'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia' [‎669r] (1339/1386)

75
the frontier to escape from the Persian troops, who are said to be committing great
excesses. The Turkish authorities are giving harbour to these fugitive Kurds,
intending as Samih Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. has told me, to look upon the Sheikh’s expedition as
analogous to the continual raids made across to this side of the frontier by Persian
tribes, who always obtain protection on their return to Persian territory, though, as
the 1 as la imself observed, this present enterprise has been on a considerably larger
scale. Iheie seems to be no intention to use the opportunity to take steps to ensure
their own tranquillity for the future, as might perhaps have been expected.
No. 81.
Earl Granville to the Earl of Dufferin.
My Lord, Foreign Office t January 28, 1881.
IN a letter from M. de Giers which the Russian Ambassador read to me on the
25th instant, his Excellency made some remarks upon the Kurdish invasion of Persia.
He said that Her Majesty’s Government must, by this time, be reassured as to the
risk of Russian intervention in the conflict. That Russia had not sought for the
opportunity, but that, if England wished to avert it for the future, she should join
with Russia to prevent the recurrence of these disorders on the Persian frontier,
which might have serious consequences. The suspicious attitude of the Porte with
regard to the Kurdish movement had produced a bad effect at Tehran. In former
times the combined mediation of Russia and England had been successful in prevent
ing conflicts between Turkey and Persia. It might have the same effect at present,
and restore order and peace in the disturbed countries. The Russian Government, for
its part, had no other object.
I told Prince Lobanow that I could not give him any answer upon this subject
without consulting my colleagues, but that I believed they would receive with favour
the idea, that England and Russia should act in concert rather than in opposition in
their endeavours for the pacification of these countries.
I am, &c.
(Signed) GRANVILLE.
No. 82.
Mr. Thomson to Earl Granville.
(Substance received by telegraph, January 31.)
My Lord, Tehran, January 31, 1881.
THE Minister for Foreign Affairs yesterday read to me two telegrams which the
Persian Government had just received from the frontier authorities at Khoi, reporting
that Sheikh Obeidullah was again actively engaged in making preparations to resume
hostilities with this country, and that no steps were being taken by the Turkish
Government to prevent him from raising troops and purchasing arms with that
object.
Mirza Said Khan said he was desired by the Shah to request that I would
convey this information to your Lordship, and state that, unless the I orte could be
induced to adopt effective measures to restrain Sheikh Obeidullah and his sons, there
was now every probability that a fresh invasion of Persian territory from Turkey
would take place in spring.
Persia had hitherto failed to obtain the acceptance of the very moderate demands
she had put forward for the removal of Sheikh Obeidullah from the border and for
the surrender of the Persian Chiefs implicated in the recent outbreak, and the Shah
considered, therefore, that it would be a waste of time to continue to press these
demands at present. It would only lead to a repetition of the vague promises hitherto
given bv Turkey, which had led to no practical result, and in the meantime
Sheikh ‘Obeidullah would have completed his preparations and recommenced
h ° 9t The Shah was of opinion that it would be more prudent to endeavour while there
was yet time, to obtain a guarantee that some efficient measures would be taken by
the Porte to prevent Sheikh Obeidullah from again entering the Persian territoryat
the head of an armed force, and with this view instructions had been sent by telegraph
[39G] “