File 5655/1918 Pt 2 'Mesopotamia: Refugee Camp at Baqubah (1920 – papers)' [‎444v] (899/946)

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10. It will be realized that as these Refugees are costing us something like £3 per month
per head whilst in camp at Ba’qubah, a considerable expenditure in rehabilitating them in their
homes is economically justified.
1.1. If these proposals receive the sanction of H.M.G. it will be necessary to appoint Political
Officers with adequate isubordinate staff in area “ A ” and. in area “ B ” and some expenditure on
roads would also be involved. It would be necessary to keep up a force of Nestorian Gendarmes as
a defence against external agression, and for the maintenance of internal order. If the frontier line
proposed in my telegrams 10852, 10853 of December 8th, 1918, is adopted the whole of both
areas will fall within the limits of the Mesopotamian State.
12. Any proposal to save this small community from the wreck of the Turkish Empire is
assured in advance of the indulgent consideration of H.M’s. Government and of the Allies, and the
Nestorian Community, are so advanced in many ways, that I cannot but think that under such
auspices they would rapidly become self supporting.
There are, however, certain objections to the above proposals from the point of view of our
relation with the Kurds and with the proposed new Kurdish state which it would be unwise not to
take into account.
13. The action proposed will in all probability be interpreted if. taken as showing that the
policy of H.M’s. Government like that of the U.S.A. and France was to favour the Christian elements
in Tmkey at the expense of the Mohammedan element, audit is possible that such action might have
an unfavourable effect on cm tent negotiations in connection with the conclusion of Peace with
Turkey. Our relation with Kurds in other areas, such as they are, can scarcely fail to suffer tempo
rarily but not to such an extent as to provoke serious hostilities.
14. I am strongly of opinion however, that these considerations do not justify the abandonment
ot the project. The number of Kurds 4o be evicted from Area “ A ” does not exceed 2 000
families, and there is ample room for them in adjoining areas. They are all more or less a party to
the i ecent outrages at Amadia, and have forfeited all claims to consideration. I should nevertheless
piopose to give them some compensation in order that their eviction may not press unduly on them
or sow seed of future trouble in this area. ‘ ’
15. If action is to be taken at all to give effect to the above proposals it should be taken during
the early autumn m Area A which is within the Armistice line ; action in Area “ B ” will, owing to
transport difficulties scarcely be practicable till the following spring. Action in both areas is
however essential to the success of the scheme, and I would trust that fTM.G. will be pleased to
issue early orders on the subject in order that adequate arrangements may be made in advance
lor lood and other supplies.
vnu 16 ' rhe clearance of the Southern portion of this area is in any case an integral part of
Military operations now in progress, and in anticipation of a decision on the general question the
rT™ k w hlC V S UP he A fy nan Battalion, a well armed and well disciplined force now at
Ba qubah to act under the orders of the local Military authorities in the Amadia district or elsewhere
as may be necessary.
17. I have sent a copy of this despatch, which has the full approval of the G.O.C.-in-Chief to
t 5 Gove rnment of India, to the High Commissioner, Constantinople, and to H.M’s. Minister
Tehran, with copies of all enclosures. bier *
Operations were successfully concluded against the Kurds in September, and a reply is still
Nestorian Enclave An area of land belonging to one country and entirely surrounded by land of just one other country. ^ 011 ^ ^ repatriation of the Assyrians and the formation of the proposed
rj° turi i n ° w to ^ ie of the repatriation of the Urumian Assyrian Refugees. At a
a°iv f erUW f e d ° n March 13th > 1919 - on the recommendation of the Medical Authorities, it was
a^ieed that for reasons of health Refugees from Urumieh should be moved to a more suitable climate
WaS suggestec • with the proposal that the Persian Government assisted by the American
Relief Commission should assume responsibility for the maintenance of the Refugees on arrival at
Hamadan and for their eventual repatriation thence to their homes.
i T he Assyrians were to be responsible for their own protection from the time they left Baaubah
aaC f f ° r ^ Purpose an additional Battalion of 1,000 rifles under British Officers and other ranks
was foimed to enable these Refugees to protect themselves on arrival in their own country.
I might mention at this point, that although it was originally decided to repatriate the Moun
taineer and Urumian Assyrians by different routes, the propositon called for a protest from the
present Patriarch Mar Polls Shim un, who complained that it would effectually destroy national
unity and undo his own position. He also stated that he would be powerless to prevent the
Mountaineers from accompanying the Urumieh party to Hamadan. Prevent the
The Urumieh Refugees themselves feared that without adequate protection thev wonM h*
unable to return via the Bijar Sain Kaleh road, where they at the rear of the mrtv h J 1 ^
suffered so much on account of the excesses committed by the Mountaineer Refugees on f ^ reaC y
down. Expert opinion was inclined to the view that if tlm Urumieh refugeL ^
Hamadan, the only possible route onwards was via Zinzan and Tabriz. Even this wnc i
subject to successful operations being concluded against the Jungalis 1 y possible
responsibility in the matter. ner , me y refused to accept any
to loolf after*the^R^fufrees 0 onarriraI S at n Haniadon 0n more S o 011 t ted ‘ hat their were insufficient
work was beyond the scope of^CiViHan^Relf^organizatJon.^ 16 SS1 ° n ^