'Unrest in Northern Mesopotamia (Kurds)' [‎32r] (63/206)

From Political, Baghdad # 15th Juno 1919
(Repeated Cairo, Constantinople, Teheran and by post to Foreign,
Limla ) •
66C6»
Copy to General Officer Commanding, Baghdad, *ho has seen
before despatch) (Received 14th June 10#4f>.p«»#)
KORDISTAN* he Terence to your telegram f 5th June and your
telegram of 1 1st ^ay, Milch latter *ae only repeated to me by
Government of India on 10th June. I find it moat difficult to reply
thereto*
g # The ethnographical map of Kaatern Turkestan In Asia as
Is; ed by *ar Office jNo*&9oi, published by Royal Geographical
Society, shows what areas are predominantly Aurdieh, and is
remarkal ly accurate* ihis ma; Illustrates forcibly the difficulties
of the problem*
3* The (group undec*) must presumably form the ^astern limits
of area to be recognised as predominantly Kurdish*
For economic and for strategic reasons, and in order to
secure to Iras State the a .vantage of a mountain track, well wooded
and capable of great development, it is desirable to Include
Sul®imeniyah Rania, and Keui Sanjak, within limits of
l/tesopotamian administration.
I rbil is an integral part of ^oeul vilayet, and when 1 visitc'
the town by airship on 6th June, leading inhabitatne were unanlmor
in their expressions of dismay at the mere prospect of being
included in Kurdistan, broil, moreover, is on one of the reeogn
railway alignments to Mosul, and like Agra should be excluded w
Kurdistan. J?
Dohuk and £akho must also be regarded as within Hesdpota-y
but not Amadia.
4. .-.he southern boundary , tie ref ore, mlgnt- nrtifi foulhwe^
frofn Fhandildagh to point 11-43 on 1/ l 9 QQ0>QM) sheet, am ti?
to intersection latitude 37 and longitude 44, and thence to
section latitude 37 and longitude 45*
./\ >•*?'
5. I am inclined t think that the southern boundary
predominantly Kurdish should run a little north of Jesired
umar, north of Rieibin, B jp&ti of Mardin, north of Hac-eX-a
latitude 37 to berejik up the Kuphrates and then following
boundary of the Vilayets of Kharput (Mamuret-ul^xizJ bit
Van thus excluding 1 r?. in Jan and x rzeroum.
6- within this area which includes Biarbekir Vilay
tracts shown on map a a predominantly Armenian. 1 unde re
from Major Roel and from other sources that Armenians 1/
are In a very snail minor! y, and I regard it as impraj'
attempt to place them In a position of superiority or J
there, ijeft to themselves tliey would probably nave no
in maintaining their position under uropean auspice*/
enjoy a specific extra territoriality, ror the rtJet y
Vi II J V/Jf ■ fc/ss V/ JLJL X Vv v> A t#x CW 1 Uv/ X 4 <*• W & ^ ^ W
the United States of America might be prepared to go®
them a livelihood, fair, treatment, and prospects ot i
develof>ment in Erzeroum and Trebizond vilayets,
be garrisoned and admini stered comparatively easily
not be too much for AraerUcana to tackle.