LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Conœiunicatcd. to C « 6&5 1933.1. xhc Council, Geneve, October 31st 1933,

PPOTSCTION OF ■;.!IWORITI^ IN IPAQ,.

Supplementary petition, dated. October 8th, 1933,

from the Mar Shimun, “Catholicos” Patriarch of

the Assyrians, concerning the situation of

Assy ri ans in «

(Docs.C.504,535, 545, 556, 567 and 573, 1933,1,).

Note by the Secretary-General,

The Secretary-General has the honour to circulate, for "the examination of the Council, a petition from the Mar Shimun, dated

October 8th, 1935. This petition has been considered as supplement­ ary to those from the same source and concerning the same question previously communicated to the Council.

The text of this communication is being forwarded simultan­ eously to the Iraqi Government, for its observations.

The Secretary-General will not fail to circulate these observations to the Council as soon as they reach the Secretariat ,

Report of Mar Shimun, Cathoiicos Patriarch of the Assyriens,

October 8th, 1933.

In making this final appeal on behalf of my people, I

Recapitulate first the substance of previous reports, knowing that this document is likely to fall into the hands of many who did not receive them. The League of Nations is aware that, after the Assyrian

Hation lost its home in uakkiari as a result of the Great War, Hie

decision given by the League in 1924 assigned our home to Turkey,

bhile leaving the Nation still refugee in Iraq. The Turks refused

to allow us to return to Hakkiari.

The League of Nations expressly said* that we ough t to

have a home where our national life could go on, with its traditions

and culture; and it was to secure that, among other things, that the

(mandate over for 25 years was given to Great Britain. Yet the

question of Assyrian settlement was left unsettled for ten years;

various efforts were made after a solution, but none succeeded,

though the problem - in the opinion of one British High Commissioner

-■was not insoluble (See note I),

Meantime, the Assyrians were used as a military force by the

Mandatory Power, a fact that made bad blood between the Assyrians

and Iraqis .

In 1932 the mandate was brought to an end, the question of

Assyrian settlement being still open. The Mandatory Power >ms

warned that massacre would follow their withdrawal, and the High

Commissioner Sir Francis Humphrys admitted that he had had to take

steps to prevent such already.

Nevertheless, that gentleman assured the Assyrians that

there was no danger, and declared to the League that Iraqis were

always tolerant, and that Great Britain would be morally responsible

| in the event of trouble.

Now it is an admitted fact that there has been very serious

trouble: those tolerant people have proclaimed a MJihad1' (Holy War)

ar-d a massacre as hideous as any of late days has taken place, (see

note II details of massacre).

% "Question of Frontier between Turkey and Iraq” C.400.M.147. 1925. VII.p.90. — 3 -

This was regarded as a national triumph and those responsible

have been promoted,,

We mention these facts, not because we desire vengeance, but as showing why re fe@l that Assyrians cannot live under Iraqi administration and vzhy we are sure Iraqis would be glad to see them out of the land.

Hence we aslc what the league - which has a definite responsibility in the matter - proposes to do.

The actual massacre and its causes.

Great Britain had not settled the Assyriens when - long before its legal term - she ”closed,! her' mandate, Hence, when in

June 1932 the "closure" was near, Assyrians made an effort to secure settlement. The men of the "Levy" in British service gave a month's notice, - as was their legal right, - of terminat­ ing their service.

To avoid inconvenience} the High Commissioner asked Mar

Shimun to use his influence to keep the levy serving, gave various vague promises of the good treatment he hoped to secure for the people and suggested a reference of the whole matter to the League of Nations.

Liar Shimun did as requested, and this is the most con­ spicuous instance of his use of that "Temporal Power" of his, for which he has been much blamed.

In September 1932, Mar Shimun proceeded to Geneva, and on

November 14th of that year the Permanent Mandates Commission having heard him recommended the settlement of the Assyrians in a homogeneous Group or Unit in Iraq territory, saying that they believed this quite possible. As this solution was not accept­ able to the Iraq Government, the Council of the League recommend­ ed ” settlement in homogeneous units-”, - and left the size of the

"Units” to the discretion of Iraq. - 4 -

In January 1933, Mar Shimun returned, to Mosul (wherethe iiutasarrif told him that his appeal to the League was an unforgivable insult to Iraq) gathered the chiefs of his people - after leave secured - explained the position, and begged them to be loyal and wait the fulfilment of the resolution of the Leaguec He was also requested to secure the continuance of the service of the levy. From that time till May the Government of Iraq - now independent, with the late High Commissioner as British Ambassador only - attempted to force a "settlement”' by the method of displac­ ing the known leaders of the people and setting up instruments of their own. The people v/ere settled in small groups, isolat­ ed among hostile elements, and were established only as "tenants at will” under Arab or Kurd landlords, with no title deed or rights to show. It being the plain object of these proceedings to destroy all the corporate life of the Nation, Ear Shimun refus­ ed to co-operate in them, a fact which brought him into bad repute with officials, and gave rise to the accusation that he thought only of his own position and that of his family, and that he wish­ ed to retain his "Temporal power" against the Government.

Ear Shimun wishes to repudiate that accusation strongly.

Had it been only his own interests that he thought of, he had only to accept an abundant provision offered by the government as the price of abandoning his people.

