The Daily News. SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 1921. MESOPOTAMIA’S KING.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 1921. MESOPOTAMIA’S KING.

It may be that many who read the news of tine accession of Emir Feisul to the kingship of Irak will attach little importance to the event, or to the recognition by the Imperial Government of the new ruler of Mesopotamia, and yet his elevation to the kingship should appeal with peculiar force to the Dominions, if only by reason of the fact that it was the result of an overwhelming vote by the people of Irak, while it culminates the great combined military effort of the , British and Arab forces in the late war against Turkey. The Arabs have non realised their great aspiration, for a separate kingdom, Britain having fulfilled the pledges given to the Arab leaders during the war, and henceforth the new State of Irak, freed from Turkish mi '.rule, should enter upon an era of prosperity and become a warm ai’y of Britain. Probably no region in the whole world has more thrilling and variable associations than Mesopotamia, though it has been called the grave of brilliant military reputations. Its importance to the British Empire may be gleaned from the fact that when Turkey entered the late war it became necessary for Britain to seize the Euphrates mouth to protect the great oil field, which was one of the chief sources of supply for the British Navy, and to cover India from an attack delivered by way of the Persian Gulf. It is not necessary to dwell upon the details of that campaign, with its grave disaster to General Townshend and his eight thousand troops, which was so brilliantly avenged by Generals Maude and Allenby. The result was that a substantial portion of Mesopotamia came under British control, and prosperity once more began to set in after many years of neglect. Through defeat, with much suffering, and in the face of almost intolerable hardships, the British forces in Mesopotamia advanced to complete victory. With the army of Palestine and the assistance" of the Arabs, the power of Turkey was pulverised, and she was brought down with a crash. The expense incurred by Britain in this theatre of operations was enormous, at one time being at the rate of nearly thirty-two millions a year, the cost of the civil administration being two hundred and eighty-seven thousand pounds a, month, though some of the latter was recovered locally. The country is one of the most, fertile in the Middle East, but its cultivation was hampered under Turkish rule. It. is clear that, from traces still existing, an extensive system of artificial irrigation was instituted in ancient times, but most of the land,’ during the Turkish regime, went out of cultivation. This irrigation system was again instituted when the country came under' British control, and though allegations of waste were made, there can be no doubt, that the country will greatly benefit, for it is the only means whereby prosIperity can be ensured. Already a marvellous transformation has taken place, and it is anticipated that the country, properly irri-

gated, is capable of supporting many times its present population. The creation of an Arab Kingdom involves a treaty of alliance being entered into between Britain and the Arab King, and that treaty will, as stated in King George’s message to Feisul, be shortly concluded, so that the Arabs will once again, after many years, come into their own. How they will acquit themselves in their new status remains to be seen. As a race they are active, intelligent, and courteous, their character being marked by temperance, bravery anil hospitality. History has demonstrated that they are capable of attaining great power, and of founding large and powerful kingdoms, although in more recent times they fell under the domination of the Turks. With the powerful backing of Britain they will .now have an opportunity of demonstrating their capabilities as an independent self-gov-erning people, and it is quite probable they will prove well worthy of their reputation as well as being a useful ally to the British Empire. The only practical solution of the Mesopotamian problem was that of .establishing an Arab kingdom. It may involve a certain amount of anxiety until, matters have settled down into a wellordered scheme, of government. Obviously it was not possible for Britain to continue administering the affairs of that troublesome region at a cost beyond all reason, so that all we can do is to hope that the experiment will prove the success that is so much desired. King George’s message to Feisul, as usual, strikes. exactly the right noth in expressing his congratulations to the new ruler of Irak, and the inauguration of an era of peace and renewed prosperity. The development of this Arab State will probably largely depend on British capital and enterprise. Of one thing there is every cause for gratification, and that is that the misrule of the Turk in Mesopotamia is over, so there will at least be ample scope for good government, and the more wisely and justly the State is administered the better it will be for the Arabs as well as for Britain.