THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1923, Page 1

THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

tUSTKALIAN ANIJ N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION,

MESOPOTAMIA DEBATE. LONDON. Feb 20. In the House of Commons, Mr Lambert. resuming the Address-in-Reply debate, moved an amendment suggesting the immediate and drastic curtailment of the British responsibilities in Mesopotamia. Several Government supporters spoke and indicated the intention to vote against the retention of Mesopotamia by Britain. |{t Hon Mr Asquith declared: “There never lias been a worse investment of British money titan this one. We went to Mesopotamia as part of a military operation, promising to establish there an autonomous Arab State. Wo have carried out these pledges, but Britain ought to remember that 150 millions of British money has been already sunk there, without any visible material result. If we had withdrawn from there in 1019. fifty millions might have been saved. Britain is not prepared for any additional commitment for the future of Mesopotamia.” Mr Lambert. in moving his amendment, said that it was not intended to condemn the present Government, because it was only the heir to an unfortunate policy. Nearly 150 millions had been expended there since the Armistice. Tie hoped that the House would refuse to ratify anv treaty which pledged Britain to defend Mesopotamia for twenty years. The very word ‘‘Mesopotamia” stank in the nostrils of the people of the country. Colonel Wedgwood appealed to the j Government to reo' en the whole ipies- ' tion of the Mesopotamia, mandate, with ; a view to avoiding future serious risks, i General Davidson declared: Britain i has pledged herself to the hilt that the Arabs should be freed from Turk- ' isli rule, and we should stand by those ' pledges.” i The Premier (Mr Bomir Law) replied to the debate. He said he was in ] agreement with much that Mr AsI quith had said. 1 The fact that the British had been in Mesopotamia for seven years had brought certain obligations in its train. . v.1 l ii• 1 1 no country would desire to avoid. [| would he most unwise io • a Mi” io anv decision before the Treaty of Lausanne was signed. Vs iho An- : gora Government would be discussing i that Treafv to-morrow, it would he a mistake for the House of Commons to pass anv ‘resolution on the matter now. The Government was seriously considering the whole subject, but it wan fed time to consider all the aspects. He could assure the House that no question of oil was keeping the British in Mesopotamia.

Answering an into l runtiou. Mr Ronar Law said: “Britain once offered Mesopotamia to America for administration.”

| The amendment was negatived t v 27.1 votes to 167. ■! inifTisrr imr.mcs. j LONDON, Fell. 20. | Mr Move] George at a dinner at Llie ! 1020 Club, to celebrate tlic National | Liberal victories at the general dec i tion. said :—“We have oinerged from j one of tin l most difficult. mo-t eompli- | rated and baffling struggles that I ever ‘ engaged in. Tbn Socialists bombed* ns ! from the air. while our other enemies . attacked us from below; but 1 am pmud of our record. Wo aimed at ro- ■ Florins a devastated world by means of . peace, which is the basis of every! hin.g. AVe are in a minority in the House ol ( nmauni,-. but we represent a. majority of the votes at the last election. l'Vanre should reinemher that.” DIRABLFI) SOI.IHFRS. LONDON, Feb. 20. In the House- of Commons Air Adam son. on behalf of the Labour Party, moved an amendment to the Address-in-Keply regretting that no reference had been made in the Address to Hie action that is necessary to secure the full discharge of the solemn obligations entered into with the men who art suffering from war-time injury. Ho said that a growing number of lie exservicemen were in want. It was a public .scandal. Major Cohen (who lost both legs in the war) said lie- deprecated H'i.s amendment, which might be regarded as a. vote of censure. The ex-serviee--11-11. he said, did not want to be dragged into politics. He appealed to the i lovernmc nt not to economise in deal in-.- with the disabled men's claims. Air Alartin, the blind Member for Aberdeen, in bis maiden speech, asked th< Government to amend the | < ii-ionx regulations in order to remedy the (: ,v -p of hardship'. Ti-viui replied sun pa thet bally. The amendmeat was delimited.