Sir,John Hewett's Report on Mesopotamia has been published. He went
out to inquire into the schemes for irrigation and for developing agriculture ; to inquire whether the expenditure charged against Army funds was confined to services necessary for the war ; and to inquire what proportion of the cost of various schemes could be charged to the civil funds of Meso- potamia. One reads with astonishment and gratification how much the Army authorities did during the war for the well- being of Mesopotamia. Good roads were built, irrigation was widely developed, over 700 miles of railway were laid, and many electrical installations were introduced. Three years of decent administration transformed many of the results of the old Turkish. mismanagement. Sir •John Hewett estimates that the civil funds of Mesopotamia may fairly be asked to pay £2,070,000 towards enterprises which, will permanently benefit the, people. He does not think, however, that the civil authorities will be able to pay very soon.
Previous page
