Les relations ambiguës de la France et des Assyro-Chaldéens dans l’histoire

Abstract

The relations between France and the Chaldean christians are ancient. They lied within the framework of a patronage towards the dhimmi more or less protected by their moslem government. In practice this patronage proved to be a mirage. During the First World War the Ottomans’ attacks and their genocidal plans in Anatolia and in the Iranian province of Azerbaijan (1915-1918) urged the Assyro-Chaldeans to help at first Russia, then Great Britain and France against the Ottoman armies. However their help did not provide them with autonomy which they dreamed of. In reference to a new humanitarian diplomacy the French mandatory authorities in Syria allowed a part of the Assyrians exiled in Iraq to enter Syria in 1933. They settled them along the Khabour river (in Syria). Thus the French strenghened their “minorities policy”. Recently the Assyro-Chaldeans of Iraq and Syria had again to go to exile: “Don’t forget us” the Chaldean patriarch appealed to France!

Keywords

• Eastern Church
• Chaldean Church
• Chaldo-Assyrians
• Assyrians
• League of Nations
• Protection