ORDER IN IRAQ

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 154, 2 June 1941, Page 6

ORDER IN IRAQ

TERMJ OF ARMISTICE. (United Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 1.54 p.m.) LONDON, June 1. Fighting in lracj ceased at 8 a.m. under the terms ot the armistice. Abdullo Illah has arrived at Bagdad, being met by Parliamentary leaders. King Eeisal is safe in Bagdad, according to Iraqi sources in Cairo. A message from Bagdad said all the oil wells in Iraq are undamaged. It is learned in Cairo that the Mosul oilfields are in the hands of authorities friendly to Britain. The Iraqi Governor in the Mosul area had from the beginning opposed Rashid Ali's movement. ' I it is officially stated (hat the terms I of the Iraq armistice include the re- • turn of Iraqi troops to their normal peacetime stations, including the liiimadi garrison. which harassed our forces at Habbaniyah. The terms also involve, the release of the British prisoners of war, the internment of several hundred Italians and Germans captured by the British, and 'lraqi prisoners being handed over to the I Iraqi authorities. I

I According to the British Official j Wireless a Press message from Cairo states that it is understood there that the signing of the armistice, based as it was on a state of rebellion and not war, will mean no alteration from the position before the revolt as it had been plainly shown that the rising did not represent the national feeling, but merely the personal views of Rashid AH and his Axis-paid supporters. \\ hen bo returned to Bagdad on Sunday, the Regent was received by a large gathering of notabilities, including the British Ambassador and the head of the British Military Mission. Citizens gave him an enthusiastic welcome. He held a reception shortly after his entry and among those received was Mr Paul Knabenshue (American Minister). A iew minutes alter, he received a short telegram from the newly- constituted Government accepting the British terms lor the armistice.

The G.O.C. Imperial Ground Forces has paid a warm tribute to the R.A.F. for the part it played in the campaign. The ''Thirty Days' War,"' he said, was brought to a rapid and successful conclusion because of the close and harmonious co-operation between tinground and ;i i r forces. He and Air Vice-Marshal Dalbaic (Air Officer Commanding) had been in consultation hourly each day from six in the morning till midnight. "It has been a most wonderful example of Air Force and military cooperation. It is possible that the tremendous attack which the R.A.F. made on the insurgents' machine-gun and artillery positions on Friday finally broke the rebels' morale, for an hour or two afterwards they had asked the British Ambassador to find out from the British commanders their terms; tor an armistice."