As for tho Temp oral Power" (see note 3) he is accused of claiming, liar Shimun recognised and recognises that every Iraqi subject must obey the laws and have right of direct access to the

Sovereign. He never had any notion of asking for an "Imperium in impero" for himself. He only transmitted the desires of the people for an enclave, such as British Statesmen had encouraged them to hope for, to the League of Nations. (House of Lords. Lord

Curaon. December the 1st, 1919). - 5 ~

But Assyrians are mostly tribesmen still, and have always

been accustomed to use the mediation of their Patriarch in dealing

-7ith Government, While any man who so wishes can petition Govern-

ment direct, any man who prefers it can present his petition

through another. The feet that a poor man among the Assyrians

normally ignorant of Arabic oould not obtain attention from local

officials made this a necessity for them.

Mar Shimun sought no more than the continuance of this practice needful for his people, and granted in Iraq to other

types, Arab and Kurdish, in the same position as the Assyrians.

As the tribesmen become settled and educated the right would naturally lapse. (See note 4).

In May 1933, Mar Shimun was summoned to Baghdad and

detained there under surveillance; with the idea, admitted by

the British administrative Inspector at Mosul, that his absence

from his people would break his influence with them, so that

such a settlement as Government desired could be forced upon them.

(See note 5)» Here Mar Shimun had interviews with . ",jor Thomson

the English "Settlement expert”, but found that that officer an regarded himself as no more than/agent for the execution of the

Government policy. Meantime, in Mosul attempts were made to

I go on with the Government scheme, but the people refused to

co-operate with it, ignoring the "Maliks” (local Chiefs) set up

I by G-overnment in place of those they knew, and petitioning for

the return of the Patriarch. (See note 6).

Ugly signs began to multiply; there were threats bruited

that the Patriarchal House should be exterminated; inflammatory

speeches were made in Parliament advocating the destruction or

expulsion of all the Assyrians; and fears of massacre spread among

them. - 6 -

The climax was reached July 10th-llth. m those days the

Mutasarrif of Mosul called the Assyrians together saying "Here is

the Government scheme. Those who do not accept it can get up and

leave the country” . Hence came the departure of a total of about

1500 men - in several parties under their own "Maliks” rather than

one body under Yaku d ’Malik Ismail - with the idea of passing

into French territory.

It was not a rebellion, it was the migration of a body of

men who despaired of life in Iraq and were doing what a Government

official urged them to do. (See note 7). They intended that

their families would follow them. It was when others tried to

follow and join them that Government troops tried to check the

movement and the collision of August 4th resulted.

For six ds*ys after that date there was deliberate and

appalling massacre of all Assyrian/'males in the Dohuk district, - many women and children being killed also - by Iraq troops in

uniform, with the knowledge of Iraqi officials.

The massacre was stopped when it was considered to have

gone far enough and celebrated as a triumph. On August 18th

Mar Shimun - still till then under surveillance in Baghdad - was

deprived of Iraqi nationality and deported. This was done without

trial by ex post factolaw, ja procedure applicable now in any other

individual case. He wes sent to Cyprus, and now having come

to Geneva presents this appeal to the League.

Ten or more of the leaders of the people remain in

captivity or exile and we ask that the League concern itself

with their safety. (See special note).

His petition to the League is as follows:

If there be any doubt as to the facts complained of,

let a Commission of the League be ordered to investigate matters,

and to make an independent enquiry. ~ 7 -

For the future :

We ask for no vengeance, nor do we wish to be regarded as making propaganda against the Government of Iraq. though we do ask for compensation for the wronged, We say this :

Facts have shown that it is not possible for Assyrians to live under ordinary Iraqi administration and equally impossible for

Iraqis to receive them. We ask that the Commission rtre have requested should make suggestions for the future of the people and we put forward our own ideas on the point.

A. If it should be possible at this late date, to form

(as suggested by Lord Curzon Bee. 17, 1919) a "Kürdish-AsSyrian enclave in the " north o f ' the’'O/ilcyat' of-Mosul .- under -r special administration” , where Kurds and Assyrians night dwell together, we would accept that solution; but we doubt the possibility. It could only be by the consent of the Government of Iraq, in which Kingdom the enclave would be„

B. Should it be deemed - under a resolution adopted 5/9/23, - that it is not regular for a minority to ask to be removed from the jurisdiction of the government under which it lives, then we waive the intention of such a request: but we point out that the government of Iraq has recently passed a law by which it can deprive all Assyrians of Iraqi nationality if it pleases, without trial ; and it has done so in our own case « Mar Shimun the petitioner is not a subject of Iraq, and so does not cone under the terms of the resolution referred to„

At any rate we do ask the League to appoint a commission to report &s to what ought to be done in our Assyrian case, for failing some effective protection, the Assyrians wL11 either be destroyed, or the more vigorous will scatter over the earth while the weaker are reduced to the status of serfs of Iraqi landlords. - 8 -

To stop such a scandal, we appeal to the sense of honour both of the League of Nations and the Great Power that undertook the settlement of the people and accepted service from them pending. settlement,

We also beg not only for the appointment of the Commission that shall have the authority of the League of Nations for investigating the matter and finding a final solution for the Assyrian problem b u t also we beg that this Commission shall be empowered to take all necessary steps for the relief of those whom the recent massacres have left starving and destitute.

