotamia were gleamed by an Utago Daily Times reporter in an interview with a world- wide traveller who is at present visiting Dunedin. This traveller spent many months in Mesopotamia during the war period. He was on special duty for the British Government, and was closely associated with all the factions which are fighting for supremacy in that country of trials and troubles. “Mesopotamia was seething with discontent under Turkish rule in 1904,” said the visitor. “The Turks commandered practically a. quarter of everything. Bribery and corruption were condemned by. the Arabs, but they actually closed their eyes to this, as they really Understood nothing else. “Then along came- the war, which brought untold wealth. to the Arabs living at the sea ports, with the con- ' sequent appreciation of the virtues of British domination. After the. war Mesopotamia, on which 'the British Government had spent millions of money, was handed over to the Arabs, and the king, Feisul, of Hedjaz, creat- , ed. The appointment of such a head piece led to the enevitable jealousy and tribal risings against the British who, although not the absolute governors of the country, still supported the Government with men and money. The Vilayet of Mosul, which contains oil, coal, and other materials, is still unexploited to any great degree. It was the north-west boundary of Mesopotamia. This vilayet,, or principality, as it may be interpreted, contains the sacred town of Samara. The town is one of the principal religious centres of Arabia, * and in common with all "f'Mahommedan. customs, is jealously ' guarded from European inter!erence.'" “Great Britain,” said the visitor, “has been very tolerant in her dealings with the Arabs and Indians, and it is the opinion of many that a little less deference would lie advantageous to England in her dealings with the; Orientals, who invariably mistake kindness for fear. This deference is born out when one considers the present situation existing between Turkey and Great Britain “At the time of the crucial moments in Constantinople, when England sent General Harington and troops to reinforce the British army, in Turkey, Britain was vastly predominant in military power. Our men were facing the Turks, separated from them only by a barbed wire entanglement. It was well known that Turkey was, from an active military point of view, in a hopeless position, aiid jet England allowed her nolitical points to be pushed aside, aiid practically surrendered to the Turks all that we had gained by the.force of arms during the war.’ “The question of Mosul, which may possibly lead to war some day in the future, was waived for consideration of the League of Nations, for whom the Turks have as much respect as they have for the North Pole. The Turk is a slippery customer. He will make promises, hut will never keep them. His motto is ‘force of arms.’ ’