A.—2

Explanatory Note. 1. In their decision of the 16th December, 1925, the Council of the League of Nations attached the following condition to their award on the Turco-Iraq frontier question : — " The British Government is invited to submit to the Council a new treaty with. Iraq, ensuring the continuance for twenty-five years of the mandatory regime defined by the Treaty of Alliance between Great Britain and Iraq and by the British Government's undertaking approved by the Council on the 27th September, 1921, unless Iraq is, in conformity with Article 1 of the Covenant, admitted as a member of the League before the expiration of this period. " As soon as, within a period of six months from the present date, the execution of this stipulation has been brought to the knowledge of the Council, the Council shall declare that the present decision has become definitive and shall indicate the measures required to insure the delimitation on the ground of the frontier-line." 2. In pursuance of this invitation of the Council of the League of Nations His Majesty's Government have concluded with the Iraq Government the new treaty, which is printed above. It has been accepted by both Chambers of the Iraq Parliament. 3. The effect of Article 1 of the new treaty is to extend the operation of the Anglo-Iraq treaty of October, 1922, and of the subsidiary agreements concluded in March, 1924, in so far as their duration depended upon that of the treaty, for a period of twenty-five years, or for such shorter period as may elapse before Iraq obtains admission to the League of Nations. In so far as the duration of the subsidiary agreements was not dependent upon that of the main treaty, their provisions are not affected. Consequently, the principle enunciated in Articles 1 and 3 of the Military and Financial Agreements respectively —viz., that Iraq shall accept as soon as possible, and in any case not later than the year 1928, full military and financial responsibility for the preservation of internal order and for the defence of Iraq against foreign aggression—remains in force. 4. The discussions referred to in Article II of the new treaty relate to various points of detail and do not affect the question of principle mentioned in the foregoing paragraph. 5. The undertaking given by His Majesty's Government in Article VI of the treaty of 1922, to use their good offices to secure the admission of Iraq to membership of the League of Nations as soon as possible, remains in force. The provisions of Article 111 of the new treaty expressly provide for periodic consideration of the situation with this object in view. On the admission of Iraq to membership of the League of Nations the operation of the treaty will come to an end. 6. The decision of the Council of the League of Nations of the 27th September, 1924, included their acceptance of an undertaking by His Majesty's Government to agree to no modifications of the terms of the Treaty of Alliance (i.e., the treaty of 1922-, the protocol of 1923, and the subsidiary agreements) without the consent of the Council. A similar undertaking in regard to the new treaty will be given to the Council. Colonial Office, 28th January, 1926.

No. 14. New Zealand, Dominions No. 92. Sir, — Downing Street, 22nd February, 1926. I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a question and answer in the House of Commons on the 16th February, regarding the Imperial wireless beam stations and the results of the tests made at the Rugby Station. I have, &c., L. S. AMERY. Governor-General His Excellency General Sir C. Fergusson, Bart., LL.D., G.C.M.G., K.C.8., D.5.0., M.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. (Official Report, 16th February.) Imperial Wireless Chain. Colonel Day asked the Postmaster-General the present position in regard to the Imperial wireless chain ; and what have been the results of the tests made from the Imperial wireless station at Rugby ? Sir W. Mitchell-Tiiomson : The contractors hope to complete the Bodmin and Bridgwater stations, which are to be used for the Canadian and South African services, early in April, and the Grimsby and Skegness stations, which are to be used for the Indian and Australian services, in August next. The corresponding stations in the Dominions and India will, it is understood, be completed about the same time as the English stations. The tests of the Rugby Station show that

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