NEW TREATY WITH IRAQ AS SECURITY MEASURE

Chronicle (Levin), 17 January 1948, Page 5

NEW TREATY WITH IRAQ AS SECURITY MEASURE

Reeeived Fridav, 7.25 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 16. "A niii.jor instrument of internationa securitv in tlie Aiiddle Kast ' ' is hou The Times in a leader describes tlu new 2()-year treatv of alliance betweer Britain and Iraq, which provides foi elose niilitary and eeonomie co-opera tion between the two eonmries both in peace aud war. "The new treatv,' Ihe Times says, "embodies tlie coneeplion of elose and eil'ective co-opera-tion belween two equal Powers for thi preservation of peace in lonl'ormitv with United Xations' Uhurter. " Britain, Tlie Times points out. has not inereased her responsibilities by the new treatv. "indeed, in so fat as these responsibilities are now sliared equitublv with Iraq, the British burden • is lightened, " The Times adds. "Tlie new alliance, which replaeek tlie 193(J treatv, provides that, in the event of war or a threat oi' war, British troops vill be invited to enler Iraq immediatvly and will be given every lacility. R.A.P. bases al liabbaniya and iShaiba are to be .handed over to Iraq, but they are to be inaintajued in tlie necessary state of operutiojial efiicieiiev by the assistance of a British teclinii-af stall and equipineiit, and R.A.F. ojieralioiiai uuits are to be granted the full use of these bases until, under the peace trealies, all Allied troops are withdrawn from all e.x-enemy conutries. A permanent Anglo-Jraqi .Joint Defence Board is to be set up to co-onlinale the, resonrces of both rounti'ies for tlie inaintcnance of regional securitv. The DaiJy Mail's politieal correspondent says that Britain hopes eventually that an agreement can be reached for a joint detence system for the whole oi tlie M iddle Fastern area.