‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 41. PART II. (From 16th to 31st December 1917).’ [128r] (260/508)
The record is made up of 1 volume (250 folios). It was created in 10 Nov 1917-31 Dec 1917. 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.
6. Persia .—The political situation in Tehran is very unstable. On the
19th Sir C. Marling reported that a
democratic Cabinet under Mukhbar-es-
iultaneh, who is said to be practically pledged to break off relations with us,
j inevitable if we do not take immediate steps to prevent it.
The armistice treaty concluded between Turks and Russia apparently
g6913 includes a clause that both Turkey and
Russia are willing to withdraw their
troops from Persia.
On 20th December Sir 0. Marling reported that the Persian Government
had asked the British Government to
withdraw their troops from Persia.
The Poreign Office have wired the decisions of His Majesty's Government
as to policy in Persia, which comprise
briefly :—
(?!) insurances to Shah regarding his personal safety and a pension, if
deposed.
86929.
87375.
(ii) Assurances to Vossck-ed-Dowleh regarding financial assistance to a
friendly Persian Government.
(Hi) Promise to consider favourably after the war the formation of a
uniform force for the whole of Persia in w r hich the South Persia
Rifles will be eventually incorporated. The retention of British
Officers in the South Persia Rifles at least for the duration of the
war and for 6 months after its termination is insisted upon.
(iv) Agreement regarding the Anglo-Russian Convention is in suspense;
its formal cancellation being dependent on the concurrence of a
properly constituted government in Russia.
7. General conclusions .—The political situation in Persia at the present
aoment is most unstable. It remains to be seen how far His Majesty’s
lovernment declaration of policy will steady matters to our benefit.
Prom the military point of view, if we could rely on Germany’s word to
respect the neutrality of Persia, there would be certain advantages in with
drawing our troops. But can wm trust Germany ?
At present we are faced wdth three possible further military commitments
in Persia.
(i) The taking over by Porce “ D ” of the Khanikin-Hamadan road ;
(ii) The extension of the sphere of the South Persia Rifles to Ispahan ;
(Hi) The extension of the cordon from Khwash to Birjand northward to
Meshed.
(Sd.) P. E. G. T.,—24-12-17.
The Persian question has reached a stage which obliges us to reconsider
our military policy there.
The problem of preventing Turko-German penetration is complicated by-
supply and transport difficulties, by the mischievous Maximalist activities and
by our desire to cultivate better relations with Persians and Bakhtiaris.
Our experience of the Russian revolution warns us not to expect too
much from the reported movement for a stable and separate government by
the Ukraine, Cossack and Caucasus Provinces or that it will present a real
barrier to the Maximalists and to German aggression and propaganda. These
combined with Baratoff’s difficulties, and the impotence of the Persian Govern
ment, seem likely to necessitate an extension of the sphere of Porce “ D ”
m. o.,—24-12-17. and tbe South Pe^ia Rifles. It is at
present difficult to see the exact limits of
this sphere.
Such commitments as are indicated will give rise to demands for transport
which we may find difficult to meet having regard to N. W. P. requirements
The outlook in this direction is not improved by the news that German
prisoners of war at Tashkent have been assisting the Maximalists.
These prisoners may afford a convenient means of embarrassino* us j u
Afghanistan, which the Germans will be likely to take advantage of, if they
can ; as such a move involves no risk to German operations elsewhere.
(Sd.) P. J. M.,—24-12-17.
About this item
- Content
The volume contains a chronological list of brief summaries of papers relating to the activities of the Indian Expeditionary Force D (also known as the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force) between 16 and 31 December 1917. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: letters, telegrams, notes, reports, tables, and memoranda.
An index to the contents of this volume and a summary of the contents can be found at the start of IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3289. The volume concerns:
- Appreciations [reports] and intelligence summaries from the Directorate of Military Operations dated 16 December 1917 (ff 9-10), 23 December 1917 (ff 127-129), 30 December 1917 (ff 249-250)
- Supplies, particularly of timber, tents, and preserved meats
- The difficulties of dispatching petrol and oils in drums
- A shortage of tin affecting food supplies
- The armistice signed by Germany, Austria, Russia, Turkey and Bulgaria on 17 December 1917
- Movements of Turkish [Ottoman] and German troops
- British aerial bombardment of aerodromes at Humr [Al Humr], Tuz Kurmatli [Tuz Khurmati]
- Commentary on shipping and port works recommended by the Cherry and Thompson Commission and A Monteath
- Financial powers available to civil administrators in occupied territories and arrangements for receipts
- The occupation of Samawa [As Samawah], Hillah [Al Hillah] and Kifl [Al Kifl]
- The proposed Irrigation Directorate
- The selection of men to be allotted to Major-General Lionel Dunsterville
- Reinforcements for Force D, including supplies of medical officers, camels, and personnel for the Inland Water Transport Department, the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, and the Railway Department
- Reports from the Royal Flying Corps of machines in service and pilots available
- Russian officers from England who were anxious to serve in Mesopotamia.
The following tables appear:
- Distribution of Force D on 18 November 1917 (ff 16-21), 25 November (ff 144-155)
- Ration strength of Force D on 24 November 1917 (ff 36-38, 187-191), 1 December (ff 133-136), 17 November (ff 136-140), 8 December (ff 212-214)
- Distribution of the Turkish Army on 18 December 1917 (ff 48-49), 25 December 1917 (ff 167-169)
- State of supplies on 15 December (ff 56-57, 76-77), 22 December (ff 177-178, 201-202)
- Weekly return of the sick and wounded on 1 December (f 72)
- Strength return for Force D on 10 November (ff 115-117)
- Effective strength of the Railway Department (ff 237-241).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (250 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.
- Physical characteristics
The foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 252; 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. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 3-250; these numbers are printed and are located in the bottom centre of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
Dimensions: 21 x 33cm
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 41. PART II. (From 16th to 31st December 1917).’ [128r] (260/508), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3290, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100139296983.0x00003d> [accessed 30 October 2024]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3290
- Title
- ‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 41. PART II. (From 16th to 31st December 1917).’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:251v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence