3. Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for India whether he will give the House any details of the small disturbance reported from Samawa, in the Lower Euphrates Valley?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Montagu)This question should be addressed to the War Office.
§ 10. Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Secretary of State for India whether the Political Department at Baghdad entered into a formal agreement with the heads of the Arab tribes living west of the 2346 Euphrates for the maintenance of peace between the latter and the present temporary military administration on 5th May; and whether a copy of this agreement has reached the India Office?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe Civil Commissioner reported on the 15th May that a provisional agreement had been reached with the representatives of the Arab Government on the Upper Euphrates as regards the frontier between Mesopotamia and Syria. Copies of this agreement have not yet reached me. So far as I am aware, no other agreement has been concluded.
§ 11. Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Secretary of State for India whether hostilities are threatening between Ibn Saud, Emir of Nejd, and the Sheikh of Koweit; if so, on what grounds; what steps are being taken by the British representative to prevent such hostilities; and whether any subsidy is still being paid by the British or Indian Governments to either of these two Arab notables?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI am not aware that hostilities are threatening between Bin Saud and the Sheikh of Koweit. There was some local trouble in May last between subjects of the latter and tribesmen subordinate to Bin Saud; but I have no reason to anticipate that the consequences will be serious. The Sheikh of Koweit receives no subsidy from the British or Indian Government. Bin Saud receives a subsidy of £5,000 a month.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIs he still receiving that subsidy of £5,000 a month?
§ Mr. MONTAGUYes.