IRAQ TO JOIN THE LEAGUE

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1929, Page 6

IRAQ TO JOIN THE LEAGUE

TREATY WITH BRITAIN

(British Official] Wireless)

RUGBY, Nov. 22

Sir Francis Humphreys will leave London to-day en route for Iraq, where he will take up his appointment as High Commissioner, in succession to the late Sir Gilbert Clayton. On his way to Baghdad, he will visit Cairo to meet the High Commissions for Egypt, Sir Percy Loraine, and Jerusalem, where he will see Sir John Chancellor, High Commissioner for Palestine.

In a memorandum published to-day, the Secretary for ..the Colonies, Lord Passfield deals with the policy in Iraq. The. memorandum .points out that., under the Anglo-Iraq Treaty of 1927 the British Government undertook to support the candidature of. Iraq for admission to the League of Nations in 1932, provided that the rate of progress in Iraq was maintained, and that all went well in the meantime.

The qualifying words were regarded in Iraq with deep suspicion. As explanations and assurances proved of no avail, the British Government, on the advice of Sir Gilbert Clayton, which was coincidental with that of his predecessor. Sir Henry Dobbs, decided to examine the possibility of dispensing altogether with the provision, and it was felt that,the time had come when bis Majesty’s Government could safely and. with lull sense of their responsibility towards the League, decree definitely to recommend Iraq for membership in three years’ time. The effect of this announcement upon the internal political situation in Iraq was immediate, distrust and suspicion giving place to mutual confidence and good-wili. Iraq is anxious to co-operate with the British Government in the solution of outstanding questions before 1932, and the necessary steps will he taken to prepare a draft treaty to regulate the relations of Britain with Iraq, which will he framed on liberal lines, and will be based generally upon the recent proposals for the Anglo-Egypt-ion settlement.