Iraq To Be Nation

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 773, 20 September 1929, Page 9

Iraq To Be Nation

BRITAIN AND MIDDLE EAST Membership of League

AUTOMATIC COLLAPSE OF MANDATE (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service) Iveeeived 12.42 p.m. BAGDAD, Thursday. THE political situation in Iraq has greatly changed, foliotv- _ ing the British Government’s offer to recommend unconditionally Iraq’s entrance to the League of Nations in 1932, by which all the parties will be placated. A new Cabinet has been formed under the Premiership of Sir Abdul Sadun.

A communique announced: “Sir Gilbert Clayton, late High Commissioner for Iraq, impressed on the British Labour Cabinet the advisability of an early decision about Iraq’s demand to enter the League, as a means of terminating existing treaties. It is regretted that the British reply was en route while Sir Gilbert lay dying. It would have given him pleasure to communicate it personally to Iraq. The British reply also announces a decision not to proceed with the 1927 treaty, but if necessary to conclude a treaty before 1932 to regulate the relations between Britain and Iraq. A draft treaty will be prepared, based on the Anglo-Bgyptian settlement.” Sir Abdul Sadum, in accepting the Premiership, said the offer satisfied

part of the aspirations of Iraq as a nation which would accept nothing in the long run falling short of complete independence. The new situation is regarded as a direct result of the Labour Cabinet's new policy in the Middle East. The new Cabinet includes Yassin Pasha, who is closely identified with the Nationalists. An earlier London message said: The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent hints that the Government shortly will agree to support Iraq’s application for admission to the League of Nations, of which the late Conservative Government did not approve. This would lead to the automatic lapse of the mandate, which might be followed by a financial and defence agreement between Britain and Iraq.