§ 69. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give the House any information as to the crisis in Iraq; in particular, whether the Iraq authorities wish to have the British Air Force removed from Iraq; and what is the estimated cost of removing that force and its equipment to Transjordania or Palestine?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Amery)I understand that the resignation of the Iraqi Cabinet, to which the right hon. and gallant Member doubtless refers, is the result of a failure to reach agreement with His Majesty's Government in the matter of the revision of the military and financial agreements concluded with the Iraq Government in 1924. The main questions at issue relate to the local forces of Iraq, not to the British Air Force. No question of the removal of the Royal Air Force from Iraq arises.