HC Deb 23 April 1951 vol 487 cc8-9W
73. Mr. Lang

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the fact that the Iraqi Law No. 12, 22nd March, 1951, is a violation of the undertaking given by Iraq to Britain as a condition of the termination of the mandate over Iraq, he will take steps to urge the withdrawal of this law.

75. Mr. Anthony Greenwood

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Iraqi law of 10th March, 1951, which threatens to deprive Iraqi Jewish citizens of their nationality, is a breach of the specific guarantees given by Iraq when the British Government put forward a successful application to the League of Nations for termination of the British mandate in respect of Iraq; and whether he is bringing this fact to the attention of the Iraqi Government.

76. Mr. Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Iraqi Law No. 12 of 1951 contravenes the guarantee given by Iraq that Iraqi nationals who belong to racial and religious minorities would enjoy the same treatment and security in law and in fact as other Iraqi nationals, which guarantee was given by Iraq when Britain placed Iraq's application for the termination of the British mandate over Iraq before the League of Nations; and what steps he is taking in the matter.

Mr. Younger

I presume that the undertaking or guarantee to which my hon. Friends refer is the Declaration signed and submitted to the Council of the League of Nations by the Iraqi Government prior to the admission of Iraq to the League. Article 10 of the Declaration stated that the stipulations thereof, as far as they affected persons belonging to racial religious or linguistic minorities, were declared to constitute obligations of international concern and would be placed under the guarantee of the League of Nations.

While the precise legal status of this Declaration made to the former League of Nations is uncertain, nevertheless His Majesty's Government have drawn the attention of the Iraqi Government to the unfortunate consequences which might ensue if any ground was given for a charge that those who are affected by these laws were being subjected to any form of persecution.