'Mosul Question, Lausanne 1922-1923 and after - Papers, despatches, speeches - Hotel de la Mer at Lausanne - Correspondence about oil' [‎230r] (458/501)

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Modification “ D ” (marked on map by a continuous green line).—The fourth
modification is, in addition to the three surrenders under “ C,” to draw the line almost
due south from the Sunbul Mountain so as to include the Thai Valley and exclude from
Irak the Jelo and Baz area, which under modification “B” becomes an awkward
salient. The Jelo and Baz Assyrians, owing to the difficulty of maintaining an existence
in the Jelo and Baz Mountains, hesitate to return.
Modification “ E" (shown on map by yellow dash and dot).—This proposal is to
bring the frontier back to the watershed The boundary between adjacent drainage basins. of the Dibur River, that is to say, behind the
lines of the “ B ” and “ 0 ” modifications.
Modification “ F ” (marked on map by green bars and crosses).—This proposal has
been prepared in accordance with the suggestions of the Air Officer Commanding, who
would prefer to surrender the Jelo and Baz country (modification “ D ”) before
surrendering the Girdi tribe and the Zini-e-Berdi Pass (modification “ B ”). Under
this proposal the frontier line would be the same as that under modification “ D” up*to
a point on the true old administrative boundary (continuous red line) about 4 miles
north of the Shemsdinan River and about 9 miles south-south-west of Chachelli. From
this point it runs parallel with the right bank of the Shemsdinan River towards the
north-east until it meets the “ new extreme limit,” which it then follows as far as
the Persian frontier.
VI. — Comments on Modifications.
Modification “ A ” has the concurrence of the Air Officer Commanding, who points
out, however, that, in order to deny the crossings of the Khabur and Hazil Rivers, the
old administrative boundary, running along the right bank of the Khabur and Hazil up
to the western point of junction with modification “ A,” is preferable to the line as
marked along the left bank of these rivers.
Modification “ B ” entails the loss of the barrier wall and the important pass at
Zini-e-Berdi. It cuts off the Oramar, Herki and Girdi from their political connections
and economic centres, and gives the Turks a base for propaganda amongst the remainder
of the Bahdinan (or Mosul) Kurds. It also makes of the Jelo and Baz an awkward
salient.
Modification “0” surrenders an area which is barely inhabited and rarely
frequented even by nomads. Once the important pass of the Zini-e-Berdi is
surrendered, this area is of little value. It gives up the small and unimportant
Baradost tribe. At the same time it looks large on the map, and the modification
might be very attractive to the Turks.
Modification “ D ” lops off the awkward salient of the Jelo and Baz. The ground
is of no economical value, but the peaks form a formidable corner bastion to the
frontier. Moreover, the surrender of the Jelo and Baz gives the Turks easier access for
the purpose of intrigue and propaganda to the remainder of the Assyrians already
settled in the mountains.
Modification “ E "—The country surrendered under modification “ E ” is but
sparsely inhabited and of little economic value. It is true that Sidekan-Keli Shin-
Ushnu route is left unprotected by this surrender, but, on the other hand, the
Rowanduz-Rayat-Ushnu road is still protected by the Algurd-Rust-Ser-e-Hassan Beg
mass of mountains. The Air Officer Commanding agrees that this surrender is of little
military importance. Once the pass at Zini-e-Berdi is given up, the next passages of
military importance art; the Rowanduz passes.
Modification “F .”— The advantages of this line are that, while it avoids the
awkward salient of the Jelo and Baz and appears a much smaller demand than the
<£ extreme limit,” control is maintained of the Zini-e-Berdi Pass, which is the only
gateway in the wall of mountains practicable for military formations. Control is also
maintained of the important Girdi tribe.
VII. — Cession of Nerva-Eaikan Deprecated.
Under the fourth proposal of Sir Percy Scott’s despatch, it was suggested that, in
order to maintain the administrative boundary north of Amadia, the Nerva-Raikan
district might be surrendered and the line brought back to the Kurazhor-Chia-e-Shirin
ranges, which run along the left bank of t he Zab, east of Amadia. I hesitate to repeat
this suggestion, involving as it would the surrender to Turkey of the two tribal
communities who, though they have never been visited by troops, have been, of the
Kurdish frontier tribes, the only two whose conduct has been consistently loyal to the
Administration of Irak.

'Mosul Question, Lausanne 1922-1923 and after - Papers, despatches, speeches - Hotel de la Mer at Lausanne - Correspondence about oil' [‎230r] (458/501)

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'Mosul Question, Lausanne 1922-1923 and after - Papers, despatches, speeches - Hotel de la Mer at Lausanne - Correspondence about oil' [‎230r] (458/501)

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