WORK OF THE LAIDONER COMMISSION. General Laidoner and his colleagues made a careful examination of the frontier and the relief camps, at the close of which the General telegraphed to the League, stating that the Turks had undoubtedly deported Christians from south of the "Brussels " line, that the deportees deposed that they had been removed by force and violence, and that the Turks had committed crimes, atrocities and massacres. He added that without means of enquiry on the Turkish side of the frontier, it was impossible to define the true reasons for the deportations of Christians, but that these deportations might well have results deserving the attention of the Council. As for the charges brought by either side of violation of the "Brussels" line, he had ascertained that the villages which the British Government claimed as belonging to 'Iraq, were actually south of the provisional frontier, but that, owing to errors in the maps, such misunderstandings were inevitable, and should not influence the League. General Laidoner and part of the Commission left 'Iraq on 23rd November, but two members remained at Mosul to examine any further complaints which might arise. The full reports of the mission were presented to the Council of the League during the meeting in December, 1925. SECOND SESSION OF PARLIAMENT OPENED AND ADJOURNED. The second session of Parliament had been opened by the Amir Zaid on 1st November, but after the re-election of the two presidents, and the appointment of the permanent committees it was adjourned till 20th December. RETURN OF KING FAISAL. The King returned from Europe on 15th November, and was given a very brilliant reception on the aerodrome at Hinaidi, where he was received by the High Commissioner, the Air ViceMarshal, the Ministers, Advisers and notables. The combination of power and discipline displayed on this occasion by the Royal Air Force, and other British forces, was the subject of much comment. The Amir Zaid, who had won the esteem of all while acting as Regent, went back to Oxford on 10th December. ADVISORY OPINION OF THE PERMANENT COURt of The opinion of the Hague Court was received some ten days after His Majesty's return. It was to the effect that the " decision to be taken" by the League Council would be in the nature of an arbitral award binding on both parties, that this decision must be unanimous, and that though both Great Britain and Turkey had the right to be represented and to vote, such votes, if adverse to the otherwise unanimous opinion of the Council of the League, would not be taken into count. This opinion was formally adopted by the League Council on 8th December. THE HIGH COMMISSIONER CALLED TO LONDON. The High Commissioner went on leave on 24th November, his departure having been hastened by the Secretary of State, who stood in need of his presence in London. The Counsellor, Mr. B. H. Bourdillon, has acted in the High Commissioner's place. DECISION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE LEAGUE ON THE FRONTIER QUESTION. The decision of the Council of the League on the frontier question was published in Baghdad on 17th December. The Council unanimously decided that the Turco-Iraq frontier should be the "Brussels line " on condition that Great Britain undertook by means of a new treaty with 'Iraq to continue her present relations with 'Iraq for a period of 25 years, unless before the expiry of that period 'Iraq were admitted to membership of the League. Further provisions dealt with the measures to be taken to secure for the Kurds in 'Iraq the guarantees in regard to local administration recommended by the Frontier Commission, measures to afford equal protection to all elements of the population and such commercial measures as were indicated in the special recommendations of the report of the Commission. The Turkish delegate refused to recognize the arbitral authority of the League Council and was not present at the meeting. At its close, Sir Austen Chamberlain expressed the hope that the situation between Great Britain and Turkey would be regulated by friendly agreement between the two governments. This proposal is being followed up. King Faisal telegraphed to King George his sincere thanks and gratitude. The Prime Minister telegraphed to Mr. Baldwin and to the Secretary-General of the League, and Mr. Amery was the recipient of many grateful messages. All through 'Iraq there was a general sense of deep relief, and of hope that the stability thus attained would be reflected in the prosperity which the country would now be able to achieve. INITIATION OF DISCUSSIONS IN REGARD TO THE NEW Conversations with regard to the new treaty were begun before the end of the year. The King and the Cabinet showed the utmost willingness to comply with the request of Mr. Amery that the terms of the alliance should be accepted by Iraq before the re-assembling of the British Parliament in the beginning of February, 1926. On the part of the Opposition, now definitely constituted under the name of the People's Party, with Yasin Pasha as leader, doubts were expressed as to the advantage to 'Iraq of the extension of the 1922 Treaty for 25 years, and more. particularly of the similar extension of the subsidiary Agreements; but it was clear from the first that the majority, both inside the 'Iraq Parliament and outside, agreed that the permanent welfare of 'Iraq was bound up with her connection with her ally. To this was added the consideration that the period of the new instrument of alliance might, and most probably would, as Mr. Amery had stated, be reduced by the entrance of 'Iraq into the League of Nations, a step which the British Government would be as anxious as that of 'Iraq to bring about, since it would relieve Great Britain of the responsibilities imposed by the treaty. POSITION AT THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR 1925. Thus the close of the period under report saw the termination of doubts as to the integrity of the 'Iraq State, an uncertainty which had hung, since the initiation of self-government, as a dread over the future, impeding progress and the development of the sense of national unity. It witnessed an 'Iraq prepared to accept the terms laid down by the League of Nations, trusting in the policy from which her ally had never deviated, that of helping her to become an independent state, and, at the earliest opportunity, a member of the community of civilized nations. Constitutional Government as laid down in the Organic Law, has now been tested for eighteen months; the first Parliament has proved its. capacity for dealing wisely and conscientiously with the measures. brought before it; and the past year has given the country a sense of consolidated and established government which there is every ground to hope may increase with each successive year. It should therefore be possible for 'Iraq to satisfy the League of Nations, at no very distant time, of her fitness to become a member of the League. It remains for the British Government to secure an amicable settlement with Turkey and the delimitation of the western frontier with Syria, and the year ends with the hopeful anticipation that these conditions may shortly be accomplished. 