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Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1932, Page 4

The Treaty of Sevres, although never ratified, created the Slate of Iraq and the League of Nations entrusted the mandate to Great Britain. Fortunately the Mother Country had at her sei'vice administrators with a detailed knowledge of the country and it's people, and the task of establishing, first a stable Government and then- law and order was begun promptly under the direction of Sir Percy Oox. In 1921 King Faisal was declared the head cf the State, by popular election, and one constructive step followed another until, in 1927, Britain signed a treaty with Iraq recognising ' the sovereign independence of that country and undertaking to support her application for admission to the League of Nations. N To-day the'independence of Iraq is oontplete, and the first State to emerge -from the position of a mandatory country has entered the councils of the nations. The record of this development, from a Turkish vilayet to an independent Kingdom, must stand to the credit of Great Britain. She compelled the settlement of the boundary dispute with Turkey in the early stages of Iraq’s history, stopped the operations of the Kurdish brigands, and made it possible for the Government to exert its authority throughout the country. Courts were established, provision made for the education of the children, means of communication improved, and the commercial development of the 'State encouraged. Quietly but efficiently Iraq was prepared for the full status of a self-governing country and the mandate has now been ended. It- has been a record of constructive ability and there is cause for pride in the fact that British officials made • it possible. ,