Murders we know are still going on in the districts and unless these steps are taken promptly, there will be an extension of the recent lamentable events.

( signed ) ESBAI SHIMUN

By the Grace of God, , Catholicos Patriarch of the Assyrians. - 9 -

It being reliably reported, from Iraq, that some of the Iraq ;overnment’s accusations against the. Mar Shimun are as follows, he onsiders it essential to refute these allegations which are devoid 31- ^undation- J-

nte No «1 • The Commissioner in question was Sir Henry Dobbs who isolared that ’’there were more than sufficient deserted lands , the property of the Iraq Government, to the north of Dohuk, in Amadiyah ixii the northern hills, upon "which the mountaineers could be permanently settled.o’*

At the utmost, no more than 15,000 individuals were settled, sostly as tenants to Kurdish landlords, out of 40,000 >

Captain Foweraker was British settlement officer in the later days of the mandate, and settled several hundred Assyrian families in various places0 The Iraq authorities declare that ti.57 continued his work of settlement.

In fact, while settling some 50 families. they dispersed about 100 for whom he had found homes „ The practice of first "settling" and then displacing Assyrians was very widespread »

Some families were displaced as many as three times.

\!ote No»2 « In continuation of lists previously sent to the League of 'ations, attached herewith are:

(a) a statement of names of Assyrians killed between 11th and luth August 1933 and (b) a list of villages looted.,

The Assyrian leaders in Iraq have, on the 9th of September- 933, furnished the League of Nations with a petition ’’unsigned" with which the above lists were enclosed, copies of which were sent to the 'ar Shimun. If the League of Nations can undertake the safety of the signatories to the petition, the Mar Shimun would be prepared to furnish the League of Nations with their names.

Note No ,3. With reference to the accusation■that Mar Shimun had political ambitions ? a ne of the accusations brought against Mar Shimun and the Assyrians by the Iraq Government is. that they proposed to take possession of Dohuk or some other area by force of arms.

There never was any such intention or idea, Had this ever been i n t e n d e d it would have been easy when in 1920-25 the Assyrian levy of 4500 men was in military occupation of that area and preserving it for Iraq by defending it from the Turks. May we point °ut that Mar Shimun is accused at once of being A) only the leader of &n insignificant minority and B) of being the leader of a force big enough to be a political danger

Ifate No,4 . Mar Shimun has been accused of using the ecclesiastical position that is indisputably his for political ends, e,g, by the threat of excommunication if people will not obey him politically.

Mar Shimun wishes to say that during his tenure of office he -ms never excommunicated anybody : further by the canons of the Assyrian Church that sentence can only be inflicted for moral offences not for any political act. - 10 -

w--t£ Noc5« ^ " It v/as Major Mlson, Administrative Inspector, Mosul, who advised in May 19 33 that Mar Shimun, Lady Surma and Yaku should be invited to Baghdad and detained there in order to p e rm it the foreign s :ttlem ent expert to enforce the Government policy. Perhapsc it was excusable then that when Mar Shimun met t h a t expert in B aghdad, he should have felt unable to feel full confidence in him, although most anxious to co-operate. An extract from Major Wilson’s letter written in Bay 1933 that reached the Mar Shimun from Iraq should throw ample light on the unconstitutional motives lying behind the policy of the G overnm ent. The extract begins :

"Ask Mar Shimun to come to Baghdad to discuss matters with the government. Detention to follow forthwith. This should eliminate the danger of seeing Mar Shimun installed in his summer residence at Sar Amadiyah, the/5 onseque nee of such a move will be against the interests of the Iraqi case = "In order to break up the influence of the Patriarchal family the Iraq Government would be well advised in increasing immediately the number (from 6 to 3) of the Assyrian police inspectors, "Immediate promotion of Christian officers having taken part in the campaigns of the Iraq array against Shaikh Barzan. T,Lady Surma and Captain Yaku have undertaken a strong anti-government propaganda amongst the Kurdish tribes. "It is urgently needed to invite these two persons to come to Baghdad where they should be detained and kept under control « "Make pressure on the Patriarch to sign an official document recognising the suppression of his temporal power. Iraq Government runs the risk of seeing the Assyrians proposing a scheme on lands near or bordering the Syrian frontier. All necessary steps should be taken to oblige the Patriarchal family to accept the Dashtaai region."

The Mar Shimun has learnt I that the Iraq Government has printed at the Government press, Baghdad, and circulated a blue book to the Council containing correspondence bearing on the Assyrian question.

The Mar Shimun asks the members of the Council to verify in the blue book whether it contains a copy of the letter of Major Wilson herewith given. As the Mar Shimun is not in possession of the said blue book, it is impossible for him to verify what correspondence has been published and v.hat not. If this letter should figure in the Mol:, it would be interesting to find whether parts or it have been suppressed or not. If suppression has been made, this example will throw light on the accuracy of the information given in the blue book.

