NEW SANCTUARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22355, 28 February 1936, Page 11

NEW SANCTUARY

ASSYRIAN CHRISTIANS TRANSFER TO LEVANT CONTRIBUTION OF BRITAIN By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (Received February 27. 5.5 p.m.) British Wireless RtJGrBY. Feb. 26 The League of Nations' scheme for the settlement of the Assyrian (Christians was discussed in the House of Commons last evening, when the Under - Secretary for League of Nations Affairs, Viscount Cranbourne, spoke on the supplementary vote of £60,000, which represents the first instalment of Britain's contribution of £250,000 toward the scheme. ( Lord Cranbourne described the scheme as a most interesting innovation. It had been suggested in some quarters, said Lord Cranbourne, that the Assyrians were -brought into the World War by the British Government, who, therefore, had a special responsibility toward them. That was not true. They were brought in to aid Russian forces. "i While the British Government could not accept any responsibility, it did not disguise its special interest in a ; satisfactory solution of the problem. ; The settlement of the Assyrians in the Ghat area of the territories under French mandate in the Levant had now been arranged.It was calculated that the transfer of the Assyrians from Irak would- cost £1,146,000," of, which £826,000 would go to reclamation and £320,000 to settlement. The British contribution of £250,000 represented five-twelfths of the total cost. He mentioned that Britain had already spent £4,000,000 on the upkeep of the Assyrians.