'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia' [‎658v] (1318/1386)

54
I have to express my approval of the language held by Mr. Goschen as to the
policy which Turkey seems inclined to pursue in this matter.
I am, &c.
(Signed) GRANVILLE.
No. 68.
Vice-Consul Clayton to Major Trotter.—(Received at the Foreign Office, December 17.)
(Extract.) Van, November 2, 1880.
THERE is not much certain information as regards the Kurdish movement in
Persia. It is said that Abdul Kader has taken Maragha, and that his bands have been
nearly up to the walls of Tabreez itself. The greater part of his force, however, is
probably made up of tribes who have joined him for the sake of pillage, badly
armed and ill-provided, and who would at once disperse if encountered by a very small
number of regular troops. It has been rumoured for some days that Sheikh Obeidullah
himself has been surrounded in some villages between Oroomiah and the frontier, and
I hear to-day that letters have been received by Armenians from Bashkala confirming
these reports.
The Sheikh has tried very hard to get the Christians to join him. He has obliged
the Nestorians of Shemdina to go with him, and also sent to Mar Shimoun saying he
was going to punish the Sheikhs for their robberies and asking for his assistance.
Some 400 or 500 Nestorians accordingly joined his force, but finding out what was
really going on, said they had no quarrel with Persia and returned home. Also Ohannes
Vartabed, the chief Armenian ecclesiastic at Bashkala, who has recently arrived here,
informed me that the Sheikh has sent several pressing invitations to him to come and
see him and consult with him about the condition of the country and the steps to be
taken, but that he excused himself.
No. 69.
Mr. Thomson to Earl Granville.
(Substance received by telegraph, December 20.)
(Extract.) . Tehran, December 20, 1880.
THE Persian Government has received information by telegraph of the arrival at
Oroomiah of the Sepeh Salar, with the army under his command.
His Highness left Tabreez early in November to assume the chief command of the
troops dispatched to suppress the Kurdish insurrection, and during the last month he
has visited all the districts in Maragha, Souj Bulak, and Sulduz lately occupied and
ravaged by the insurgents led by Sheikh Obeidullah and his sons.
Sheikh Obeidullah’s army has now been completely dispersed, and order is being
gradually restored throughout the province.
The Sepeh Salar has shown great tact and ability in his dealings with the Kurdish
Chiefs who took part in the revolt. Most of these have returned to their allegiance,
and the course adopted by the Sepeh Salar in punishing some and bestowing favours
on others, according to circumstances, has resulted in assurances being obtained for
the future good conduct of the tribes, and in their agreeing to pay a fine of 40,000
tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. to the Persian Government in atonement for their past transgressions.
The Persian Government is, however, placed in a difficult and embarrassing
position, as the Sheikh and his sons and several of the principal Persian rebel Chiefs
have fled into Turkey and are now residing near the Persian border; and so long as
they are allowed to remain there the Persian troops cannot be withdrawn from "the
frontier districts in view of the possibility of a fresh outbreak occurring as soon as
winter is over.
The Shah and his Ministers had been led to expect, from the language held by the
Tin kish Ambassador here, that the Ottoman troops on the frontier would either
prevent these Chiefs from entering the Turkish territory, or would arrest them in the
event of their doing so ; and the conduct of the Turkish Government in neglecting to
carry out the promise given by their Representative has made a very unfavourable
impression here, both inoflicial circles and amongst the people generally.
I had a private audience of the Shah yesterday, at which His Majesty spoke very