PITIABLE SCENES

Wairarapa Daily Times, 19 August 1933, Page 5

PITIABLE SCENES

THE IRAK MASSACRE

SEVEN HUNDRED KILLED.

Press Association Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, Friday.

Information received in London indicates that a band of rebellious Assyrians who had fled into Syria had recrossed the Tigris into Irak and attacked the Irak army detachments. The fighting was unfortunately followed by excesses against Assyrian villages by Kurdish irregulars and Bedouin tribesmen. Seven hundred Assyrians are reported killed. Neighbouring villages are crowded with panic-stricken women and children, whose condition is pitiable.

Sir Francis Ilumplirys is returning at once to Bagdad by air to use his friendly offices in this crisis, and pending his return King Feisal is reported to have postponed his intended visit to Switzerland.

Irak was admitted to membership of the League of Nations last October, and the British mandate terminated, and British responsibilities in Irak ceased on that date. There is, however, a treaty of alliance between Great Britain and Irak.

“The Times,” in a leading article, states that it is anticipated there will be strong references to the deplorable events in Irak at Geneva in September, when British official optimism is likely to be as much criticised as Arab negligence.

“The Times” declares the Irak Government’s best defence is to deal severely with the officers and officials whose violence has injured its reputation, and immediately make restitution to the innocent communities which suffered violence and spoliation. The Government erred in detaining Patriarch Marshinum because he encouraged his wilder followers to undertake a hare-brained march to French Syria, which led to the disasters. The League of Nations, which in 1925 mistakenly refused to include the Assyrians’ homeland in Irak, can still repair the error mid assist the Assyrians to find new homes in Syria and elsewhere.