§ 8. Lord HUGH CECILasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement in respect to the Assyrians in Iraq; first, as to the provision of relief for their present and proximate distress, and secondly, as to the prospect of their permanent settlement and relief by emigration?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe responsibility for providing for the security and relief of the Assyrians in Iraq rests with the Iraqi Government, who have undertaken to keep the Assyrian Committee of the Council of the League of Nations informed of the measures taken by them to this end. I understand that the Iraqi Government have now set up a committee, including certain of their officials of British nationality, to deal with the whole question of the relief and maintenance of the Assyrians, pending a decision as to their ultimate future. With regard to the second part of the question, the Assyrian Committee of the League is still actively investigating the feasibility of arranging for the resettlement of the Assyrians outside Iraq, and recently addressed an appeal to a number of Governments inviting them to reconsider the possibility of accepting the Assyrians in any of the territories under their control. His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, who were among the Governments approached by the Council Committee, are giving the matter their earnest attention.