Major Wilson has brought many accusations against the Mar '■iiimun but has never asked him to explain personally any supposedly suspicious circumstances. All his accusations rest on the word of ertain known spies „

'tote 6, It is said by Nuri Pasha {Times, September 1st) that when ,Rce Mar Shimun had been removed to Baghdad, no Assyrian ever etitioned for his return. We append copies of petitions that were ent with that object,

r°,te_ 7. Letter from Yaku D 7Malik Ismail to the Minister of the nterior : - 11 -

"As a result of Mosul meeting, the Iraq Government policy was explained to us both regarding settlemsat and Patriarch. Mutasarrif openly said': "Those unsatisfied with this policy are free to emigrate from Iraq". Accordingly, we have come to the frontier and we request the Iraq Government not to block the road to those who want to join us. We got no intention to fight unless forced*"

Note 8 . ~ As the fact of the massacre of Simel has been denied, we append herewith a description of it from a Foreign Missionary well acquainted with the facts because he was in th e area at th e tim e .

The Rev. Mr. Cumberland,whose letter we quote,is no friend of the Mar Shimun,

" After this a body of men estimated at from 1300 end 2000 left their families in the villages and moved across the Tigris river into Syria. There seems to have been no disorder during this emigration.

nJust what happened next is difficult to say. The Iraq Government dispatched soldiers (report states from two battalions to eight thousand soldiers) to Peshkhabour with the orders to disarm all Assyrians who desired to return to Iraq. A large party started to come back across the border, promising to give up their arms, and somehow either by accident5 or as seems more likely, by the order of the extreme malcontents - shots were fired and a general engagement took place between the Government forces and the Assyrians. The fighting lasted two days, August 4th and 5th, and during its course about one hundred Assyrians were killed and thirty-five Iraqi soldiers.

This incident started the "rebellion" and the Government hurried extra police and troops to the area and formed a force or special police from among the Kurds. Kurdish and Arab tribesmen started to loot Assyrian villages, but with little loss of life, Around Dohuk there were some individual Assyrians murdered or spirited away in the dark, and Assyrian prisoners taken as hostages were sent to Mosul - it is said, to be disposed of on the way. On the whole, the Kurds did far less damage than might be expected, even the special police behaving with surprising (for a Kurd) restraint.

So far the . Government seem to have handled the situation fairly well - considering the character of the Arab officials and the traditional feud between the Kurds and Assyrians. But on the 11th of August, there occurred an incident for which there can be no excuse whatsoever„ One can say that it was sheer brutal savagery - a revision to the worst days of the Turkish treatment of the Armenians.

Some miles from Dohuk, there is (or was) an Assyrian village called Simel. It lies in the plain at the base of the Kurdish hill ranges, and near it are several other Assyrian villages. These villages did not belong to the disaffected group. Their men had not left to cross into Syria. Many of the villagers were Iraqi citizens, and during the troubles had remained loyal to the Government. Although the orders were to allow all loyal Assyrians to retain their arms, many of trie villagers had given theirs up to the Police. Khen the Kurds and Arabs started to loot, the Government ordered the surrounding villagers to come to Simel where there was a police post and they could be protected. Then on either the 10th of August or - 12 -

the morning of the 11th, the remaining eras were collected so that the village - even had it been rebellious - was incapable of a n y kind of resistance.

This defenceless village, packed with refugees, was than systematically massacred» All of the men, with the exception of two or three who had gone to Dohuk, were killed. The small Arab population of the town was untouched. Estimates of the number massacred vary from a minimum of 350 to 700, It is extremely difficult to get an accurate estimate at this time, as no impartial or European observer has been allowed in Simel. I suppose the truth will never be fully known, for the only people on the spot - theIraq army - ’Do not choose to tellat least the truth'.

The Government communique issued in, response to certain articles appearing in the English papers stated that if there had been a massacre (a fact which seems dubious I ) it was the work of Arabs and Kurdish tribesmen who were looting, but the truth is that all the evidence points to the Iraq army itself acting under definite orders. All the survivors testify that the killing was done by men in blue shirts. It is obvious that the Arab never uses any shirt and Xurd does not use blue ones. The only section of the populationwearing blue shirts is the machinegun corps, so the massacre must have been at the hands of the forces sent there for protection! At dusk the Arabs and Kurds did come in for loot and they probably killed some of the wounded. But the Government claim that ,:*If there was a massacre the Arabs and Kurds did the killing and the troops hurried there for the defence of villages?, cannot be accepted as anything but clear and deliberate untruthfulness.M

Statement nA’; show 1 ng names of Assyrians massacred

between 11th and 16th August 1953 in the_Mosul Ll^a .

Name of person killed Tribe Remarks

1 . Priest Arsanis Lav/an Strangled with a cord. ff £ • Shmiwal Mod is 3. ft Giwargis Be 3 4. V Lias ikh Tiyari g ft Shmoel Dis 6 o it Sad a La wan Beheaded 7. ft David Tkurna xs 8. tt Adam ft Burnt whilst alive. \ 9, Rais Goriyil Shimun 10 c Kcil, 3 Mushi Karon \ 11. Rais Shima Isa 12. Rais Tailu David 13. William C-oriel 14. Giwargis Goru 15. Goru Giwargis 16. Badal Giwargis 17• Karon Pat tu 18. Zia Tuma 19. Shmival Ehoshab 20. Dr. Hakim Barkhu 21* Ishu Shaba 22. Plias Marus 23. Yonadan Balu 24. Kaisar Nisan 25. Musa Shiba - 13 -

