SYRIANS MASSACRED

Hokitika Guardian, 17 August 1933, Page 5

SYRIANS MASSACRED

IN SUPPRESSION OF REBELLION

BRITISH EXPRESSION OF ALARM

(United Prefia Association—By Electric Telegraph-Copyright.)

LONDON, Alugust 16. The “Times” i&ays; New s has reached London that during the suppression of a recent'rebellion by a section of the Assyrian minority .in ' Iraq; the Iraq .forces killed two 'hundred persons who had no 'connection with the revolt. It is alsOyTeported that a number of villages were burnt in the Dohuk district and elsewhere, north of Mosul, where the condition of the Assyrian women land bhildiren is described as pitiable. ' ’ -My’ N '* "A There is reason to believe that these excesses have been' committed less 'by the Iraq troops than by the irregular police, who are mostly Kurds, who are at- feud with the Assyrians. The commander of these police is also not-, ) orionsly anti-Assyrian.'' ' , ■' : ■■■ jT The news of these-events which - has been communicated to Mr Ranis,ay McDonald has ra,osed deep concern in British official circles:'"-'’MNP- ■ M r Humphry*, British Ambassador in Iraq, is hurrying to • Baghdad from Norway, where lie is on a-holiday. Jt is fully realised that the misbehaviour of li'aq irregulars is likely to voice sharp ’"writioasm; ** Geneva, where there has been a marked tendency -to ’ regard - the British belief in the capacity of the Arab Government control of its officers as being dangerously optimistic. It i«s also ‘‘eared that the news may have a bad effect on the AsSvrian levies who are guM’diing the ’British aeroIcV’ompi'j at I'an.