BRITAIN IN NEAR EAST

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14582, 3 February 1921, Page 5

BRITAIN IN NEAR EAST

PERSIA AND MESOPOTAMIA. DANGERS OF WITHDRAWAL. WHOLE INFLUENCE THREATENED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received February 2, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, February I. The Times cunvspoiulent at Bagdad strongly opposes the withdrawal of the British troops from Persia. Ho says that the decision lias caused a panic. Old-established businesses will be lorn up by Hie routs, and the whole fabric of British influence, moral and economic, built up by devoted labours extending over more than a century, threatens lo collapse before the menace of a few scallywags sitting at Reslit, pretending to lie Bolsheviks, wiio have discovered that if they make a noise they can frighten everybody, including Europeans. The correspondent says that with the troops withdrawn the Kemalists may attack Mesopotamia, and Hie Turks arc conducting a powerful propaganda in Bagdad in favour of establishing Durban Ed. Din, fourth son of Abdul Hamid, as Amir, while the Hedjaz and Syria arc conducting a propaganda in favour of the Sherri ilia. Referring to the internal conditions’ in Mesopotamia the correspondent says that some of the wealthiest corporations in the world have financial interests there, and he asks why these do not make a huge loan to Britain to assist in the development of irrigation, which he claims would send the value of Hie land up in some instances from a shilling to £2OO per acre. When responsible government is established through the proposed Assembly, security should he an absolute charge upon Mesopotamia. The correspondent aoncludes: “If neither corporations nor treasury will take the risk Hie sooner Mesopotamia is evacuated the heller.”