مجموعة ١٠/١٧(١) "شؤون داخلية: الوضع السياسي؛ العلاقات مع الحكومة البريطانية" [و‎‎٢‎٣‎٠] (٩٨٢/٤٦٤)

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
^ J
EASTERN (Iraq).
CONFIDENTIAL.
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June 3, 1935.
Section 1.
[E 3432/278/93]
Sir A . Clark Kerr to Sir John Simon—(Received June 3.)
(No. 281.)
Slr > „ rTTXT ( . , , , Bagdad, May 22, 1935.
WITH reference to my despatch No. JLZ4 Df the 28th March I have the
honour to inform you that most of the Kurdish aghas had left Bagdad by the
middle of April. ° J
2. Apparently they did not succeed in obtaining any definite undertakings
from the Lrovernment concerning the requests which they had put forward on
behalf of the Kurds, though soothing assurances in general terms seem to have
been given to them by both the Prime Minister and the Minister for the Interior.
3. On returning to their homes, further local discussions and meetings took
place among the interested aghas. The reports of the deputation to Bagdad
were considered, and it was generally felt that, although these were somewhat
intangible, the best course would be to wait and see what effect was given to the
oral assurances which had been received from the leading members of the
Cabinet. In regard, however, to the question of the nomination of official
candidates for the next general election, it was decided that further representa
tions should be made at once. For this purpose a deputation of aghas of the
Dauda, Jaf, Dizdai and Talabani tribes came to Bagdad in the first week in May.
4. They were cordially received by the Prime Minister and the Minister for
the Interior, to whom they explained the common desire of the Kurds that in the
next Chamber they should be represented by local personalities of note, and that
outsiders from Bagdad should not be foisted on the Kurdish constituencies. They
submitted for the Government’s consideration a list of suitable candidates from
amongst whom they suggested the Government should choose their nominees. The
Ministers promised sympathetically to bear in mind the representations of the
aghas, and dismissed them reasonably contented with the results of their visit.
While in Bagdad they frequently gathered in Sheikh Mahmud’s house. He has
told my oriental secretary that he advised them strongly not to think of any form
of tribal activity against the Government.
5. From several sources I have received information that, in addition to
their intrigues among the Shiahs, to which I have several times referred in my
despatches on the Euphrates troubles, the Persian Government are working for a
pan-Iranian movement among the Kurds. So far their propaganda has made
very little progress, but, if serious discontent were to develop among the Kurds of
Iraq, the pan-Iranian ideal, if cleverly propagated, might easily win a large
measure of support. .
6. I am sending a copy of this despatch to His Majesty s Mimstei at
Tehran.
I have, &c.
(For the Ambassador),
C. H. BATEMAN.
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