MESOPOTAMIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1920, Page 5

MESOPOTAMIA.

' FUTURE ADMINISTRATION. EVENTUAL SELF-GOVERNMENT. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received June 22, 10.45 p.m. Delhi, June 21. Outlining the policy of the 3ritish in Mesopotamia, Sir Arnold Wilson, Civil Commissioner, announced at Bagdad that the mandate contained provisions to facilitate the development of Mesopotamia as a self-governing State until it was able to stand alone, when the mandate comes to an end. The Government had decided to entrust this task to Sir Percy Cox, who will return to Bagdad in the autumn, and take up the position of chief British representative in Mesopotamia. He will be authorised to call into being a Council of State under an Arab president, and an elective assembly representative of the population. It will be his duty to prepare, in consultation with the elective assembly, a permanent organic law.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Received June 23, 12.10 a.m. London, June 21. The Daily Express says the Government has decided to make Abdullah, the second King of Hedjaz* the new King of Mesopotamia. The TBritish garrison will be maintained for four years while the native army of Mesopotamia is being organised— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [Sir Percy .Cox, who is in his 50th year, has had a distinguished record in the British diplomatic service, his principal sphere hcing in Persia, so that he will have an intimate acquaintance with affairs in Mesopotamia. Since 1904 he has been Political Resident in the Persian Gulf region.]