![File 36/1919 Pt 3 ‘KURDISTAN POLICY & SITUATION’ [‎104r] (216/608)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x0002a4/IOR_L_PS_10_782_0216.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "File 36/1919 Pt 3 ‘KURDISTAN POLICY & SITUATION’ [‎104r] (216/608)")
File 36/1919 Pt 3 ‘KURDISTAN POLICY & SITUATION’ [104r] (216/608)
The record is made up of 1 volume (295 folios). It was created in 23 Dec 1919-4 Dec 1922. It was written in English and French. 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
To or
The Political Officer *
Arhil Pivision;
The attached unsolicited memorial signed by Mullah
Mohomad Effendi (Hakim-i-Shara) and Jamil Agha (Depjr. Kakim-
i-Shara) is forwarded to you in original.
I yesterday visited Mullah Mohomad in his office, /Osten
sibly to discuss a question of routine, hut in reality to gain
hie views on the situation of Constantinople by the Turks,The
news ofthis decision had not reached here, and the announce
ment did not appear to concern Mohomad at all, Ke said it was
a pity that the city and straits could not have been controlled
by Britain, but he expressed a decided opinion against the
wisdom of any ^joint allied control, and declared that, ratter
than that, the city was much better left with the Turks, He
however presumed, that the straits would be controlled by
Britain,
/ in order to insure free communication and commerce*
Though this retention of Const ntinople by the Turks did
not seem to worry him, Mullah Mohomad was obviously anxious lest
ju.j uLnii'mnmrcmqifec*',,,.
Kurdistan might be similarly returned to Ottoman misrule,
mijaar^rir- -- - - - '' ,
After discussing at length on the corrapt rule of this Dis
trict by the Turks, and giving me many examples of their
conduct here and elsewhere, he compared, that rule to the pre
sent British Administration, He confessed that, though he had 7
served under four British A,P.Os, and had seen the work of
many successive B,0*Ps, he had nothing but praise for their
/
just dealings and moral lines, which were a glaring contrast
against the corruption and immorality of their murkish prede
cessors, who broke every rule and ordinance which was laid down
in their Qoran,
l
Mullah Mohomad repeated]declared with conviction that
there was no hope of salvation for Kurdistan except under
British protection and guidance; and he said that if the
0 untry was abandoned to the Turks it would be evacuated by
About this item
- Content
This volume contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, newspaper clippings, parliamentary notes, telegrams and minutes. It mainly covers conversations between British officials regarding the political situation in Kurdistan, but also contains correspondence from Kurdish representatives and various British organisations.
The volume covers and includes the following:
- A description of the political situation in Kurdistan by Philippe Berthelot of the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs
- Opinions expressed by British officials as to whether Turkish authorities should be excluded form Kurdistan, whether Kurdistan should be portioned, and whether its frontier should follow that of the ethnological frontier between Kurds and Arabs
- Opinions expressed by British officials on the growth of political and social movements related to Kurdish nationalism
- Descriptions of the political movement towards the establishment of an autonomous Kurdish state
- The views of Hamdi Bey Baban [Ḥamdī Beg Bābān] regarding the Kurdistan situation
- Minutes of monthly conferences on Middle Eastern affairs throughout 1920, giving views on Kurdistan from British and French officers and covering different subjects regarding the political situation in Kurdistan and Mesopotamia
- Aspects of the future administration of Sulaimaniyah [As Sulaymaniyah]
- Plans from British officers regarding the political situation in Mesopotamia and its possible future government
- Mentions of interest in Mesopotamia in ‘bolshevism’
- Reports on 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. recommendations regarding Kurdistan
- A memorandum on Kurdistan, with the following headings: ‘Kurdish political activity', ‘Aims of the Kurds’, ‘Turkish Scheme’, ‘Kurdish Objections’, ‘The immediate situation’, and ‘Suggested solution’ (ff 267-270)
- Opinions expressed by Kurdish people on Kurdistan and its politics
- Conflict in Mesopotamia and Kurdistan regarding: British refusal to allow visits to the tomb of Shaikh Kaka Ahmad [Ḥājjī Kākā Aḥmad al-Shaykh], including the imposition of heavy fines and prison sentences; arrests and deportations to Baghdad of unnamed ‘notables’; and the execution at Sakis [Saqqez] of Rusten Khan [Rustam Khān] by order of the Governor of Sineh [Sanandaj]
- Correspondence relating to Kurdistan, including: repatriation of Assyrian Christians; securing of borders; Kurdish districts in Persia [Iran;] Kurdish nationalism
- A letter from the Travellers Club regarding the situation in the Kurdistan.
The principal correspondents are: Civil Commissioner, Baghdad; High Commissioner, Constantinople [Istanbul]; Winston Churchill, Secretary of State for the Colonies; Political Officer at Sulaimaniyah; Hamdi Bey Baban.
The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (295 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume’s contents are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.
The subject 36 (Kurdistan) consists of 2 volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/781-782. The volumes are divided into three parts, with parts 1-2 comprising the first volume and part 3 comprising the second volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the inside last folio with 293; 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.
The volume has four foliation anomalies: f 106a, f 111a, f 172a and f 203a.
A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
File 36/1919 Pt 3 ‘KURDISTAN POLICY & SITUATION’ [104r] (216/608), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/782, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100136722016.0x000011> [accessed 15 July 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100136722016.0x000011
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100136722016.0x000011">File 36/1919 Pt 3 ‘KURDISTAN POLICY & SITUATION’ [‎104r] (216/608)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100136722016.0x000011"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x0002a4/IOR_L_PS_10_782_0216.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x0002a4/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/782
- Title
- File 36/1919 Pt 3 ‘KURDISTAN POLICY & SITUATION’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:i-v, 1r:66v, 68r:106v, 106ar:106av, 107r:107v, 109r:111v, 111ar:111av, 112r:125v, 128r:129v, 131r:133v, 136r:138v, 142r:147v, 152r:168v, 168ar:168av, 169r:172v, 172ar:172av, 173r:176v, 178r:203v, 203ar:203av, 204r:285v, 289r:293v, ii-r:ii-v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence