THE IRAN-IRAQ BOUNDARY DISPUTE AND THE SUMAR PROTOCOL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP08C01297R000600010047-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 11, 2012
• Sequence Number: 47
• Publication Date: February 19, 1960
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified and Approved ForRelease2013/01/25 : CIA-RDP08001297R000600010047-6
DEPARTMtNT OF STATE INSTRUCTION
1763
80
ORIGIN
NEA SUBJECT:
INFO
EUR
NO.:
-COtTP?BEN.:2-1.41.6-
CAe.6773 February 199 1960
The Iran.4raq Boundary Dispute and the Sumer ProtoCol
IRC American :1;mbassy3 BAGHDAD, and TEHRAN
IO TO: American Consulate, KHORRAMSHAHR, and BASRA
USUN
GE
CIA
OSD
NEIL/GTD-Iran Des
WEA/NE4raq Desk
147,-Library
Reference..
XRCAR4liss
DeBerry ?
INRAOMR4Iro
Liebesny
- e (
,-------
Reference le made to Tehran's despatch 209 of September 309 1959 and
Khorramshahr's undated OM (received by the Department in November 1959).
After considerable research, the Department is now able to provide the
post with information concerning the so-called "Sumer Protocor. It
is hoped that the following information will be of value to the posts
As part of the boundary settlement between the Ottoman Empire and
Persia, the Constantinople Protocol of 1913 provided in Article 1 that
the Delimitation Commission to be established under the Protocol should
work out a special arrangement for the division of the waters of the
Gangir River between the two parties. The Delimitation Commission
discussed the problem of the Gangir River in its 28th session (Minutes
of the Delimitation Commission, p. 45)0 After long debate the British
and Russian Commissioners, who had the power to arbitrate between the
two parties, proposed the equal division of the waters between the
two countries, half of it going to Mandeli in present-day Ira% half
to Sumer in Iran. A. subterranean ckanal constructed by the inhabitants
of Mandali was to be closed, but should remain the property of these
inhabitants. In case the people of Sumer desired to use it, they
should reach agreement with the inhabitants of Mandali. In subsequent
sessions (Minutes, pp. 46 and 47) the carrying out of the decision
regarding the division of the waters of the Gangir was discussed,:
The British and Russian Commissioners declared that this VAS beyond
the Jurisdiction of the Commissioners and that differences between
the two parties should be settled by diplomatic means. If necessary,
the consuls general of Great Britain and Russia in Baghdad should
mediate any dispute in this matter*
The British Admiralty Handbook, Iraq and the Persian Gulf,
September 1944, states on page 317 that e Gangir water, on which
the cultivators of Mandell depend, has been a source of much troubloolt
and on page 544 it is stated that "since 1918 cultivation has suffered
seriously by the attempted monopolization of the Gangir water on the
Persian aide of the frontier." It should be noted, however, that in
the complaint of Iraq to the League of Nations in 1934 and the sub.
eequent discussions in the League Council the Gangir problem was not
included in the Iraqi grievances.
?073sPir
DRAFTED BY:
NEtta Kaurzesmm 2/18/60
RHE - Mr. Liebesny (By Phone)
BERM
APPROVED BY:
NEA/EX - Adrian T. Middleton
Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/01/25: CIA-RDP08001297R000600010047-6