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'Mosul Question, Lausanne 1922-1923 and after - Papers, despatches, speeches - Hotel de la Mer at Lausanne - Correspondence about oil' [‎244r] (486/501)

The record is made up of 251 folios (1 file). It was created in 15 Nov 1922-3 Nov 1923. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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T,IE IIORTHERII FHQIITI2H OP IlulQ
r j?he Colonial Office view is that the retention
of the Mosul vilayet is essential on political grounds,
as its separation from the Kingdom of Iraci would ue
an irreparable blow to that Kingdom just after the
conclusion of our Treaty with King Feisal. on military
grounds it is also to be regarded as impossible, as io
would increase the difficulty and expense of garrisoning
Iraq to an extreme degree. The following notes are
merely directed towards replying to possiole Turkish
arguments for the transfer of Mosul to iurke^.
( 1 ) Po-pulation : The best figures that we have been
‘ able to obtain,based on actual statistics, supplemented
by local knowledge, are as follows
Arabs 200,663
Kurds 438, r <20
Turks 65,89 5
Christians 62,225
Jews 16, 8 uo__
Total 784,368
C . ...
It is\practically certain that these figures give an over
estimate of the Turkish population. It therefore cannot
be claimed that on racial grounds the inclusion oi mosul
in Turkey can be demanded. The largest element in the
population is the Kurdish. The Kurds are not racially
related to the Turks. They are Moslems, out ..-ie
probably of Indo-European race, their nearest relations
being the Persians. They have never settled down contentedly
under Turkish rule, and have been the cause of constant
troubles. There appears to be no reason xor returning
them to their former masters.
(2) If it is contended th-.t the Mosul area is 0 a.
importance to Turkey on economic or administrative grounds,
the answer is that all tne inoeieSuS of this a,rea are
directed southwards and not northwards. The few towns

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Content

Letters and papers on the frontier between Iraq (also written as Irak in the file) and Turkey, with particular reference to Mosul and questions concerning oil. The file consists mainly of correspondence between Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs George Curzon, and officials in the Foreign Office, Air Ministry, Colonial Office and Ismet Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. [Mustafa İsmet İnönü]. The contents of the file are as follows:

Following documents are undated:

  • Lord Balfour to League of Nations. Speech: The frontier between Turkish territory and the territory of Iraq
  • The President of the League of Nations. Reply: after Speech by Balfour
  • Typewritten report: The question of Mosul
  • Typewritten report: The Question of Mosul

The file also includes handwritten notes by Curzon on the Mosul vilayet and groups residing there.

Extent and format
251 folios (1 file)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 251; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'Mosul Question, Lausanne 1922-1923 and after - Papers, despatches, speeches - Hotel de la Mer at Lausanne - Correspondence about oil' [‎244r] (486/501), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F112/294, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100130546289.0x000057> [accessed 4 June 2026]

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