8. Surgeon Lieut.-Commander Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent official announcement of the Premier of Iraq that this country's treaty of alliance with Iraq has become obsolete; and if he was consulted before this announcement was made.
§ Mr. Ernest DaviesAccording to my information, the statement was made by the Iraqi Prime Minister on 28th November at the first general conference of his political party. It does not call for any statement on the part of His Majesty's Government, who were not consulted before it was made.
Surgeon Lieut.-Commander BennettDoes the hon. Gentleman officially hold the view that the statement was not made? Is it not effective, therefore, in our relations with Iraq?
§ Mr. DaviesI am sorry that the hon. and gallant Gentleman did not quite hear me. I said that the statement was made by the Iraqi Prime Minister at a meeting of his political party.
§ Earl WintertonAs one of the oldest friends of Nuli Pasha Es Said, who is a former brother officer of mine, may I ask the hon. Gentleman, in view of the seriousness of this matter, whether he cannot arrange for conversations between the British Ambassador and Nuli Pasha Es Said, who has for so many years been a good friend of this country, to see whether the matter cannot be resolved?
§ Mr. DaviesI am sure that my right hon. Friend will take into consideration the suggestion which the noble Lord has made.
§ Mr. PickthornDo the Under-Secretary's replies mean that His Majesty's Government have made no inquiries since they heard this report?
§ Mr. DaviesNo, Sir. They do not. Our ambassador has reported to us on this speech and we have made inquiries but, in all the circumstances, we have decided that, as this was a speech made to a political party, it was not addressed to His Majesty's Government and that there was no need for any action.