NEAR EAST.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 February 1921, Page 5

NEAR EAST.

A SERIOUS POSITION. IF BRITISH TROOPS WITHDRAWN. THREAT TO BRITISH INFLUENCE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Feb. 1. The Times correspondent at Baghdad strongly opposes the withdrawal of British troops from Persia. He says the decision has caused panic. Oldestablfehed businesses will be torn up by the roots and the whole fabric of British influence, moral and economic, built up by devoted labors extending over more than century, threatens to collapse before the menace of a few scallywags sitting at Resht and pretending to be Bolsheviks, who have discovered that if they make a noise they can frighten everybody, including Europeans. The correspondent says that with the troops withdrawn the Kemalists may attack Mesopotamia, and th? Turks are conducting powerful propaganda in Bagdad in favor of establishing Bur-hfcn-ed-Din. the fourth son of Abdul Hamid. aS Amir, while Hedjaz from Syria, is enndueting propaganda in favor of the Sheriffiav. Referring to the internal condition in Mesopotamia, the correspondent says that some of the wealthiest corporations in the world have financial interests there, and asks why those do not make a huge loan to Britain to develop irrigation. which he claims would seaid the value of the land up in some instances from a shilling to £2OO per acre. When responsible government is established throneli fIK proposed Assembly the security should he an absolute charge upon Mesopotamia. The correspondent concludes: “If neither corporations nor the Treasury will take the risk the sooner Mesopotamia is evacuated the better.” dIL IN MESOPOTAMIA. AMERICA NOT TO SHARE IT. Received Feb. 2. 10.25 p.m. Washington, Feb. 1. The text of the British mandate over Mesopotamia seems to confirm the view of the Administration that it excludes Americans from participating in the oil development region. Officials also see a disposition on the part of the Great Powers to keep the Governments who are not members of the League from deriving benefits from the former German territories.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.