BRITAIN AND IRAQ

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17116, 23 November 1929, Page 8

BRITAIN AND IRAQ

TREATY NEGOTIATIONS NEW COMMISSIONER SAILS (British Official Wirelwsf.) lice. 2 p.m. RUGBY, Nov. 22. Sir Francis Humphreys will leave London to-day en route for Iraq, where lie will take up his appointment as High Commissioner to succeed the late Sir Gilbert Clayton. On his way to Bagdad lie will visit Cairo to meet the High Commissioner for Egypt, Sir I’ercy Loraine, and Jerusalem, where lie will see Sir .John Chancellor, High Commissioner for Palestine.

A memorandum published to-day by the Secretary for the Colonies, Lord Lass held, deals with the policy in Iraq. The memorandum points out that under the Aiiglo-lraq treaty of 1928 the British Government undertook to support the candidature of Iraq for admission to the League of Nations in 1932, provided the present rate of progress in Iraq is maintained, and all goes well in the meantime. The qualifying words were regarded in Iraq with deep suspicion. As explanations and assurances proved of no avail, the British Government, on the advice of Sir Gilbert Clayton, which also coincided with that of his 1 predecessor, Sir Henry Dobbs, decided to examine the possibility of a League decree definitely recommending Iraq for membership in three years time. The effect, of this announcement upon the internal political situation in Iraq was that immediate distrust and suspicion gave place to mutual confidence and goodwill. Iraq is anxious to cooperate with the British Government in the solution of outstanding questions. Before 1932, the necessary steps will be taken to prepare a draft treaty to regulate the relations of Britain with Iraq, framed on liberal lines aiid based generally upon the recent proposals for an Angio-E'gyptian settlement.