THE MIDDLE EAST

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 189, 11 August 1920, Page 5

THE MIDDLE EAST

•DISaMBANCF-S IN:MESOPOTAMIA.

AGITA2TOSS !FOB^M (BAGDAD

3£UKI>ER OF BMTISH OFFICER

[Press Association.] Aus. arad Tf.iZ. Cable Association

(Beeeiv.ed Aug. 11. 9.10 a.m.) DELHI, Aug. 10. The 'Khalifat •Committee oi: India for organising opposition to the' Turkish Peaese fcaty w:as refused % ;the •Government passports for a deputation it proposed to send to Mesopotamia, EfedjoE-, and rother Islamic in -view of unrest prevalent in these areas. Investigation shows tfhat the 'pre-*<-nt disturbances in Mesopotamia ore <!uo to Sheriffian propaganda directed from the borders of tfhe new Arab State, effectively seconded "by Turkish agents operating from Kurdistan. The Arab national movement is making great headway among Meeojiotamian notables, particularly in Bagdad, which now supplies Damas*v?."with some of its most cons.picuous agitators. Details from Badgad of the murder jof the British' political officer, 'Captain Gerard, outside Tabriz show that Ins carriage was surrounded by several hundred tribesmen. The escort tfi Persian sowars iled. He ptit vup a. <sood fight for nearly two hours, "but l*e- was finally shot dead and Ms 'kit vras looted.

jDwing to the stnte of public ©rder ifc iav improbabje tliat the Persian Government vrill be^ in a position adefltiately to punish the tribes concerned.