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'Unrest in Northern Mesopotamia (Kurds)' [37r] (73/206)
The record is made up of 1 file (101 folios). It was created in 12 Feb 1919-10 Apr 1920. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
(P 4330) From Baghdad, 2\st July 1919.
(Repeated Simla, Cairo, Constantinople, Teheran. Copy to General, Baghdad,
irho has seen before despatch.)
(Received 6 p.m., 28th.)
8167. See General, Baghdad, telegram X. 7240, dated 18th duly, reporting the
(murder of) two Politicals, one British sergeant and two Indian telegraphists at
A madia on evening of 14th July.
1. I visited Mosul yesterday to confer with General Officer Commanding, Mosul,
and Political Officer on political aspect of occurrence.
2. It is clear that outbreak was not connected with the personalities of the two
'murdered officers. Capt. Willey had only just arrived there and was an experienced
and capable officer. Capt. Macdonald, who was in charge of gendarmes, was a
zealous and efficient officer, who was always regarded as being very popular with his
men, with whom he was on excellent terms. Both officers had returned that afternoon
after a week’s tour in Raikan district to east of Amadia and had telegraphed that
afternoon to Mosul that everything was quiet.
3. The outbreak as far as can be ascertained has a definite anti-Christian, as well
as anti Government origin. Numbers of Christians in the neighbourhood have been
murdered and many Christian villages have been pillaged.
4. A detachment of troops was originally sent to Amadia to facilitate the
repatriation of Christians now at Baquba by restoring order in the district. It had a
useful effect in both directions, but was withdrawn with my concurrence last month,
as its position was unsatisfactory from a military point of view.
5. It seems fairly clear that the two officers were killed by local gendarmes at
the instigation of local people, and that nearly all the leading Mohammadan notables
are more or less concerned. It is yet to estimate probable effect of the event on
Kurdish communities in other portions of Mosul Vilayet, but there is every probability,
unless drastic punitive measures are undertaken, similar outbreaks will occur
elsewhere.
6. The Kurds in this area have been treated with great forbearance and generosity
during the past eight months. Christians and Kurds alike have been given consider
able advances in cash and in kind to enable them to rehabilitate themselves. The
leading (? word omitted) Mosul have been amnestied for their misdeeds, and every
attempt made to patch up a reconciliation between them and the Christians. The
Kurd is notoriously treacherous, and this is the latest example of his national
propensity.
About this item
- Content
The file consists primarily of correspondence and telegrams between the War Office and the General Officer Commanding Mesopotamia regarding the conflict and attacks taking place in Kurdistan. The file includes the following related subjects: the creation of the Kurdish National committee and the Kurdish movement; the massacre of Christians in Kurdistan; the reactions of anti-British, anti-foreign and anti-Christian subjects; the various disturbances in Zakho, Amadia [Al ‘Amādīyah], Sulaimaniyeh [Sulaymaniyah], and Kerkouk [Kirkuk]; the British response to the Kurdish movement, with discussion of punitive action and strategic operations; British prisoners, and casualties and deaths among British soldiers; the repatriation of Christians; the armistice frontier in the southern boundaries of the British forces' area in Persia.
Principal correspondents are the War Office; General Officer Commanding, Mesopotamia; GHQ Egypt [General Headquarters Egypt]; GHQ Constantinople [General Headquarters Constantinople]; C in C India [Commander in Chief India]; Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. Baghdad; Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (101 folios)
- Arrangement
The file's contents are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 103; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present between ff 3-102.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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'Unrest in Northern Mesopotamia (Kurds)' [37r] (73/206), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/5/798, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093314956.0x00004a> [accessed 10 August 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/5/798
- Title
- 'Unrest in Northern Mesopotamia (Kurds)'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:102v, back, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence