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Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [174r] (347/544)
The record is made up of 1 file (272 folios). It was created in 13 Mar 1918-7 Jan 1919. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
13
MR. MONTAGU : Then that is quite satisfactory.
SIR JOHN BEALE : Does not this give us an opportunity of asking the Americans
what Mr. Hoover’s plan is ?
GENERAL SMUTS: No.
. SIR JOHN BEALE : We have no Ambassador here whom we can ask.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : I should not do that in connection with this matter.
This question of Armenian relief is one which excites a great deal of feeling.
SIR JOHN BEALE: It struck me that if we were acceding to their request, it
would be a good opportunity to put in a word without exciting feeling.
LORD ROBERT CECIL: Not with reference to this. I agree in general that we
ought to take the Mission, because they have said that it is a part of Mr. Hoover’s
general plan. That does, perhaps, open the door. Which telegram is that ?
SIR JOHN BEALE: It is No. 1454,* the one sent round with the Foreign Office
note.
GENERAL SMUTS : I think we ought to send food.
SIR JOHN BEALE : I have seen a paragraph in the papers, saying that a convoy
of several ships has started, and I believe it has sailed. I do not think they are
delaying it.
GENERAL SMUTS: The Hoover question and the food organisation ought to be
dealt with on a different basis. It should not be raised in connection with Armenian
relief.
SIR JOHN BEALE : It is part of the scheme. If you accept it as part of the
scheme
GENERAL SMUTS : We do not say that. We say we raise no objection to this
purely philanthropic proposal.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : Meanwhile General Clayton wants money.
GENERAL SMUTS : Yes, for purposes of relief.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : We ought to let anyone who wishes to do it send
money, and we ought to send some ourselves.
LORD CURZON : Are not these the conclusions of the Committee ? I will
summarise them in the most colloquial language. We say to the Americans, “ Go
ahead! ”
LORD ROBERT CECIL : Yes.
LORD CURZON : Secondly, “ Of course, you will consult the French.”
. LORD ROBERT CECIL: Yes.
LORD CURZON : Thirdly, “ We will give you every assistance in our power.”
LORD ROBERT CECIL : Yes.
LORD CURZON : “ And we will, on the lines agreed upon between Webb and
Gates, attach British officers to your Missions to help them, if they are so required.”
LORD ROBERT CECIL: Yes.
LORD CURZON : Fourthly, “ On the Southern side, our Armenian Fund will do
what it can to back up your efforts, by independent action.”
LORD ROBERT CECIL: Yes.
LORD CURZON : Fifthly, “ We do not raise the general question of food
supplies referred to in the telegram, but we treat this as an exception.”
LORD ROBERT CECIL : I should like to have that before me.
LORD CURZON : It is the note* of the 21st November, and has been circulated.
GENERAL SMUTS : “ Mr. Lansing adds that the foregoing plan enjoys the
complece approval of the Government of the United States, and is part of Mr. Hoover’s
food scheme.” That is information for us.
[365—41]
* E.C. 2540.
E
About this item
- Content
This file is composed of papers produced by the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee, which was chaired by George Curzon for most of its existence. The file contains a complete set of printed minutes, beginning with the committee's first meeting on 28 March 1918, and concluding with its final meeting on 7 January 1919 (ff 6-214 and ff 227-272).
The file begins with two copies of a memorandum by Curzon, dated 13 March 1918, proposing the formation of the Eastern Committee. This is followed by a memorandum by Arthur James Balfour, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, approving Curzon's proposal, and a copy of a procedure for the newly created committee, outlining arrangements for committee meetings and the dissemination of information to committee members.
Also included is a set of resolutions, passed by the committee in December 1918, in order to guide British representatives at the Paris Peace conference (ff 216-225). The resolutions cover the following: the Caucasus and Armenia; Syria; Palestine; Hejaz and Arabia; Mesopotamia, Mosul, Baghdad and Basra. They are preceded by a handwritten note written by Curzon 'some years later', which remarks on how they are a 'rather remarkable forecast of the bulk of the results since obtained.'
- Extent and format
- 1 file (272 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 272; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- Mss Eur F112/274
- Title
- Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee
- Pages
- 1r:214v, 216r:272v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence