Palestine and the Iraq Oil Pipe Line: Construction of Two-lines Contemplated One Terminating in Haif

Details of the new agreement which I am informed was signed on March 24th. between the Iraq Government and the Iraq Petroleum Company have not yet been communicated to me, but I understand that it contemplates the construction of two pipe line systems from a point of bifurcation in Iraq, one terminating in the Bay of Acre (Haifa Bay), and the other in the Vicinity of Tripolis (in Syria), Dr. Drummond Shiels, the Under–Secretary of State for the Colonies, said in the House of Commons this afternoon, in reply to a question by Commander Kenworthy, who had asked whether the question of constructing the oil pipe lines from the Iraq petroleum fields to the Mediterranean had now been settled; what route would the pipe lines follow, and which port or ports would be used for the seaward end.

In reply to another question by Commander Kenworthy, whether he would let him know when he has actual details, Dr. Shiels said:

Yes. But the question of publication, of course, is a matter of arrangement between the Iraq Government and the Iraq Petroleum Company.

Sir Herbert Samuel asked whether Dr. Shiels could say whether the line would go from one port to the other, and Dr. Shiels replied that he could not say.

Mr. Hore-Belisha, another Jewish member of the House and also a Liberal, asked whether the Under-Secretary for the Colonies could say why there had not been a report on this matter, seeing that it had been debated in the French Chamber.

As I have stated, Dr. Shiels answered, this is an agreement between the Iraq Government and the Iraq Petroleum Company and while we have been kept generally informed, we have not the details of the arrangement.

May I ask whether Dr. Shiels will let me know when I can put another question on this matter, Commander Kenworthy questioned, and Dr. Shiels replied Certainly.