Name of person killed Tribe Remarks

(continued) 26. Kanaisah Jammu Baz 27. Slaiman 28. Silmu Somo 29. Soru Khamur 30. SIlu Sorishu 31. Mikhail El lu 32. Siblin Khamu 33. IChamu Sibdj.n 34. Khoshaba ^usha 35. Isa Shima 36. Aprim Isa 37. Baruta Dinkha 38. Pit tu Shaba 39. Dashtu Shaba 4-0. Khamu Pit tu 41. Shiba Pittu 42. Ishu Isdu 43. Dinkha Shiba 44. Shibu Dinkha 45 . Oraham 46. Marahu Kosha 47. Yosep Sodo 48. Dinkha Abdul 49. Yunis G-iwargis 50. G il'U Azzu 51. Shabu Azzu 52. Shaba Dinkha 53. Yukhanna Matti 54. Ma tti Y ukhanna 55. Dikhu Yukhanna 56. Shabu Malishu 57. Odishu Shaba 58. Yuwal Shmiun 59. Sulaaa Rahu 60. Eashu Sulaqa 61. Khamu Mina 62. Odishu Mina 63. Bddi Shirninha 64. Benyamin Eddi 65. Mikhail Eddi 66. Yalda Soru 67. Dashtu Soru 68. Q,asha Zia 69. Shimun Q,asha Zia 70. Q,asim Yacub 71. IChubiar Matti 72. Yosep Matti 73. Salman David 74. At tu Shimun 75. David Attu 76. Yacub Attu 77. Nisan Khoshaba 78. Khoshaba Nisan 79. Yatrun V7arda 80. Elias Gandar 81. Eshu Asmoru 82. Daniel Hanna - 14 -

Name of person killed Tribe Remarks

(continued)

83. Japu Dishu Baz 84. Sava Kharibu 85. Jubbu Eharbu 86. Sulaiman Pulus 87 . Elias D a m u 88. Jangar Barsm 89. Rais Jindu Barwar ^o chanis 90. Rais Yacube 91. Rais Howel 92. Rais Bakus 93. Rais Odishu 94. Sapar 95. Mando 96. Evan 97. Bilbas 98. Babila 99. Havil 100. Nisan 101. Khoshaba 102. Hablu 103. 'Bàdôl 104. Giwargis 105... Jàllu 106 .'TSespp 107. Jwanar 108, Kasha 109. Tolus 110. Yacub 111. Saw a 112. Hormiz 113. Badal 114. To si 115 . Yosep 116 . Is-haq 117. Iskandar 118. Enwiya 119 . Tatar 120. Lhamo 121. ' Babil c, 122. Nisan Tkhuma 123. Bareham 124. Nisan 125. Barcham 126. Hormizd 127. Giwargis 128. Yukhanna 129. Hanna 130. Slivju 131. Sonki Y/omi 132. Kharnmi TT 133. Qasi tf 134. Miriam * î 135. Esmar ft 136. Sin jana n 137. Shmini rr 138. Liar ta ff

N.B. The above persons were killed in Dohuk and Simel whose bodies could be identified. Further lists of persons killed to follow as soon as these are ready. - 15 -

List of Assyrian villages looted during the time of the massacre.

Qadha Name of village Remarks Dohuk 1. Simel 2. Kolabni 3. Mansiria 4. Kharab Kulki 5. Sayyid Dhahir 6. Q,asr Yazdin 7. Mawana 8. Giril 9. , Ser • Shari 10. Jajamani 11. Dhari 12. Garmawi 13. Hajisni 14. Masiki 15. Rucaidi 16. Khebartu 17. Kala Badri 18. Zorawa 19. Dostikia 20. Salayha 21. Tel Hishf 22. Caraiphan 23. Iazkin 24. Raikawa 25. Badi 26. Babalu 27. Bagiri (a) 28. Bagiri (b) 29. Kola Hasan 30. Majal Makhti 31. Alqushta 32. Gundikta 33. Tutika imadiyah 34. Alofca (upper) 35. Baroski 36. Chami Ashrit 37. Musalakia 38. Sanora 39. Chamashaki 40. Atush 41. Chamsuski 42. Berbangi (looting reported only) 43. Dahoki 44. Nourdisswa Shaikhan 45. Ain Baqra 46. Karanjawa 47. Porusawa 48. Jarahiya 49. 50. Didawa 51. Mali Ohaparin 52. Karistik 53. Ain Sifni 54. Basifni 55. Machna 56. Badriya 57. Dikan 58. ’Beq^aq 59. Q,asroki 60. Totiyan 61. Ain Halwa N.B. The greater part of 62. Karana the aïïove Tillages were burnt down after being looted. - 16 -

MOSUL sletion. Date 10th July, 1935.

To the Mutasarrif,

Mosul.

We the undersigned "bring the following lines to Your

Excellency’s notice.

When we v/ere invited to the Mosul meeting, we were under

the impression that the invitation was in regard to the settle­ ment only. Our definite reply is this:

His Beatitude the Mar Shimun is our representative.

This representation has not been withdrawn from him. Wo regret

that we shall be unable to give any decision or undertaking until

His Beatitude the Mar Shimun is present here.

Copy to:

Colonel Stafford, .Administrative Inspector, Mosul. Major Thomson, Settlement expert. His Beatitude the Mar Shimun.

