Assyrians, Kurds, and Ottomans: Intercommunal Relations on the Periphery of the Ottoman Empire By Hirmis Aboona

Assyrians, Kurds, and Ottomans: Intercommunal Relations on the Pe ...

Chapter 11:

Great Britain, the Ottomans, and the Assyrian Tragedy

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reasons to fear the intention of the Turkish government to establish the Porte’s authority, which in fact was the main objective, of the Porte authority, was likely to prove the main point of Kemal Effendi’s instruction and the restitution of the slaves and the caption of bloodshed and in equitable arrangement with Mar Shimon only its secondary objects.³⁰

In a letter addressed to the sultan, Mar Shimun showed that he was anxious to express his submission and recognition of the sultan’s authority over his country and people. Canning, however, withheld this letter and declined to submit it to the sultan, wishing to obtain more information about the intentions of the Porte towards the Assyrian tribes.³¹

Alison had written to Canning, informing him that Rifaat Pasha, the minister of foreign affairs, had read to him extracts from a letter by the grand vizier, stating that a horde of Nestorians had attacked a Turkish village, killed and wounded above forty of the inhabitants, and carried off a good deal of plunder. Bedr Khan Beg had assembled his men to avenge the injury, entered the Nestorian territory, ravaged three villages, and destroyed a missionary station that the Nestorians had erected under the superintendence of a missionary called Grant for the ostensible purpose of a college for the propagation of Protestantism. The pasha of Mosul had sent to inspect this building and reported his opinion that it was well calculated for a military station and capable of containing two Allays divisions, or five thousand men. Alison went on to say that Grant had created a great deal of trouble among the Nestorians by making proselytes.

Rafaat Pasha did not explain how the Assyrians could have managed to attack a Turkish village when the nearest one to their county was hundreds of miles away (one can only assume that he might meant a Kurdish village). Canning was well aware of Dr. Grant’s activities in the country of Tiyari and that his presence there was approved by a firman from the sultan and protected by all the local officials. Besides, he was under British protection and was in constant contact with British officials throughout the region.³²

Mar Shimun’s Appeal to Great Britain and the Ambassador’s Response

Mar Shimun had a direct line of communication with Canning at Constantinople.