'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia' [‎663r] (1327/1386)

63
Hamza Agha, alter a seriesol audacious depredations in Persia had fled across the
Turkish border, whence, after enlisting some of the j qi —55 ol hi
and severa, kurdsof the U” he had‘retowrd,ofndhskneaPheidrllah
Kursin.Persia andsommitted acts of violence and oppression on the loval subjects
0fSayuuggh Sandjaki that, moreover the son and grandson of the Sheikh had
beenindamzas4ghac mpany and that there was reliable information as to the
~helkn s complicity in the insurrection.
, The. Sublime Porte, in its reply states, that out of regard for international and
Treatyrights, and considering the identity of race and proximity of territory, it had
given | heunecessary instructions to its officials to prevent the co-operation of the
lurkish. Kurds and the spreading oi the insurrection ; that it had further shown its
friendship for the Persian Government by sending reinforcements to all the important
points on the frontier and especially into the districts of Revandiz, Hakkari, Kuvar,
and ) an ’ that it had thus, as far as possible, cut off all means of communication by
which the nurkish Kurds might join the insurgents, but that it could not hold Sheikh
Obeidullah re sponsible loi his son s actions, or as an accomplice in his son’s insurrec
tion across the frontier.
The Persian Embassy tenders its thanks to the Sublime Porte for the friendly
measUK's taken on its behalf. It has, nevertheless, heard from reliable sources that
the Turkish Kurds ha^e recently been crossing the frontier, tribe after tribe, carrying
military stores to the insurgents in Persia, and in every way openly affording them
assistance ; that Sheikh Obeidullah himself has passed over with a large force, and has
been perpetrating acts of barbarity in Urmia and the adjacent districts; that in spite
of the precautions oi the Sublime Porte, the Turkish Kurds have in no way been
prevented from rendering every kind of service to the rebels, nor have the means of
communication been cut off, owing to the indifference of the Turkish officials on the
frontier; a course of conduct most injurious to the interests of Islam and of both the
Empires, and which cannot be acquiesced in by the Persian Government.
The Persian Embassy is sorry to see that the Sublime Porte persists in ignoring
the complicity of the Sheikh, although the Persian Embassy possesses numerous docu
ments in the Sheikh’s own handwriting proving him to be the true cause of the revolt;
that for the last two years repeatedly has verbal and written information been given to
the Sublime Porte to the effect that the Sheikh has been sowing the seeds of insurrec
tion during the past three years.
In conclusion, the Persian Embassy begs to state that if by reason of his having
participated in the invasion of the Persian territory and in the revolt pressure be
brought to bear on the Sheikh, it is evident that he will re-enter Turkish territory ;
should he be allowed to cross without hindrance and not be surrendered to the Persian
officials, but, on the contrary, meet with a good reception and even be taken under
Imperial protection, such conduct would be contrary to the perfect friendship and
good-will existing between the two countries; that there would be great loss of life
and property; and that the responsibility for such serious consequences would have to
be laid on those who had obviously been the cause of them.
Inclosure 4 in No. 74.
Note sent by the Sublime Porte to the Persian Embassy, November 28, 1880
(25th Zilhijje, 1297).
" ‘ THE Sublime Porte has read with regret the note received from the Persian
Embassy, dated the 15th November, 1880 (12th Zilhijj, 1297)-, in answer to its own
note, wherein was set forth the friendly measures taken by the Turkish Government
on the frontier, and the separation of the Turkish tribes from the Persian ur s.
The Persian Embassy must be well aware that the Turkish Government, asia
pure act of friendship, has done its best to put down the revol , bot 1 y.guardins. he
frontier and by recalling before the usual time those lurkish tribes whichdwell"
the Persian uplands in the summer. , :i
Owing to these effective measures, the insurgents have been unableto incrpaseain
numbers; dissension has appeared amongst them, and the movements of the I
troopsbasyabenn facij tnttdrious facts to have been well proved, it is with astonishment
and regtt that the Sublime Porte learns that the Persian Embassy initsretecholds
the Turkish Government responsible for the invasion of Persia by the -urkish wuds