2. General Relations with Foreign Powers. THE 'IRAQ MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. In March, 1925, an 'Iraq Ministry of Foreign Affairs was created, with the concurrence of the High Commissioner, who pointed out, however, that 'Iraq could have no direct relations. with Powers which had not explicitly recognized her existence, and that even when 'Iraq had been formally recognized and an. accredited representative had been appointed by at least one party, direct correspondence on the part of the 'Iraq Ministry of Foreign Affairs must in every case be subject to prior consultation with the High Commissioner. He called attention to Article 1 of the decision of the Council of the League in September, 1924, by which His Britannic Majesty's Government is held responsible for the fulfilment by 'Iraq of the provisions of the Anglo-'Iraq Treaty in her relations with foreign powers. The portfolio has been held in two successive Cabinets by the Prime Minister. 'IRAQ REPRESENTATIVE IN LONDON. As yet the only representative of the 'Iraq Government abroad is Ja 'far Pasha el 'Askeri, who was sent to London in July, 1925. His official title is "Iraq Diplomatic Agent in London." While his formal relations are with the Foreign Office, in practice he transacts official business with the Colonial Office direct. He was present at Geneva during the meetings of the Council of the League in September and December, 1925. RECOGNITION OF IRAQ BY FOREIGN POWERS. As regards the recognition of the 'Iraq State by foreign powers, whenever foreign governments express a desire to appoint a consular representative in 'Iraq, they are requested to apply through His Britannic Majesty's Government for His Majesty King Faisal's exequatur on the Consular Commissions and it is explained to them that such an application in itself constitutes de jure recognition of 'Iraq. In this way King Faisal has granted exequaturs to consular representatives of France, Italy, Norway and Sweden and these governments are therefore held to have recognised the 'Iraq State. The Persian Government has always maintained consuls in 'Iraq, and these have been allowed to carry on their functions, while 'Iraqi subjects in Persia have resort to the British consular service. 3. Relations with the Kurds. Relations between the 'Iraq Government and the Kurdish population fall roughly under two heads, the situation in Sulaimaniya and that on the northern frontier. SITUATION IN SULAIMANIYA. At the close of the year 1924, Sulaimaniya town and the greater part of the Liwa had been placed loosely under the 'Iraq Government, though until peace was restored it was agreed that the High Commissioner should exercise direct control. Shaikh Mahmud was lurking on the frontier with a small band of followers and the province freed from him was rapidly recovering from the effects of his misgovernment. The visit of the Frontier Commission, at the end of February, inspired him with hopes which were not fulfilled. That body decided that as an open rebel he could not be summoned to give evidence, but a great number of religious and tribal leaders were interviewed, among them Shaikh Mahmud's brother, Shaikh Qadir, who stoutly declared against a return to Turkish regime on the ground that the Turks had killed his father and one of his brothers. Shaikh Mahmud's headquarters were in the eastern qadha of Sharbazher. He seized every opportunity to create disturbance and from time to time his bands levied tribute under the name of " taxes" from villages which were not in a position to resist them. In May, the annual migration of the Jaf to their mountain pasturages in Persia gave him appropriate material to work on and some sections of the tribe attacked a Levy column which was on its way from Sulaimaniya to garrison Halabja. With aerial support they were beaten off and the column took successful action against the offenders. In June, it was decided to forbid to Shaikh Mahmud the northern district of Sharbazher; a Qaimmaqam was established at Chaortah and administration was extended to the Persian frontier. At the same time, an element of disorder was removed by the departure of the Jaf; before they left, the 'Iraq Government was successful in raising from them an unexpectedly large proportion of the sheep tax. Shaikh Mahmud himself crossed into Persia where he has repeatedly succeeded in finding asylum. A demonstration was made by a united column from Chaortah through the Penjwin district, but it was not possible to set up administration in those remote hills which have continued to provide a focus whence rebel bands can carry on their depredations. The road from Sulaimaniya town to Halabja was secured by block-houses manned by police, but insurgence in the Qaradagh resulted in raids into the adjacent districts which have been dealt with by the police supported by aerial action, and if necessary by sections of the 'Iraq Army. In August, the Jaf began their migration back into 'Iraq. Shaikh Mahmud did his utmost to enlist their support and gather the sheep tax from them, but proclamations were dropped on them by air warning them not to take part in hostile activities, and, in September, a column from Sulaimaniya forced Shaikh Mahmud to retire again across the frontier. The Jaf then marched southwards and paid their sheep tax to the 'Iraq Government, leaving Shaikh Mahmud so much straitened by lack of funds that he was obliged to disperse the rank and file of his followers. In November, a settlement was effected between the two sections of the Pizhder tribe, one of which had long been hostile and ever ready to take part with Shaikh Mahmud. Thus at the end of the year 1925, though he was still hovering between the |