File 5655/1918 Pt 2 'Mesopotamia: Refugee Camp at Baqubah (1920 – papers)' [‎445r] (900/946)

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The Refugees themselves petitioned that they might be allowed to return home via Rrbil and
Rowanduz or Neii, but on examination this was ruled out on the grounds of the utter impossibility
of passing a large body of persons through a country with bad roads and no transport facilities, in
addition to the fact that in their more prosperous days certain of the Refugees had assisted the
Russians in the work of completely devastating the whole area.
Intelligence from Urumieh at this time was most unsatisfactory. Major Eadie, visited the town
in April and reported that feeling against the return of the Christians and against all foreigners was
very strong. No Christians could leave the American Mission premises, and to show the bitter
feeling that still existed he mentioned the fact that the Moslems had been digging up the Christian
corpses, cutting off their heads, and leaving the corpses thus unburied.
In May, 1919, it was agreed that the question of allotting to the Urumia refugees an area for
their temporary habitation within the territory under British control, was to be abandoned.
In May, 1919, it was decided to send a British Vice Consul to Urumieh to try and patch matters
up somehow between Persians and Kurds, and prepare the way for a possible repatriation. Con
sequently Captain Geard of the Political Department was despatched from Baghdad in June.
Briefly to explain the situation and the result of this mission, I quote extracts from Captain Geard’s
reports for the following two months :—
July, 1919 “ Governor of Urumieh cannot carry on without an immediate grant of Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value.
4,580 and monthly sums of 14,000 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. . Without this, trouble will begin again between Persians
and Kurds. n
“ Simko has policing of the country between Solduz and Khoi. For Sawars Simko asks Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value.
2,800 for Urumieh and 1,800 for Solduz. Managed to extract 2,000 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. from Governor General
with which hope to keep Simko quiet for a week or two.”
As a result of these reports the Civil Commissioner authorised payments up to a monthly maxi
mum of £ 1,000, with the hope that it might, lead.to economies arising out of the repatriation of the
. Christians.
In August, Geard from Urumieh reports :—
“ On August 8th, discussed question of repatriation thoroughly with Governor, and sounded
leading persons of Ulemas and notables, met Simko. Result—it was suggested that I returned to
Tabriz and brought back six leading Syrians to try and arrange a modus vivendi.” These Syrians
(prompted by Dr. Packard) refused to entertain the suggestion but put forward the five following
points which they consider as a sine qua non for their return :—
1 (1) Protection. —A British Force until Gendarmerie is established under European control.
Establishment of permanent court under control of a British Vice Consul, the idea
being to secure justice irrespective of religion.
(2) Indemnity. —Losses estimated at 30 million Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. which they claim from Persia presum
ably—If no indemnity is paid, the Persian Government to help them rebuild their
homes etc., furnish cattle and seed and supervise the return of property looted.
(3) Return of all captives.
(4) Disarming of all a primary necessity.
(5) Assyrian Central Committee to be recognized.
Thus, no agreement could be come to, and the question of a peaceable settlement impossible.
Later Vice Consul, Urumieh, reports :—“ If repatriation is to be carried out this year, it must
start at once. The people must arrive in Urumieh by the 15th September to save their grapes, and
not later than October 1st.”
On the 21st August a telegram was received from the Secretary of State for India, London, by
the Civil Commissioner :—“ If Persian Government withdraws objection do you consider repatria
tion this autumn feasible ?” This was answered by the Civil Commissioner to the effect that, in
view of the reports from the Vice Consul, Urumieh, he did not consider repatriation feasible this
autumn. Thus the question of repatriating the Urumieh Assyrians this year came to a standstill and
these refugees are remaining for the present in Ba qubah.
In September, since no useful purpose was served by remaining there, and the situation becom
ing complicated and relations rather strained, the British Vice Consul was withdrawn from
Urumieh.
With regard to the repatriation of the Armenians, it was obvious from the start that it would
be impossible to move them through Kurdish country, for repatriation by land. On March 1st, 1919,
a telegram was despatched to London from Baghdad, to the effect that, by the end of March thei e
would be some 16,000 Armenians under canvas in the Refugee Camp at Ba qubah, men, women and
children being in equal proportions. That they all came from the vilayets of Bitlis and Van, and
that it was agreed it would be impossible to repatriate them by land owing to the hostility of
Kurdish tribes en-route, and to the impossibility of providing pack transpoit. It was stiongly
urged that authority be given to send them by sea to Suez, there to be dealt with on the same lines
as other Armenian Refugees with the assistance of various Philanthropic Societies. I he necessaiy
British Officers and other ranks, tentage and equipment would be sent with them.
This scheme never materialized, however, no shipping being available foi the puipose.
Never at any stage of the proceedings was it possible to lepatiiate any of the Aimenian
Refugees who came from Van, Bitlis Caucasus and Azerbaijan, by land. But in July it was found
possible to repatriate some Armenian Refugees North Westwards into Asia Minoi. I quote from
a memorandum sent from the Civil Commissioner to General Headquarteis, Mesopotamia, dated
15th July, 1919. “ I made enquiries on this subject at Aleppo recently from the local Military
authorities and from Major Noel and see no objection to certain Armenian Refugees in the camp