THE ASSYRIANS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 45, 22 January 1936, Page 3

THE ASSYRIANS.

SETTLEMENT IN SYRIA. IRRIGATION WORK. The Lcagne oi' Nations’ plan for settling the Assyrians of Iraq in the Plain of the Ghab, in Syria, is going steadily forward. The exact number who will wish to leave Iraq—possibly more than 20,000, in addition to the 6000 who have already been moved—is now being ascertained by direct consultation. The Assyrians have been refugees since the war. After various homes had been sought in yain for them, France offered them a settlement in the Ghab region of Syria. Meanwhile, the preparatory work on the engineering plan necessary to put the Ghab into condition for settlement and cultivation has already begun. This plan involves, in the first place, the construction of a barrage across the Orontes at the upper end of the Ghab, which will serve to prevent flooding in the wet season, and at the same time store up a water reserve for use by irrigation in the dry season. The plan also provides for straightening and deepening the river channel over 18 miles, the construction of a vast network of drainage and irrigation canals, and the tunneling of 900 metres of basalt rock to provide an additional outlet for the river at .the lower end of the plain. Fifteen thousand hectares of very fertile soil and a large stretch of upland and mountain will be put at the disposal of the Assyrians when the whole construction is completed in about four years’ time. Great interest has been shown in many quarters in this work of humanity and appeasement, whereby the Assyrian Christians will at last be given new hope for the future, and a contribution will be made to the tranquility of the Near East. To the financing of the project, the French mandatory Government, the British and Iraq Governments, and the League of Nations have offered substantial contributions. There still remains, however, approximately between £150.000 and £200,000 to be raised, which it is hoped will, in a considerable measure, be taken up by charitable organisations, and, in particular, by the Christian Churches in the West, which have long been concerned in the welfare of this ancient Christian people. At its private meeting recently, the Council of the League created a Trus--1 tee Board of three, members to supervise the settlement on the Ghab plain. 1 Beirut, on the Syrian coast, will probably be the headquarters of the board.