SEVEN HUNDRED KILLED

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 19 August 1933, Page 5

SEVEN HUNDRED KILLED

MASSACRE OF ASSYRIANS EXCESSES BY IRREGULARS. SEQUEL TO REBELS’ ATTACK. VILLAGES IN STATE OF PANIC. (.United Uresis Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) LONDON, Aug. 18. “It is anticipated there will ho stx-ojxg references to the deplorable events in Iraq at Geneva in September, when the British official optimism is likely to be as much criticised as the Arab negligence,” says “The Times” in a leader.

The paper declares the Iraq Government's best defence is to deal severely ■with the officers and officials whose violence has injured its reputation and immediately make restitution to the innocent communities which suffei-ed violence and spoliation. The Government erred in detaining the patriarch Marsh ilium because he , encouraged his wilder followers to undertake a liairbrained march in French Syria which led' to the disasters. “The League of Nations, which in 1925 mistakenly refused to include the Assyrians’ homeland in Iraq can still repair the error and assist the Assyrians to find new homes in Syria and elsewhere,” “The Times” adds. Mr Ramsay MacDonald returned to Lossiemouth this evening. This morning he was in consultation with Sir Robert Vansittnrt, Permanent Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, and Captain R. A. Eden regarding current in- ( ternationa.l questions. This afternoon Mr MacDonald received Sir Fi-ancis Humplirys, British Ambassador in Traq. with whom he discussed the Assyrian situation in Northern Iraq. Information in London indicates that a hand of rebellious Assyrians who had fled into Syria recrossed the Tigris into Iraq and attacked Iraq army detachments. The fighting was xinfoitunately followed by excesses against Assyrian villages by Kurdish irregulars and Bedouin tribesmen. Seven hundred Assyrians are reported to have been killed. The neighbouring villages are crowded with panic-stricken women and children whose condition is pitiable.

Sir Francis Humphyrs is returning at once to Bagdad, by air to use his friendly offices in the crisis, and pending his return King Feisal is l’eported to have postponed his intended visit to Switzerland 1 .

Iraq was admitted to membership of the League of Nations last October, when the British mandate terminated and British responsibilities in Iran ceased. Thei-e is. however, a treaty of alliance between Britain and Iraq.