HC Deb 07 March 1928 vol 214 cc1143-4
57. Mr. DAY

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any further information that he can give the House with reference to the further raids which have taken place by the Akhwan tribes into the territory of Iraq?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Amery)

No, Sir. I have nothing to add to the reply which I made to the question asked by the hon. and gallant Member for Warwick and Leamington (Captain Eden) on the 27th February.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

May I ask whether we are to have any statement from the Government about these operations?

Mr. AMERY

Yes, Sir. Only yesterday I made a long statement.

Captain EDEN

Does my right hon. Friend recall the fact that in the reply to which he refers he stated that Ibn Saud definitely disavowed these raids? Is that still Ibn Saud's attitude, or has he changed or modified it in any way?

Mr. AMERY

It is not so easy to get in touch with Ibn Saud, but so far as our information goes I gather that he does disavow these raids.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

May I ask whether there is any truth in the statement made in the "Manchester Guardian" to-day that there have been raids from Transjordania into Nejd as well as vice versa?

Mr. AMERY

No, Sir. As far as I am aware there is no truth in the statement.