Signatories to the Petition:

Mar Yosep, Metropolitan Malik Yokhanna, Tkhuma Malik Aadraos, Jelu Loco Shlaimun, Tkhuma Melik Baitu, Tkhuma Rais Ward a, Tiyari Shsmasha Is~haq, Ashita Shemasha Ishaq, Nochiyya Tuma Makhmur, Baz Mikhail Benyamin Rais Eormizd Ta.lva s Bas Malik Wards, L'izen Rais Graham Giwargis, Baz Malik Siliwu, Barwar Kochanis Bais Tailu Dane, Baz Malik Maroguil, Sara Rais Giwargis, IGiz Shamasha Goriyyil, Sara Rais Yokhan.na Odishu, Baz Rais Mikhail, Sara Dikhkhu Oshana, Baz Rais Ithnivyil, Upper Tiyari Yaku Zia, Ashita Rais Is-haq Sarta, Tiyari Khiwran Doud, Ashita Shpmasha Kannu, Jelu Mali v.laqa, Bohtan Rais Besu, Jelu Malik Benyomin, lyyil Rais Odishu, Jelu Yushiya Ishu, lyyil Adam Shimun, Jelu Reis Yokhanna, Hal mo on Kalashahu Gurgy, Jelu Q,ar:iia Yokiianna, Triùma Malik Talya, Gawar Melik Gullu, Sara Nisan Kannu, Jelu Rais Hormuzd, Tkhuma Yaku D*Malik Ismail Maj.ik Saw a, Tal. Ishu Kelaita. Khiyyu Bar kho, Tkhuma - 17 -

Dohuk, Translation. Date 26th June, 1933.

To Major Thomson, Settlement expert,

(1)The wishes of the are these :

Sinoe our arrival in Iraq some 15 years ago, we have

loyally served the British and the Iraqi Governments. In support

of this statement you know that we fought against the enemies and

bad wishers of Iraq. This cannot be denied.

(2) We have lost many lives and much property was stolen.

We did not murmur. We thought that in consequence of our silence,

we would be compensated by giving us a home in Iraq in return for

all our services. We have awaited until the last moment and no

home has been given us - We asked cur Maliks, Chiefs and Raises

that we must have a home to live in. The Chiefs thereupon had

a meeting and last year they went to Sar Imadiyah to see the Mar

Shimun, Patriarch, to place the demands of the people for a home

before him. We compelled the Patriarch to go to the League of

Nations and ask on our behalf for a home, In accordance with

the wish of the Maliks and the People, the Patriarch went to

Geneva. There he submitted our demands and claims and the

League of Nations decided that a settlement expert should be

sent out » When he arrived ttg were under the impression that he

would carry out the settlement work peacefully in consultation

with each other and with the Iraq Government. On the contrary,

the Patriarch has been called to Baghdad immediately by the Mini­

ster of Interior and he was detained there. Further, Qaimaqam

Dohuk proclaimed Yaku D'Malik Ismail as an insurgent.

(3) It is hoped that the Iraq. Government will understand

that the demands of the people are not only those of the Patriarch; - 18 -

they are the wishes of all the Nation and what the Iraq Govern­ ment has heard from, the Patriarch, he has merely conveyed our representations. The Iraq Government, it is hoped, will also realise that Yaku is not acting on his own in this matter of settlement. We are all of his opinion and we have our men with him and we will all insist on our claims up to the last moment. If Yaku refrains from this idea, this will not alter our wishes as with the consent of the people we can appoint better men than Yaku.

Signatories to the petition.

Copy to:

Colonel Stafford, Administrative Inspector, Mosul. Minister of the Interior, Baghdad. The Mar Shimun, Patriarch.

Name of Tribe. Name of signatory.

Tkhuma Qaehe Giwargis Haitu Marquz Malik Daud Yon an Oshana Dinkha Rais Dinkha Rais Hormiz Shamasha Afram Yokhanna Sliwu Orahem Yonan Makku Shimun Shaba Yokhanna Yokhannan Khamo

Tiyari Rais Wards Shamasha Lawandu Shinu Wiyyr Yigu Khoshaba Rais Bthniyyil Shamasha Yonan Giwargis Maroguil J elu Yokhannan Goliath Khiyyu Yosep

Baz Q,8sha Khoshaba Shamasha Daud Rais Piru Rais Tillu Daud Nisan Rais Shiba of Tribe. ITecie of Signatory.

Barker Malik Sillu Q,asha M&roguil Rashshu Rais Is-haq

Liv/an Qn.sha Seda Rais Ismail Rais Ishu Choshina Tanriu Savra L'irza Hanmik

Sara Mishsha Is-haq Malik Morcguil

Nodis Shnkir Kochu Q,asha Ishmail

Dizesr Malik Warda Dikhu Q,asha Yuwil Is-hsq Tanau

Sh cans di nan Hanna Binlcha Rais Is~haq Qasha Chelabi Laskarl J"aianu. - 20 -

glation. Date 8th July 19 33,

To His Beatitude the Mar Shimun.

