§ 8. Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Secretary of State for India what progress has been made with the formation of locally recruited levies in Mesopotamia; how many British and how many Arab officers have been appointed to this force; is the force organised on a military or police basis; what is the estimated annual cost of this force; and will this fall entirely on the Mesopotamian Budget?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe Arab levies as constituted at the end of 1919 were a civil force consisting of 13 units, with a total sanctioned strength of 6,475.
With effect from 1st January, 1920, three of the Euphrates units were reconstituted as a single unit on a military basis. It was subsequently decided to apply the same policy to the remaining units of the force. The number of British officers in the force is approximately 30; the sanctioned strength of Arab officers is 82.
The sum of Rs.47,59,420, chargeable to Mesopotamian revenues, was included in the Budget Estimate for 1920–21 on account of the levy force. Provision was made, however, for a contribution from Army Funds in respect of quasi-military duties performed by the levies on behalf of the Army.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREWhen shall we have laid on the Table of the House the Budget Estimate to which he has referred, namely, for 1920–21, on account of the levy forces? We have asked for it before.
§ Mr. MONTAGUI am much obliged to my hon. and gallant Friend for reminding me of it. I will inquire about it this afternoon.
§ Colonel YATEIs there any prospect of increasing the number of these Arab levies, and will any units be raised from the Assyrians and the Chaldeans?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it the policy of the Government to raise sufficient native levies to take over the policing and the defence of Mesopotamia?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI hope the new Arab Government will take immediate steps to increase the Arab levies with a view to releasing our own troops. Up to the present, however, I understand that the efforts of our officers have been concentrated on training efficiently a small nucleus of the Arab Army rather than in getting together a large number of recruits, which it would be impossible to train efficiently.
Sir J. D. REESCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether these levies are recruited from the Bedouins of the desert or the riparian fellaheen? Does he know what class they are or are they all classes?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI do not know. Perhaps my hon. Friend will give me notice?
§ Colonel YATEMay I have an answer to my question as to whether Assyrians or Chaldeans are being recruited?