File 5655/1918 Pt 2 'Mesopotamia: Refugee Camp at Baqubah (1920 – papers)' [‎446r] (902/946)

CHAPTER VI.
THE REPRESENTATION OF THE ASSYRIANS AT THE PEACE CONFERENCE AND THE
AIMS AND OBJECTS OF THE ASSYRIAN NATION.
In opening this chapter, I do not wish it to appear as though I am neglecting the question of
the Armenian Nation. Every body has heard of their hope for an Armenian Republic under a
Christian Mandatorial Power. Their representatives are in Paris and in touch with their
headquarters in Egypt and their representative committees in Constantinople, Aleppo, Baghdad and
Tabriz. Few people have heard however of the small Assyrian Nation, the nucleus of which,
with the Patriarch, Mar ShinTun, the hereditary head of all Assyrians, is at present in Ba'quba and
of their aims and objects for a future National life. The only representative they had in Paris was
a representation from the Assyrians in America.
i
Soon after the Armistice, the Assyrians here in Ba'quba petitioned for one of their people to be
sent to the Peace Conference to represent the Nation. The request had to be refused, however,
on political grounds. In answer to this I quote a letter written to the Civil Commissioner by Polos
Mar Shim’un, the Patriarch of the Assyrians :—
" To his honour Colonel A. T. Wilson, Civil Commissioner and Chief Political Officer in
Baghdad, Greetings from Polos Mar Shim’un, by Divine permission Patriarch of the
Church of the East Syrians.”
“As the head of the Assyrian Millet, T do not wish to deny that I am disappointed at the
decision of the British Government, that it is not advisable to send a representative of
this nationality to the Peace Conference at Paris ; if that Government could see its way
to reconsider that decision in light of the fact that Armenians, Kurds and Arabs have
been allowed someone to plead their cause, it would be a great joy to us all.
If your honour is clear that it would not be advisable, we accept your decision loyally, but
we make two requests of you :—
T) There is, as you are aware, a discontented faction in the Assyrian Millet. When
your honour informed me that it had been decided not to allow an Assyrian
representative to go to Paris, the leaders of this faction urged me to sfend one in
secret, in defiance of your prohibition. I refused to do this, and these men are now
using my conduct as a means of stirring up discontent against me saying that
“ Mar Shim’un does not care for the Millet, but only for his own house.”
My request then is, will you write me a letter, such as I can show to my people, saying
that I did make request that a representative of the nation should be sent to
Paris, and that the British Government felt obliged to refuse the request for
Political reasons.
(2) My second request is this. Will you allow me to send a telegram' to the
Archbishop of Canterbury, asking him to secure that these wishes of our nation
be put before the Conference in Paris.—
(i) That in any arrangement made, we Assyrians may not be confounded with the
Armenians. «
{ii) That all Assyrians may remain permanently under British protection in their
own country.
{in) We would ask also (but in this case we make our request of the British
Government^ not of the Conference, in that we hope to be under that
Government’s jurisdiction) that the position of Mar Shim’un as head of the
Millet may be recognized by the Government.
We explain points ii and in further, for your information.—
ii The country inhabited from of old by Syrians or Assyrians, extends as
far North in Kurdistan as the line from Bashkala to Bitlis, and as far
West as Jezireh-ibn-Omar.
To the North of this line the Christians are generally Armenian, and to the
West of it, of the “ West Syrian ” or “ Jacobites ” communion. Natu
rally, a few scattered villages of each communion are found beyond
the line in each case, but provision could be made for these, if neces
sary. It is our prayer, that the British jurisdiction be extended
to the limits named, for it is under them, and no other, that we desire
to dwell.
We pray too that, in the light of recent events, the districts of Urmi,
Solduz, and Salamas on the Western shore of lake Urmi, and extend
ing from that lake to the present Turko-Persian border, be included
in this protectorate if possible, though we recognize that there are
special difficulties here.
Hi Owing to the primitive state of our people, we beg that the whole
Patriarchal form of Government over their various tribes be continued,
under British superintendence and advice. This simple Government
is what the people are accustomed to, and it has been found to work
best in the past.