'Mosul Question, Lausanne 1922-1923 and after - Papers, despatches, speeches - Hotel de la Mer at Lausanne - Correspondence about oil' [‎229r] (456/501)

9
( 2 .) Such friction and unrest is likely to be increased by the presence within and
adjacent to the Turkish frontier of a large and necessarily disaffected
Christian population and would prove a constant source of embarrassment
to the Ottoman Government.
( 3 .) The Amadia district, being difficult and, at certain seasons, almost impossible
of access from the north, cannot be effectively controlled from that side.
( 4 .) In the event of hostilities breaking out as a result of tribal disturbances,
Amadia could be virtually isolated by forces operating from Dohuk and
Akrah and, with the additional possibility of an Assyrian rising, the Turkish
position in that district would speedily be rendered untenable.
( 5 .) Our only motive in proposing a rectification of the treaty frontier is our desire
to establish a strong and settled frontier, based on natural features and on
the existing facts of the local situation, which shall give promise ol
permanence, to the mutual advantage alike of the Ottoman and Irak
Governments.
( 6 .) As an earnest of our sincerity, we are prepared, if the above considerations
demand it, to surrender territory allotted to Irak by the Ireaty of Sevres.
I trust that it may be found possible on these grounds to support a demand for
the frontier advocated in this despatch. ^ _ .
From the west to the Jelo Peaks, the ;£ new extreme limit” almost coincides
with the line of the “first proposal” of Sir Percy Cox’s despatch. A slight
modification is necessary near the Khabur to raise the line northwards nearer to
latitude 37° 30' owing to the fact that Maunsell’s latitude here suffers a slight error
southwards and it is intended to include the high grounds north of Aleman and
Gerame. The line then continues practically along latitude 37~ 30' and along the right
bank of the Zab to the Peak “Khisara” and the Jelo Peaks—Supa Dung and
From the Jelo Peaks eastward, it is proposed to shift the “ new extreme limit to
le north-east of Sir Percy Cox’s “ first proposal,” so as to follow the divide between
avar and Oramar as far as the Chelli Peak, and thence to the Rashk-i-Ruwan Peak,
ius including in Irak the whole of the Girdi tribe, with the important Zmi-e-Berdi
ass The Rashk-i-Ruwan-Kir-i-Masgaft ridge brings the line to the Persian frontier
his “ new extreme limit ” has all the advantages claimed for the line of the first
roposal ” in paragraph YI ( 2 ) of Sir Percy Cox’s despatch. It implies indeed as he
lentioned, the surrender of a fertile strip of territory which was included in the Irak
v the provisions of the Treaty of Sevres, namely, the area bounded by the Rivers
Lris Khabur and Hazil on the west, south and east or by a line drawn rom
efiret-ibn-Omar eastward to a point to be fixed on the old road boundary, but this is
trictly in accordance with the principle enunciated—that the frontier should coincide
dth tribal divisions. It excludes from the Irak a portion of the Slopi tribe which is
ependent on Jeziret-ibn-Omar, and it rectifies the pre-war boundary of the Mosul
Mavet so as to unite with Amadia the summer pasturages of a number of Assyrian and
lurdish tribes who were and are dependent on that town and on Mosul. It is
upported, in addition, by the following arguments
/-i \ it keeps under the control of the Irak Government the two gates between the
Bahdinan (the Irak Kurdish tribes) and Hakkiart (the Kurdish tribes north
of Irak) These passes—the Geramus Pass and the Ikhuma Pass aie used
by the Artoshi nomads, who winter in the Mosul plains and summer west of
Julamerk. The control of these passes will enable the Irak Government to
check sheep-counts for taxing purposes and to restrain the raids of t te
brigand section (Shirki, Kashura), who pester the Kadhas af Zakho Dohuk
and Amadia. It ensures to Irak access to a number of summer pasturage
necessary to the Mosul sheep-owners, who entrust their sheep to the Artoshi
to take north with them for the summer grazing.
Consisting almost entirely of inaccessible heights and barren ridges, this
frontier line is unattractive to the settler, and prohibitive of military move
ment From the Jelo Peaks to the Persian frontier the line is almost an
nnmeiceable barrier ; only the Zini-e-Berdi Pass is suitable for the passage
of ^troops, and that only during the summer months. 1 he remaining
passages at Geramus and Tkhuma, already alluded to, are most difficult,
though just practicable for nomad Kurds with their flocks. There would
be no need to place military garrisons further forward than they are at
present.
(2.)

'Mosul Question, Lausanne 1922-1923 and after - Papers, despatches, speeches - Hotel de la Mer at Lausanne - Correspondence about oil' [‎229r] (456/501)

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'Mosul Question, Lausanne 1922-1923 and after - Papers, despatches, speeches - Hotel de la Mer at Lausanne - Correspondence about oil' [‎229r] (456/501)

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