The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1929. BRITAIN AND IRAQ.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1929. BRITAIN AND IRAQ.

. litAQ is not one of the countries that have bitterly been m the public eye, and the inmnnu-ioh of tiie oner of tiie British Government 'to terminate the mandate in respect of it has therefore nad the effect of the unexpected. The i offer is, however, considers the Otago, Times, one that was not likely in any event to have been very long delayed, 'me step is regarded as being in keeping with the British Labour Government’s policy in the Middle East. The change of Government in Great Britain was doubtless regarded by the more' ardent Nationalists in Iraq as affording an opportunity not to be neglected of securing the complete independence of their country at an earlier date than they had reason otherwise to anticipate. The Home Government wisely or not, seems to Have agreed to expedite matters by recommending the unconditional en--1 trance of Iraq into the League of Nations. It is not to be antic.pated that tiie League 'will raise any objections. The interesting experiment with which Britain has been associated in Iraq began to take shape m 1921. Under the Treaty of Lausanne, Turkey renounced the sovereignty over Mesopotamia, and to Britain, the liberator of the Arabs from Turkish rule, was entrusted the administration of their territory by the Supreme Council of Allies. A High Commissioner was appointed, and the idea of bringing into being the Hedjaz Kingdom of Iraq was carried rapidly into effect. The Emir Faisal was placed on the throne and a national Government set up. Under a treaty between Britain and Iraq the former undertook to exercise her g"od offices fo secure the admission of Iraq to the League of Nations, her responsibility as a mandatory Power terminating when that admission had been accomplished. There have keen variations in the treaty period. An agreement was effected in 1923 that it should be reduced from twenty years, 'to four years. In 1926 a now agreement was signed at Bagdad in which provision was made that the original convention should remain in force for twenty-five years unless before the expiration oi that period Iraq should have become a member of fhe League. A question ahvavs confronting the British Government in its relations w'tli Iraq has boon that of deciding when the country could be safely left to stand alone. The claim in respect to self-determination was to bo reooglr'sedas soon as Iraq liad given adequate evidence of her ability to manage her own affairs as a nation. The entry of Iraq into the League of Nations will place the country’s relations

with Britain on a purely treaty footing. It seems to l>e expected that the new treaty which will.be required will follow tiie lines ol that fianied to meet the ixjsition of Egypt. Britain has done much ior Iraq, and merits compensations. in 19-i the occupation of Mesopotamia was costing her about £28,909,000. It was j\lr Churchill’s plan to reduce it as quickly as possible to a fraction of that amount. Hatterly the defence of the territory has been economically provided for by the Air Force, ft should be interesting to see how the claims of Great Britain to the friendhips of Iraq are hpnoured when the new regime is instituted.