Papers of the Interdepartmental Conference on Middle Eastern Affairs [‎58v] (116/290)

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Sir T. Holder ness suggested that, in return tor the benefits of
British advice and support, the Kurdish chieftains might be made to
pay tribute.
The Chairman thought that this suggestion ought certainly to
be pursued, and that, in return for autonomy in respect ot their
tobacco, the Kurds ought to be asked to pay either a fixed tribute
from each area or an annual sum in ratio to the value ot the year’s
crop.
Mr. Shuckburgh asked whether the clannishness referred to by
‘Major Noel would not result in the small Kurdish States combining.
Colonel Wilson thought that they were more likely to separate
still farther from each other, unless they were united by a wave of
Pan-Islamic sentiment resulting from the peace terms with Turkey.
The Chairman reviewed the political situation in Turkey and
Asia Minor, and agreed that, while the peoples of Mesopotamia
might accept the taking of Constantinople as being a legitimate
outcome of the war, he thought that they might bitterly resent the
complete dismemberment of the Turkish Empire.
Mr. Kidston asked whether any importance should be attached
to the movement towards combining’ Kurdistan with Persia.
Colonel Wilson said that when Major Noel had first gone to
Suleimaniyeh, and had raised the cry of an autonomous Kurdistan,
a deputation of Persian Kurds had desired to join in the movement,
which was of the same kind as that which had resulted in the
formation of the Azerbaijan State. He had himself visited
Suleimaniyeh, and had explained to the deputation that our rela
tions with Persia precluded any recognition or encouragement of
such aspirations. r l he leaders ol the Persian Kurds had appeared
rather relieved at this pronouncement, and it was only a compara
tively small number of young Kurds who were at all disappointed.
He did not anticipate any recrudescence of the movement if small
autonomous States were to be established under the direct control
of Baghdad.
The Chairman said that some step appeared necessary towards
the development of a constitution. As regards Mosul and Kurdistan,
the consensus of opinion, with which he himself agreed, inclined
towards the second of Colonel Wilson’s two alternatives. Replying
to an observation by Mr. Shuckburgh, he said he did not think that,
as matters stood, we need fear that the French would take any
exception to these proposals. It was clearly impossible that the
local administration should be left at a standstill. He thought that
the Conference should give Colonel Wilson authority to constitute
his provinces provisionally by the creation of provincial councils on
the lines suggested.
The immediate appointment of a High Commissioner was not
contemplated, nor was the time yet ripe for the appointment of
Provincial Commissioners.
The'Conference decided —
That Colonel Wilson should be authorised to take steps for the
creation of the five provinces suggested by Colonel Howell
for Iraq proper, and of an Arab province of Mosul, sur
rounded by a fringe of autonomous Kurdish States under
Kurdish chiefs, with British political advisers. The
provisional formation of provincial councils and the
development and consolidation of municipal and divisional
councils were approved.