'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia' [‎667v] (1336/1386)

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Persian frontier. The Porte might deem it expedient to recognize the Sheikh as the
head of the Kurdish nation, provided he guaranteed to keep the tribes in order and pay
a fixed annual tribute to the Sultan. On the other hand, it may not be altogether an
improbable conjecture that the Sheikh hopes eventually to exempt himself from Turkis
rule, or that the pressure imposed upon the Porte in Europe has developed in Asia a
condition of things by which the retrograde party hope to create a diversion.
Inclosure 5 in No. 77.
Consul-General Abbott to Mr. Thomson.
(Extract.) Oroomiah, October 7, 1880.
ON arriving at Oroomiah on the 2nd instant, the first intelligence I received was
that a large Kurdish army, under Sheikh Abd-el- Kader—one of Sheikh Obeidullah’s
sons—had advanced from Ushnei upon Suldouz, where they were met by a force of
Karapapacks and Mammash Kurds, who, seeing that resistance was useless, yielded to
the Sheikh and joined his army. The Governor of Suldouz furnished the necessary
supplies for the Sheikh’s army, which then proceeded to Souj Boulak. The Prince
Governor of that town, having heard of the approach of the invaders, had already
left for Tabreez. The Kurds therefore entered Souj Boulak without any opposition
on the part of the inhabitants, who also furnished supplies to Sheikh Abd-el-Kader.
He then passed on with his army to Miandoab.
The Christians residing at Suldouz were not molested by the Kurds, and hitherto
they have refrained from ill-treating the Shiah inhabitants in their path.
It was reported here yesterday that several messengers, sent on by Sheikh Abd-el-
Kader to Miandoab to demand supplies and sound the intentions of the inhabitants,
were slain by the latter, who refused even to listen to their message, and that the
Sheikh, incensed at this, hurried on with his army to Miandoab, sacked the town, and
massacred the inhabitants.
A Protestant Nestorian from Gawar reports that there is a large gathering of
Kurdish Chiefs and tribes in that district. They are flocking to the Sheikh’s standard
from all parts of Kurdistan, the Sheikh having summoned them through one of his
principal officers, who is distributing letters broadcast for that purpose.
Subsequent to the capture of Souj Boulak, the fortress of Lahijan, with its guns
and garrison, surrendered to the Kurds, the Persians having previously spiked the
guns.
It is reported that Sheikh Obeidullah's plan is to attack Persia with three
separate armies. The first army will be directed upon Khoi and Selmas ; the second,
upon Merghever and Oroomiah; the third, upon Souj Boulak and Tabreez.
Oroomiah is at present menaced by a Kurdish army under Sheikh Sadik. This
force has taken up its position at Nergee, on the extremity of the Merghever Plain,
within 24 miles of this town. There is nothing to prevent Sheikh Sadik marching
upon and occupying Oroomiah. The Ikbal-ed-Dowleh's forces are nominally two
regiments, but are dispersed about the district, and were Oroomiah suddenly
surprised, the Governor could scarcely make a resistance. He would not be able to
collect together more than 700 men, and Oroomiah would probably share the fate of
Souj Boulak.
I have had an interview with the Ikbal-ed-Dowleh, who is encamped upon the
outskirts of the town, and urged upon him the necessity of telegraphing to Tabreez
for reinforcements.
The Veli Ahd has doubtless communicated to the Shah this serious position of
affairs, by which the safety of his seat of government is threatened; for unless the
Persian Government be prepared to bring proper forces into the field to oppose the
Kurdish army at Miandoab, Sheikh Abd-el-Kader will continue to march in the
direction of Tabreez.
In my previous correspondence with your Excellency and Her Majesty’s Foreign
Office, I have constantly pointed out the danger which would accrue to the Persian
Government and to the Christian populations in these regions if Sheikh Obeidullah
were allowed to acquire unlimited influence over the Kurdish tribes within the Persian
border, but the Government of the Shah did not appear to consider the danger to be
imminent. Now, the Sheikh makes no secret of his intentions. His project is to
place himself at the head of a Kurdish Principality and to annex the whole of
Kurdistan, both in Turkey and Persia.