§ 15. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Iraq has made any suggestion or proposal to His Majesty's Government that Iraq should apply for membership of the League of Nations; and what is the attitude of His Majesty's Government to this question?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The whole matter is still under consideration, and I am not yet in a position to make a statement on the subject.
§ 17. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards the proposal of the Government of Iraq to introduce conscription for the Army?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREHis Majesty's Government have not thought it necessary to take up a decided attitude in regard to this question. It is primarily one for the Iraq Government to decide. I should like, in this connection, to correct certain statements that have been made in the Press to the effect that the introduction of conscription is an obligation imposed on the Iraq Government by the Anglo-Iraq Treaty. This is wholly untrue. The Treaty imposes no such obligation.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYHow can we take an entirely neutral attitude when our delegates at Geneva put forward proposals for the general abolition of conscription in Europe?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThis is not Europe. This relates to the obligation of Iraq, before being admitted as a State member of the League of Nations, providing adequately for its own defence.