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Russians, we have had to urge the Soviet Government not to encourage a separatist movement in Persian Azerbaijan, and we would therefore much prefer to avoid any action which might lead the Russians to accuse us of similar action in Persian Kurdistan..

For these reasons, it appears to us undesirable that the British Authorities should come forward with a proposal that the Persian Government should appoint a Kurd as the Governor of Kurdistan. If, however, the Persian Government ore themselves to come to terms with the Kurds, perhaps on this basis, we would of course raise no objection.

We admit that the situation is unsatisfactory, and that the time may come when we shall be obliged to intervene in order to facilitate a settlement. That time, however, does not yet seem to have arrived, You will now have seen Telegram No. 20804/G dated 11/12 from the Commander-in-Chief, India, from which it is clear that the General Officer Commanding, Iraq, shares our view that it is not desirable for the British Authorities to attempt to intervene between the Persian Government and the Kurdish rebels, General Quinan also states that he considers that the reports of the magnitude of the Kurdish threat have been greatly exaggerated.

X

X

Great George Street, S.W.1.

21st December, 1941.

X

X

X".

(Signed)

C.R. PRICE.

Acting Secretary.

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