§ 2.43 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I beg to ask Her Majesty's Government the Question of which I have given Private Notice: Whether they have any statement to make on the situation in Iraq.
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE)My Lords, as stated yesterday in another place, reports have been circulating for some days that the situation in Iraq was deteriorating and that there was reason to fear that trouble might break out, especially in the North. The situation appears to be very confused. But Her Majesty's Ambassador at Baghdad has reported an official statement by the Director of Baghdad Radio that the Iraq Government forces are in complete control of the whole country, including Mosul, and that there are no pockets of resistance left there. Reports reaching Baghdad from Mosul indicate that Mosul and the oil fields are quiet and that British lives are not in danger. The situation in Baghdad and Basra is also reported quiet, except for demonstrations in the streets.
There are some 3,700 British subjects in the whole of Iraq, of whom some 850 live in Northern Iraq. Of these, however, fewer than 200 are in the Mosul area and the majority of these are concentrated in the oil fields of the Iraq Petroleum Company some considerable way from the town of Mosul itself. As Your Lordships will be aware, standing plans are in existence for the evacuation of British subjects in the shortest possible time, should this become necessary: Although, as I have said, there is no evidence of danger at present, these plans have now been brought to a high state of readiness.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I am much obliged for the Answer that the Minister 852 has given. In view of the anxiety which has been expressed in some quarters, I think that a good deal of the Answer will be reassuring, and for that we are grateful. I hope that, if any further news comes in during the day, we might have it, unless it is officially reported in the Press, so that we may know of it during the course of our long Sitting to-day.