'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia' [‎668r] (1337/1386)

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73
No. 78.
Earl Granville to Mr. St. John*
Pl’ r uAvv • i , Foreign Gffiee, January 7, 1881.
AE received your despatch of the 22nd ultimo, forwarding a translation
0 a memorandum, and its inclosures, addressed by Mohsin Khan, the Persian
Ambassador at Constantinople, to the Mediatory Powers, asking that their influence
might be bi ought to bear on the Porte with a view to its taking steps to prevent
the Chief Obeidulah, who is now in Turkish territory, from recrossing the Persian
frontier.
Before returning any answer to this request, Her Majesty’s Government would be
glad to learn whether the Russian Ambassador has taken any action in support of the
representations made to him by the Persian Ambassador on this subject.
I am, &c.
(Signed) GRANVILLE.
No. 79.
Mr. St. John to Earl Granville.—(Received January 8, 11:30 P.M.)
(Telegraphic,) Constantinople, January 8, 1881, 8-10 p.M.
WITH reference to your Lordship’s telegram of yesterday, I have been informed by
the Russian Ambassador that he has on several occasions supported the Persian Ambas
sador in his representations concerning Kurdish incursion. He added that he should
continue to give him his support.
No. 80.
Mr. St. John to Earl Granville.—(Received January 14.)
My Lord, Constantinople, January 4, 1881.
I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith to your Lordship copies of despatches
from Her Majesty’s Vice-Consul at Van on the subjects of the Kurdish invasion of
Persia, and of a rumoured formation of a Kurdish League.
I have, &c.
(Signed) E. R. ST. JOHN.
Inclosure 1 in No. 80.
Captain Clayton to Major Trotter.
Sir, Van, November 23, 1880.
TRUSTWORTHY information has been received here which shows that the
Kurdish invasion of Persia has now completely collapsed. The Kurds have been
severely defeated by the Persian troops, and have dispersed in all directions, leaving
only a few hundreds with Sheikh Obeydullah and his son, Abdulkader. Both of these
seem to be in rather a precarious position. It was reported here a few days ago that
Sheikh Obeydullah had returned to his residence in Shemdina, but later information
seems to throw some doubt on this. It is said that the Turks will not permit him to
return to their territory for fear of being compromised. He is, however, somewhere
near the frontier, and Abdulkader is somewhere among the Ashirets south of the Lake
of Urumiah. I have to-day been shown a letter received by the American
missionaries here from one of their colleagues in Urumiah, which says that Urumiah
was besieged by the Sheikh for a week, during which time continual fighting Was
going on,’before it was relieved by the approach of Persian reinforcements. The
insurrection seems to have developed into a religious war between the Sunnites and
Shutes, and great atrocities and massacres to have been committed on both sides. I
fear, too, that the Christians were not spared.
• Substance telegraphed.
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