Coll 17/4 'Iraq-Syria & Syria-Transjordan frontier: delimitation' [‎376v] (765/788)

N 0TE: (a) These two minor adjustments are rendered necessary by the
fact that the Treaty Frontier does not accord with tribal divisions. In the first
instance it includes within ‘ Iraq a portion of the Slopi tribe which is dependent
on Jazirah and in the second it excludes from ‘Iraq sections of the Sindi and
Guli tribes who are dependent on Mosul. The retention—more correctly the
adoption as an administrative boundary—of the Treaty Frontier would thus tend
to produce local disorders and general unrest.
(b) I am aware that the river boundary, which the first of these modi
fications would involve, is open to criticism from a purely military point of
view, but I venture to think that in this instance the political considerations are
sufficiently strong to overrule the military objections.
(c) The surrender of the strip of arable land north of the Khabur would
be an indication of our sincerity as suggested above in Section IV, para. 6 . The
area to be included on the other hand is mountainous and rugged and of little
economic value.
(2) The inclusion of a considerable area representing the Amadiyah dis
trict and the Nestorian tribal country generally.
Note:— (a) The pre-war boundary of the Mosul Wilayat at this point was
was not satisfactory in that it separated from Amadiyah the summer pastures
of a number of Assyrian and Kurdish tribes who were, and are, economically
dependent on that town and on Mosul. This fact, which was unimportant wdien
the boundary was merely one between two provinces, may be the cause of serious
difficulties if the same boundary is adopted between Turkey and ‘Iraq.
(b) The inclusion of the Assyrian country in ‘Iraq would facilitate the
repatriation of those now prevented from returning by their fear of the ven
geance of the Ottoman Government, from which we are under moral obligations
to protect them.
(c) The Assyrians, whose homes were thus included in ‘Iraq, would become
‘Iraq subjects and therefore eligible for enrolment in the ‘Iraq Levies, from
which they are at present debarred by Article 207 of the Treaty of Sevres. In
view of the fighting qualities of the Assyrians, this consideration is one of no
little importance and ensures an adequate means of defence for the frontier
proposed.
(d) If these tribes are not included in ‘Iraq, they will feel that they have
nothing further to expect from either the ‘Iraq or the British Governments;
their predatory instincts will consequently be indulged to the full at the expense
of Iraqis, British, Kurds and Turks impartially. Furthermore it is not im
probable that-the Assyrians, finding that they can no longer look to the British
for munitions and support, will turn again to their old friends the Russians
thereby offering a fresh field for Bolshevik propaganda and enterprise.
(e) The area which it is proposed to include comprises those tribes of the
sedentary Kurds and Christians who are economically dependent on Amadiyah
and the country of the main fighting Assyrian tribes. It is curious that the
boundary proposed, though traced without back-reference, is practically identical
vith the boundary of the Assyrian enclave proposed in August 1919 and
shown on the map forwarded to the Secretary of State for India with the’Civil
Commissioner's despatch No. 23268/119/48, dated 4 th August, 1919.
m length by 15 “«« * <*p*»
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