Coll 17/15(1) 'Perso-Iraq Relations: Persia-Iraq frontier; Persia's claim in the Shatt-el-Arab' [‎238v] (487/961)

from the authorities concerned all indicate that the surplus waters of the H
river were and are still flowing to Zurbatiya. This Ministry has also issTd
strict instructions to the local officials in Mansurabad to supervise the fl ^
of the surplus of the said waters to Iraqi territory as usual Furthermo^
this Ministry has communicated to the authorities concerned the content
the Legation’s note under reply, and has asked by telegraph for an enquir
into the matter and the issue of necessary instructions for urgent steps to J
taken for the return of the waters to Zurbatiya if they have m fact been cut
off. This Ministry is now occupied in studying the proposal of the Iraqi
Government regarding the meeting of a joint commission to investigate the
claims of the people of Zurbatiya regarding the cutting off of the surplus
waters of the Gunjan Cham from Iraqi territory, and the aggressions
committed against them in this connexion. The Legation will be^nfnrmpH
of the result as soon as possible.”
The following notes were then exchanged :—
“Iraqi Ministry for Foreign Affairs to Persian Legation, No. 4790 of
October 5, 1931.
(Translation.)
“ The Ministry for Foreign Affairs present their compliments to the
Imperial Persian Legation, and have the honour to refer to its note No. 2573
of the 20th September, 1931, and to express their regret at the statement
contained m the Legation’s note to the effect that ‘ the part of the Boundary
Delimitation Agreement of 1914 which relates to the delimitation of the
boundary with Iraq has not been recognised as official.’ Since the above-
mentioned agreement, including the provisions relating to the delimitation
of the Iraqi-Persian, is valid, and since the demarcation of the Iraqi-Persian
boundary was completed seventeen years ago, the Ministry believe that the
Legation did not mean by its note under reference anything to prejudice the
pi esent situation which the Iraqi Government consider as official and final.
The Ministry avail, &c.”
nuqi Minisiry for b oreign Affairs to Persian Legation,
<£ n . November 2, 1931.
(1 ranslation.)
T The Ministry for Foreign Affairs present their compliments to thi
mpenal Persian Legation in Bagdad, and have the honour to refer to it:
y 0e ." r ?- of the 20th September, 1931, and to inform it that thf
Iraqi Government have found nothing in the decisions of the Boundary
e imitation Commission of 1914 defining any regime for the Zurbatip
wa er. he Ministry therefore request the Legation to inform them of th(
name o he document which defines the regime of distribution of the waters
o e Gunjan Cham and, if possible, to provide them with a copy, h
tne opinion oi the Iraqi Government, the inhabitants of both banks musi
naturally have the right of utilising the water of the Gunjan Cham, anc
m , SU1 ab ^ e the commission already formed for the settlement of th(
mandate water question should be entrusted with the task of investigating
e zurbatiya question also, with a view to distributing the water justlj
between the two sides.
“ The Ministry avail, &c.”
jj
lo iraqi ministry for Foreign
“ (Translation.) November 1931.
Miniotf!’ 6 I, ; i P e ': lal , Persian Legation has the honour to refer to
A t n 1 s , no v e ^°- p434 of the 2nd November, 1931, relating to the wa
are ° ^ ul ^ a Ay a - Although the surplus waters of the Gunjan Ch
Znrhnf- e ^S^fion has previously informed the Ministry, flowing
have nnt , a f C0 # to anc ^ en ^ custom, and the inhabitants of Pusht-i-k
cu 0 he water at all up to the present time, and although i