'Unrest in Northern Mesopotamia (Kurds)' [‎40r] (79/206)

FOREIGN SECRET TELEGRAMS.
Secret Department.
(P 3299) From Politieal, Baghdad, 13th Jure 1919.
(Repeated Cairo, Constantinople, Teheran, and hij post to Foreign, Simla.
Copy to Ceneral OjJicer Commanding, Baghdad, who hae seen before despatch.)
(Received 14th-lime, 10.45 p.m.)
0666. Kurdistan. Reference to your telegram of 5th June and,your telegram of
21st May, which latter was only repeated to me by Government of India on 10th dune.
1 find it most difficult to reply thereto.
2. The ethnographical map of Eastern Turkestan in Asia as issued by War Office
No. 2901, published by Royal Geographical Society, shows what areas are pre
dominantly Kurdish, and is remarkably accurate. This map illustrates forcibly the
^ difficulties of the problem.
3. The (^roup undecypherable) must presumably form the Eastern limits of area
to be recognised as predominantly Kurdish.
For economic and for strategic reasons, and in order to secure to Iraq State the
advantage of a mountain trac^£ well wooded and capable of great development, it is
desirable to include Sulaimaniyeh, Rania, and Keui Sanjak, within limits of
Mesopotamian administration.
Erbil is an integral part of Mosul Vilayet, and when I visited the town by ,
airship on 6th dune, leading inhabitants were unanimous in their expressions of dismay
at the mere prospect of being included in Kurdistan. Erbil, moreover, is on one of the
recognised railway alignments to Mosul, and like Aqra should be excluded from
Kurdistan.
Dohuk and Zakho must also be regarded as within Mesopotamia, but not
A madia.
4. The southern boundary, therefore, might run south-west from Khandildagh to
point 11^43 on 1/1,000,000 sheet, and thence to intersection latitude 37 and longitude
44, and thence to inter section latitude 37 and longitude 43.
5. I am inclined to think that the southern boundary of area predominantly
Kurdieh should run a little north of Jezireh Ibn Omar, north of Nisibin, south of
Mardin, north of Ras-el-ain, along latitude 37 to Rerejik up the Euphrates and then
following the boundary of the Vilayets of Kharput (Mamuret-ul-Aziz) Bitlis, Van thus
X excluding Erzinjan and Ezeroum.
6. Within this area which includes Diarbekir Vilayet are large tracts shown on
map as predominantly Armenian. I understand, however, from Major Noel and from
other sources that Armenians in these areas are in a very small minority, and 1 regard
it as impracticable attempt to place them in a position of superiority or independence
there. Left to themselves they would probably have no difficulty in maintaining their
position under European auspices and might enjoy a specific extra territoriality. For
the rest perhaps the Luited States of America might be prepared lo guarantee them a
livelihood, fair treatment, and prospects of national development in Erzeroum and
Trebizond Vilayets, and which could he garrisoned and administered comparatively
easily and should not be too much for Americans to tackle.
7. Kurdistan is split up into two groups, the pro-Kurdish party who under
suitable management might be pro-British and pro-Turkish party who are fanatically
inclined anti-Christian and anti-foreign. Either party could obtain effective control
of the country with some extraneous support and we have to choose between them.
If, however, Turkish authority is re-established in Armenian Kurdistan the idea of
Kurdish and Armenian States falls to the ground.
8. Numerous and virile as Kurds are and strong as the national feeling is they
are so scattered and geographically so split up by mountain ranges that it is incon
ceivable to me that they can be united except under a strong foreign administration