§ 39. Squadron-Leader Segalasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by what means Rashid Ali Gailani was able to find asylum in Saudi Arabia; who assisted him to escape from Europe; and what steps His Majesty's Government propose to take to prevent his further evasion of trial as a war criminal.
§ Mr. BevinRashid Ali is reported to have travelled after the defeat of Germany from Austria to Brussels, Paris, Marseilles, thence by sea to Beirut, and on by land to Saudi Arabia. Steps are being taken to check this information and to ascertain who assisted Rashid Ali to reach the Near East. Rashid Ali is not listed as a war criminal; but he is a traitor to Iraq, and has been condemned to death in absentia by an Iraqi tribunal. His Majesty's Government are satisfied that Rashid Ali entered Saudi Arabia without either the permission or the previous knowledge of the Saudi Arabian Government. They are discussing with the Saudi Arabian Government the future of this rebel.
§ Squadron-Leader SegalIs there not a very real danger that if this arch-criminal is able to evade justice, it might be interpreted as a sign of weakness on the part of the British Government, and act as a direct incentive to further revolt in those areas, with a consequent risk of loss of British lives?