IOR/L/PS/10/781/1

This part primarily contains correspondence, telegrams, memoranda and reports regarding the political and social situation of Kurdistan between 1918 and 1920.

Included are the following:

• A general description of Kurdistan by the Political Department, India Office
• Observations and opinions from British officers regarding the beliefs and political preferences of the Kurds
• References to British officers’ observations regarding Turkish nationalism, pan-Islamism, anti-Christian propaganda, and anti-British propaganda
• Monthly administration reports by British officers in Kurdistan
• Preparations for military action from the Kurds
• References to the Peace Conference in Paris
• References to the Sivas Conference [Sivas Congress].

In addition, the part includes:

• A report on ‘The Kurdish National Movement’, dated June 1919 and covering relations with ‘Turkey’, ‘the Armenians’ and the ‘Arab Government’ (ff 184-190)
• A report on a mission to Viranshehir [Viranşehir] dated May 1919 (ff 155-179)
• ‘Note on the Kurdish Situation’ dated July 1919 and written by Major Edward William Charles Noel, on special duty in Kurdistan (ff 119-130)
• ‘Precis of Affairs in Southern Kurdistan during the Great War’, dated 1919 and produced by the Office of the Civil Commissioner, Mesopotamia (ff 105-116).

Included at the end of Noel’s report is a map entitled ‘Armenian & Kurdish Area Map’ (f 130).

The principal correspondents are as follows: Civil Commissioner, Mesopotamia; British High Commission, Constantinople [Istanbul]; Political Officer, Mosul; French Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Egyptian Expeditionary Force; Directorate of Military Intelligence.