ملف رقم ٢٦٢٦ لسنة ١٩٠٥ "بلاد فارس: - الملحق العسكري في مشهد" [و‎‎٢‎١] (٥٣٢/٤٦)

lather than a correct appreciation of the nature of the post He has
accepted the view put forward by the Army Council and other com
petent authorities that the retention of the appointment is of value, at
any late indirectly, to Imperial interests; but he has also felt convinced
that the share hitherto borne by the Imperial Hxchequer has been fully
commensui ate to the benefits received, and he has declined to approach
the ^Iieasuiy with a view to increasing the sum at present contributed.
The Despatches enclosed and the arguments adduced in the India
Office letters of the 2nd September and 18th October emphasise the
pin eh military character of the post; but so far from furnishing Sir
E. Grey with any new reason why the share of the expense hitherto
borne on the estimates of this department should be increased, they
have rather led him to question whether the appointment in future
should not rather be treated on the same footing as Military Attacheships
in other parts of the world. In this view he is confirmed by the fact
emphasised in the India Office letter of the 18th instant that the Imperial
General Staff have addressed the Commander-in-Chief in India with a
view to the General Staff in India assuming entire responsibility for
intelligence work in Russian Turkestan. Sir E. Grey therefore "feels
that only the Army Council can fully estimate precisely to what extent
the post of Intelligence Officer at Meshed is of value to Imperial interests,
and that they are therefore alone able to recommend to the Treasury
what share, if any. of the expenditure connected with the post should be
borne by the Imperial Exchequer.
I am therefore directed by Sir E. Grey to inquire what view the
Army Council takes as to whether the post should be further temporarily
retained or permanently established ; and I am to suggest that if they
favour its retention they should enter into an arrangement with the
India Office for an equitable sharing of the expenditure involved.
I am to add that the period for which the retention of the post was
sanctioned in 1908 expired on the 20th instant, but that the Lords Com
missioners of the Treasury have sanctioned its continuance on the present
footing till 31st December next pending a full discussion of the amount
and incidence of the expenses attaching to the post.
Copies of this letter have been forwarded to the Treasury and to the
India Office.
I am, &c.,
The Secretary, War Office.
W. Langley.
10387.
C