§ 30. Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether King Feisal is sending a mission to this country, under General Haddad, to negotiate further regarding the proposed Treaty between the State of Iraq and the British Government; whether it is proposed to alter further the proposed draft Mandate for Mesopotamia to be submitted by the British Government to the Council of the League of Nations; whether the proposed Treaty with King Feisal will also be submitted, together with the Mandate, to the Council of the League; whether the proposed Treaty will be submitted to Parliament and published before it is ratified by the British Government; and whether representations have been received from Iraq that the early conclusion of the terms, both of the Treaty and of the Mandate, is desirable in the interests of the peace, order, and good government of Iraq?
Mr. WOODWith regard to the first part of the question, I am informed by the High Commissioner for Iraq that General Haddad is coming to England and that 1148 King Feisal wishes him to be regarded as his personal representative while in this country. There is no question of sending a mission to discuss the Treaty. With regard to the second part, the draft Mandate in its present form was submitted to the League of Nations, as my hon. Friend is doubtless aware, some months ago. I hope that there will be no occcasion to suggest further modifications in its wording. As to part three, His Majesty's Government are bound by Article 18 of the Covenant, if for no other reason, to submit the Treaty to the League of Nations. With regard to the fourth part, as I have already informed the hon. Member for Leyton East on 9th February, the answer is in the affirmative. As regards the fifth part of the question, I can assure the hon. Member that no representations are required from Iraq or elsewhere to convince His Majesty's Government of the importance of an early settlement of these matters.