§ 42. Captain ORMSBY-GOREasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state where the reported 1671 outbreak in South Kurdistan has taken place; whether the place of outbreak is in Persian or ex-Ottoman territory; whether any British soldiers have been captured by the insurgents; and what is the alleged cause of the outbreak?
§ Mr. PRATTThe outbreak occurred at Suleimaniyeh, a town in South Kurdistan in ex-Ottoman territory, where a Kurdish notable has obtained temporary control of the town, after an engagement with the local levies, in which the latter appear to have been worsted. The British officers and staff are prisoners, but are reported to be unharmed. Steps are being taken to extricate them, and to deal with the situation. The Kurdish Chief's action seems to be due to a wish to establish himself as an independent ruler.
§ Mr. A. HERBERTIs my hon. Friend aware that a dangerous feeling of fear and suspicion is growing up against us amongst populations in the East who have been perfectly loyal during the War, and that only a clear statement of British policy will allay those suspicions?