We the undermentioned vent to Dohuk in accordance with

the order of the Qaimeqam. "v.'e expected our brethren of imadiyah

to arrive also so that all of us would meet the Q,aimaqam and put

before him jointly the points upon which we had agreed upon

before leaving Mosul but to our surprit se we observed both the

'Jaimaqsms of Dohuk and Amadiych leave for Mosul. With them

there was not one Assyrian from the Qadha of /madlyah. For

this reason, we are not proceeding to Mosul « The points re- j; ferred to above are these:

If we are required to go to Mosul, we see no reason

why we should go os the Patriarch, Mar Shimun, is our representa­

tive in matters affecting the Nation, Our demands were put for­

ward through him last year. We will add that as the Mar Shimun

is our legal representative, he ought to be allowed to return to

Mosul and the whole matter placed before him. If, on the other

hand, our- presence in Mosul is in connection with our seeing the

settlement officer, he has already been to Dohuk and /onadiyah.

and ho had met tne persons who were called to the meeting by the

government and they told him what their opinion was. If, how­

ever, we are being oalled for some other affair, it is also

essential that the Mar Shimun should be present at the general

EOfsting of the Nation, Without the Mar Shimun, we cannot

guarantee that the Assyrian question could be solved. We there­

fore beg tho government that the Mar Shimun should be allowed to

?ei;urn from Baghdad and then in conjunction with the remainder

of the Maliks and Raises, the question may be solved once and

for all so that the present troublesome situation may pass away

t-hioh we hope is the intention of the government. - 21 -

Signatories to the petition:

Tkhuma Baz (contd)

Qasha Giwargis Rais Giwargis Margu Malik Yonan Rais Hormiz Talya Malik Daud Shima Nisan Baitu Marquz Elia Darno Rai's1- Hormuz Shabo Dinkha Rais Oraham Rais Milu Daud Rais Daniel Bara Nisan Sawa Khanbu Upper Tiyari Rais Oraham Giwargis Piro Mando Rais Ethniyyil Shabo Narsay Sara Barutha Malik Tiyya Yosep Soro Malik Marogil Rais Barohom Rais Mikhail Rais Yosep Yono Nannu Jelu Rais Adam Rais Is-haq Malik Yosep Kharnis Shamasha Mando Rais Giyyu Yokhanna Gtoliath Rais Odishu Tawir Yushlyya Rais Oshana Rais Ishu Rais Mano Gawar Rais Warda • Rais Baroota Malik Talya Rais Tattu Albaq Yosep Odishu Qasha Yokhanna Rais Is-haq Musa Matlub Diz

Shamsdin Malik Warda Rais Shikhu Malik Shinko Rais Attu Rais Is-haq Rais Khamo Rais Kishtu Rais Giwargis. Rais Yohanna

Nodi s

Qasha Iahmail Rais Shakir Iskandar Howel

Baz

Tuma Makhmoura Giwargis Goriyyil Kina Adam Ishu Soro Qasha Khoshaba Q,asha Yosep Daud Qasha Imriyyah - 22 -

acslation. Date 1st November, 1933.

Hr. Zia D fMar Shimun.

We hear that you are not setisfied with our behaviour.

Whenever you v/ish to summon us to haar our point of view we are

at your disposal. You can, if you so desire, send a representa­

tive on your behalf to find out what we have to say. We will

never leava you until our death, Thera is only one man, Khiyyu,

among us whose deeds are known to you, Malik Khoshaba is our

representative in so far as he finds out our wishes and acts

accordingly and he is not authorised to do anything secretly or

a.^reo to anything without our consent. From now onward we have

no confidence in him. We hear that he hes sent in to the

government some petitions after the departure of His Beatituda

the Mar Shimun. The names shown on those petitions alleged to

be ours are forged. We are prepared to appear before you at

any time and at whatever place you direct. T,7e the sons of

Ashita ere your obedient servants.

Signed: Shamasha Is-haq Bukhkhu Oshana Yosep Adam Khanis Dinkha Yaku Yokhannan Odishu Enwiyah Rais tT&jju Shimun Mushi. ranslation. Date 22nd May, 1933.

To Q,aimaqem Dohuk.

I have to-day come to the Markaz al Qadha in accordance

with your instructions and I was sorry to hear that you were ill

and I was therefore unable to see you. I learn, however, that

you wanted to take from me a sanad to the effect that I would not

tour among my followers, the Upper Tiyaris, because youthink that

I am upsetting their ideas, etc.

I am only telling my people what you in conversation had

told me to tell them. Your orders which I have explained to my

people were that anyonenot willing to stay in Iraq can go to

vnsrever he likes and that the government will bear his expense

until he reaches the frontier. Because we are not meddling in

the settlement scheme, the opinion held by the Chiefs of my people

is that whoever has meddled or will meddle in this settlement, he

is being disgraced among his people. The people pay no attention

or listen to such persons and such persons will ultimately be dis­

graced before the government as they will no doubt fail and will

not be able to carry out their promise to the government. This

fact is well known and it is self-evident to the government. For

this reason I hope the government will not listen to the mal-doers

or to those who are fabricating false teles and reporting same to

the government about me. I am obeying the orders of the govern­

ment and I have no other intention,as you will have observed in

the cases of grazing ground, rifle permits, estimation of crops,

etc. In regard to our leaving Iraq peacefully or our stay in

Iraq, neither of these questions adversely affect the policy of

the Iraq government. My work is confined to your orders as were

conveyed to me in conversation to me face to face when I had come

to meet you after the Easter.

