Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-06
Persia Strikes Decisive Blow to Block
Plea of Kurd Tribes for independence

TEHERAN.-A few years ago $780,
600 Greeks. who lived in Asia-Minor
since the days Of Herodotus, were repa-
trlated to Greece. Now it is the turn
OF the kurdS to be driven forth from
large part Of their homeland and
transplanted into different districts
Turkey set the example and Persia is
following slut.
A large section of the Kurdish tribes
in Luristan, who last year rebelled
against the Shah's government, have
already been transported into other
parts OF the country. About 1000 FAM
lies have been established in Kom
near Teheran. The deportees are given
land to the value of the holdings they
were forced to relinquish BY this
means the government seeks once and
for all to crush the Kurdish indepen-
dence movement which has been a
source of trouble to them and to the
neighboring states.
The Kurds are a small people COM
prising in all approximately 100000
souls. But they have always put up
a brave fight for their independence
Osman Sultans, Persian Shahs, Tur-
kish and Arabian Nationalist, one and
all were made to feel the Kurds' rebel
lion against foreign domination and sup
preston. Since the war this rebellion
has assumed stronger forms, for instead
Of bringing them freedom it has only
aggravated their lot. Until the con-
Renal Pasha, their land had been d.
vided up between two states, Turkey
and Persia. The treaty of Lausanne
chopped of considerable piece and
added 1t to the new Arab State of Iraq
with the result that today the Kurds
owe allegiance to three sovereign powers
Rebellions Begun In 1918.
In the Spring of 1918, when the
Turkish defeat was imminent, Sheik
Mahmud Barzandhi proclaimed Kur-
dish national government in Suleimanya
In the following year. however, he was
defeated by the British and transported
to India. Suleimanya and southwest
Kurdistan went to enlarge the Iraq.
Rebellion eliminating in the revolution
headed by Sheik Said in 1925, the
Kemalists continued to be the order Of
the day as that government attempted
the compulsory elimination of the
Kurds. Sheik Said started his fight for
freedom with 200 men, who had fol-
lowed him from his native village.
Within two weeks the number of his
adherents had swelled to many thou
sands and the eastern part of Turkey
had been brought under his rule.
The Angora government sent out
&c, 900 men, who took three months to
capture him. Sheik Said was hung by
the Kemalists. A special governor was
appointed by the Angora government,
reinforced by a strong military force.
This governor built strategic roads in
order to facilitate the movement of
troops between villages. He sent an
army of Turkish teachers into the Kur-
dish settlements with the object of
making propaganda against Kurdish
nationalism among the youth and en-
listing them on the side Of the Turks,
and he started to settle the tribesmen
In order to break the link between
them and their leaders.
Kurds Renew Revolt.
But the Kurds did not give in, They
prepared fresh rebellions from the base
of adjoining countries. Only recently
the suppression of a fresh revolt has
been reported. Turkish spies discovered
that correspondence was being ex-
changed between various leaders and