'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia' [‎663v] (1328/1386)

64
for assistance rendered by the latter to the insurgents, and for the alleged indifference
of its civil and military officials on the frontier.
In the measures taken the Turkish Government were simply actuated by its
sincere friendship and good-will towards the Persian Government. These measures
were of material assistance in suppressing the revolt, and moreover elicited the
satisfaction and gratitude of the Persian Government; it is astonishing, therefore,
that the Persian Embassy, in its note, should take upon itself to assert the
contrary.
Sheikh Obeidullah cannot be held responsible for the insurrection, for if the
matter be impartially examined, it will be evident that the primary causes are the
severity shown to Hamza Agha and the oppression of certain populations by the
authorities of Azerbijan, as well as the constant inroads made by the Persian frontier
tribes.
As soon as Hamza Agha was thus driven into rebellion, the Sheikh, at the
instance of the Turkish Government, withdrew from the scene of action, while the
continual raids made by the Persian tribes roused the people of the district to take
vengeance.
The good effects of the measures adopted by the Turkish Government were then
evident, and with the exception of those who remained on the Persian uplands, not a
single Turkish tribe at any time or at any place joined the insurgents.
It is necessary, however, that the Persian Government should reciprocate the
friendly efforts made on the Turkish side of the frontier. It is a deplorable fact that
Persian tribes continue their inroads upon the provinces of Baghdad, Mosul, and Van.
The repeated communications sent by the Sublime Port seems ineffectual, and the
marauders enjoy full liberty on Persian territory.
It will thus have been seen, from the details furnished, that while the Turkish
Government has endeavoured to protect Persian interests, it has good grounds for
complaining of the injury and damages suffered by the Turkish people at the hands of
Persian tribes.
The Sublime Porte, therefore, repudiates the responsibility which the Persian
Embassy seems desirous of casting upon it.
Inclosure 5 in No. 74.
Note of the Persian Embassy to the Porte, dated December 5, 1880.
(Translation.)
IT is with profound regret that we had your last note, dated the 28th November,
1880, in reply to our preceding note, in which we informed you that the Sheikh
Obeidullah, who, for three years past, has excited the Kurds of Persia to revolt, and
who is proved, on the best evidence, and by documents written with his own hand, to
be a mover of sedition, has lately crossed over to our side of the frontier with a large
force, and has himself participated in the disgraceful acts committed. We also
informed you that the Ottoman tribes of Kurds, in contravention of all engagements,
have, one after another, crossed the frontier, and openly afford assistance to the
insurgents by transporting ammunition and other necessaries. We said that, as the
Ottoman military and civil officials on the frontier do not interfere in any way to
prevent these acts, the responsibility of the melancholy consequences that will result
will rest upon those who give rise to them.
In your reply we notice that you say that, although the Persian Government
expresses its satisfaction at the steps taken by the Ottoman Government to guard the
frontier, and to prevent the various tribes of Ottoman Kurds from joining the revolt,
yet we (the Persian Embassy at Constantinople) have always taken a contrary view of
the matter. You say that, on the recommendation of the Turkish Government,
Obeidullah has withdrawn from the scene of revolt, and that it was the continual
violations of the frontier by the Persian tribes that gave rise to a spirit of retaliation
amongst the Turkish population; also that, besides the tribes now in the field, no
other Ottoman tribes have ever joined in the insurrection; thus showing your desire to
avoid the responsibility. We greatly wonder in what part of the affair our opinion has
been at variance with that of our Government.
In the first place, we thanked you, both by deputy and in person, for the
assurances you gave that you would guard the important points of the frontier. We
are sorry to say that the measures you took had no effect whatever, as they did not