The Iraq Mandate Ends
Whatever may be thought of the mandate system im- posed by the Peace Treaties, we welcome the ending of the mandate for Iraq. The Council of the League agreed, histweek, to admit Iraq as a member next autumn, when the British mandate will cease. When British troops entered Basra in the winter of 1914-15, Mesopot- amia was the poorest and worst governed of Turkish provinces. .:To-day,, thanks to British intelligence and energy and to the expenditure of vast sums of money, the kingdom of triaq is well on the way to prosperity. We can but hope that her ruler and people will have the wisdom to use their, independence rightly, and that the several races and religions will live in harmony. We have had a special responsibility for the Christians who tried to help us in the Mar. The League Council has stipulated that Great Britain is to enjoy no special privileges in Iraq. Of this we cannot complain, though our sacrifices on Iraq's behalf have been immense. British enterprise is well established in the country and should be able to hold its own if all foreign countries arc treated alike.
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