Will you please accept my excuse and regret if I shall

not be able to come again to meet you as I am busy in domestic

affairs. (Signed) YAKU D'MALIK ISMAIL. 24 -

Date 17th June, 1933, anslû'tion.

To Qaimaqe.m Dohuk.

I have heard that Warda Yonadam has been arrested in the

Markaz al Q,adha of Dohuk, The reason for his arrest is because

of his quarrel with Chlkhkhu Giwu as the former has told th3

latter that he would not recognise him as the chief for the Upper

Tiyari.

This nan Chlkhkhu has informed you that the people will

not accept him as a Malik end that he could not therefore carry

oub the obligations of a Malikship for the Tiyari. This is the

reason that has apparently led to the illegal detention of Warda,

You personally informed me that every Assyrian is free either to

remain in Iraq or leave the country and that those wishing to

leave Iraq, the Government would bear the exponses until such

persons reach the frontier of their new destinations. As long

as you have given the option to the people, then it is the right

of every person to say whether or not he would accept Chlkhkhu

as Malik and there exist no such governments to imprison people

for such causes. It is evident that you are using coercive

measures because I also was invited by you to the Markaz on the

22nd of May. With me there were ten horsemen whose intention

was to go and meet Sara effendi to offer their condolences on

account of the death of his brother and so the destination of

these people was to go and offer their condolences to him. On

the other hand, you informed the government that I cams to Dohuk

with 50 horsemen and that our intentions were unconstitutional

and before you had seen me to enquire from me, you sent me a word,

via the Assistant Commandant of Police that I should return home

as you were ill and oould not see me.

On 14th June, you sent for me to see Major Thomson,

Vj:he settlement officer, and in accordance with your orders I - 25 -

speared at the Markaz al Q,adha. After my arrival at Dohuk, t-vjg police went around the Khans and saw 70 mules belonging to the muleteers that hsd eome there and it was reported that 70 armed men had oome with me. Before you saw me and before making enquiries as to whether these were or were not my people, you gave orders that I must not go to Major Thomson as the police had. reported that they saw 70 mules in the khans of Dohuk when you called for two armoured cars from Mosul and v:hich you stationed at the Police offices in Dohuk, By bringing these cars, it was an insult to us as we had no evil intentions. All these excuses you have put forward against us because we have not and shall not involve ourselves in the settlement as we have as our repre­ sentative His Beatitude the Mar Shimun who is putting forward our representations with the unanimous approval of all the

Assyrians and he is working in accordance with our wishes. We hereby inform the government that it should not ask us for any guarantees as you are pressing us » We consider death as nothing nor do we consider any material losses as we have no houses and no immoveable property. We don't want to spoil our name which

W3 have gained by our good services to the British and our ad­ vantageous work to Iraq. If you force us in your own ways, we prefer to die in nonour rather than live in disgrace. For this reason we request that a definite reply should be given to the

Mar Shimon before the evil doers spoil our name with the govern­ ment.

( Signed) YAKU D ’MALIK ISMAIL. - 26 -

-ranslation. June 23rd, 1933.

To Mutasarrif, Mosul.

With reference to the false accusations made against

me by the Q,aimaqam Dohuk, his threats, the armament of the Kurds

an^ their encouragement to rise against us.

From our past experience, it is evident that the Govern

ment is accepting, as a Bible, all the reports of the Q,aimaqam.

This is obvious as,without enquiring into these reports, the

Government has sent an expedition against us. For this reason

my people and I have no more respect in the eyes of the Govern­

ment. I myself am giving this sanad and do declare that upon

my honour I had no evil intention against the Government in

collecting my people until I saw the suspicious movements of the

Government. I now moreover promise that I will not resist the

Government unless the Government presses me to do so. I will

disperse my people as soon as the Government forces are withdrawn

I am prepared to meet the Government officials at all times in

the neighbourhood of the four villages occupied by my people.

As regards the settlement, I am not authorised to dis­

cuss with or intervene on behalf of my people. The Government

should not press our people to recognise as chiefs, persons ?rho

are not elected by the people as such. To complete this sanad,

I am prepared to produce either cash guarantee or a guarantor to

stand bail on my behalf.

(Signed) YAKU D T MALIK ISMAIL.

Copy to:

Minister of Interior, Q,aimaqam Dohuk, H.B. Mar Shimun. - 27 - in gist ion. Date June 24th, 1933,

To The Mutasarrif, Mosul.

1. I~.Trj.ll give this undertaking to the effect that my work

and behaviour will be as good as it has be on hitherto unlessI

am falsely accused in the future as is the case at present.

2. I will obey the instructions of the Government and

respect all legal orders that I may receive from the Government

officials on condition that the orders of those officials are not

oppressive or be against the interests of my Nation.

3. As soon as an agreement has been reached between His

Beatitude the Mar Shimun and. the Government in regard to the

claims made by the people and who pressed the Mar Shimun to in­

sist on those demands;then I will be prepared to go not only to

the Mosul officials but also to Baghdad.

4« I will order my people to disperse as soon as Govern­

ment forces have been withdrawn.

5, Rev, Panfil will stand as a guarantor for all thatI

have said in this sanad.

(Signed) YAIOJ D'MALIK ISMAIL

Copy to:

Minister of Interior, His Beatitude Mar Shimun, Q,aimaqam Dohuk.

Pc S. Not accepted by the Mutasarrif.