Coll 17/4 'Iraq-Syria & Syria-Transjordan frontier: delimitation' [‎25v] (55/788)

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The producing possibilities of the Sinjar are still capable “^play from
We have already mentioned the part wlm* the m] § flank position against any
the military point of view; we repeat that it represents ^^^“8
movement west of the Tigris pioceedmg ro Siniar seems to give full satisfac-
The present P^^yf^atemary years of troubled ind precarious existence now
•" “ ■ I v ~™'«i < ■ — "< * p"' 1 '! » ■
consolidation. fertile and V ery populous island in the midst
To sum up, we may say that the Jebel v. 1 > view ^ b ^ ock of remar kable unity,
of a desert crossed only by nomads, J 011 ^ 15 ro . y P DrosDer ity and depriving the Yezidis
It cannot be divided by a frontier without ^rmi g P long-suffering and attractive people.
bp assigned as a whole to one or other of the paities. . ,
iSW-rit, of a. "-“JySi'sSS’l"' Thu'S"sSsi“
toSu—— »- ■ L** 11.—"»'"i.'Wi'p “»
Siniar to Iraq, and to a certain extent also on military considerations.
As regards the assignment of the Jebel Sinjar, M. Marrades did not agree with the majority s
suggestion 8 and drew ufa minority proposal which he sets forth in a note reproduced at the end
of the present chapter.
/ r \ SaU-dei>osit Sector. — The characteristic of this district from the geographical point of
view is the aspect of an elongated trough presented by the valley of the Wad. Apj and th salt
deposits. The depressions are more difficult to cross than the plateaux on either side to east d
west, especially in winter, when they are flooded; and they therefore to some extent form a natural
This region is totally devoid of permanent dwellings, and is only temporarily and partially
occupied by nomads. .
It derives its economic value exclusively from the pastures and the salt deposits of tfuara,
utilised chiefly by the nomad tribes.
To sum up this district is one of minor importance from every point of view. In order to take
into due account the present conditions of exploitation of this area, we propose that the frontier
should divide both the valley of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Ajij and the Buara salt deposit. To the south of the latter
the general line of the depressions seems to us to be the natural boundary between the two countries-
(d) Euphrates Valley Sector. — Here no line offers obvious geographical advantages as a
frontier; but we think it necessary to take into account, on the one hand, the ethnographical
conditions and, on the other hand, necessities of an economic nature.
As stated in the chapter on population, this is the region of contact between the important
tribes of the Dulem and the Ogueidat. Their villages seem to be intermingled, and inhabited also
by other sections affiliated to one or other of the principal tribes. In this particular case, therefore,
they seem to be rather a zone of contact than a line of contact.
Furthermore, we consider that, in practice, there can be no question of drawing the frontier
through Albu Kemal or in its immediate neighbourhood, as the 1920 Convention does, and that for
economic reasons the frontier should be at some distance. Moreover, a frontier situated in the
immediate approaches to the town would present serious drawbacks for both parties from the
administrative and particularly from the Customs point of view.
Albu Kemal, which is the chief town of a “kaza ”, and which is more and more asserting
itself as the centre of this region, must be given the possibility of extending, and must be surrounded
by a wide zone of arable land belonging to it.
Taking these considerations into account, we suggest that the frontier should be fixed on the
borders of the villages of Heri and Qseba, and should pass through the Leachman boundary-stone.
This line coincides with the present de facto frontier, which seems to have proved equitable and
practical.
(e) Euphrates-Jebel Tenf Sector. — This region, owing to its arid nature and the fact that it
is not permanently inhabited, is certainly the least important part of the frontier zone from the
point of view of the present enquiry. The question of changes of pasture is the only one which
comes into consideration. As we have already explained, it can be settled in practice only by means
of special agreements.
In these circumstances, we consider that the simplest boundary — i.e., a straight line — would
be the best. This indeed is the solution which had already been provided for in the 1920 Convention.
We consider, however, that account should be taken of the new situation created by the agreement
of October 31st, 1931, which replaced the straight line starting from Albu Kemal in the direction
of Imtan by a line, also straight, starting from Albu Kemal and proceeding to a point situated
3.2 kilometres to the north of Tell Romah.
We theiefore suggest that the frontier should proceed from the Leachman boundary-stone
in a straight line to a point situated 30 kilometres from the minaret of Albu Kemal, on the line