‘Report for the Army Council on Mesopotamia. By Sir John P Hewett, GCSI, KBE’ [‎35v] (75/119)

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APPENDIX V.
At a conference held on the 10th August, 1917, to discuss a scheme for the production of grain for the
: force, the following officers attended :—
Brigadier-General H. 0. Knox, C.M.G., President.
The Hon. Sir P. Z. Cox, K.C.S.I., K.C.l.E.
Major-General J. C. Rimington, C.B.
Colonel E. C. L. Fitzwilliams, C.M.G.
Colonel E. Dickson.
Major A. S. Kirkwood.
Captain Bowers, Superintending Engineer, Hindiyah.
C. C. Garbett, Esq., I.C.S.
Financial Adviser.
The points raised in the attached memorandum were considered and discussed seriatim and the following
decisions were unanimously arrived at:—
(а) In view of the point raised by the Army Commander, the area selected for cultivation was amended as
is now shown on the attached map.
(б) The necessary seed and agricultural implements will be forthcoming ; the required labour can be
secured, canals cleared and the whole scheme carried out successfully provided provisional sanction
to the scheme is given at the latest by the loth August.
(c) The maximum expenditure to be incurred is £400,000 and repayment, in the form of Government
Revenue, will commence in June next and the crop should produce our requirements for the
next year.
{d) No extra personnel will be required beyond that asked for in No. 83, dated the 27th July, 1917, from
Superintending Engineer, Hindiyah Irrigation Works.
(e) The only disadvantage to the scheme is the risk of loss arising from possible international developments
during the next ten months, and incurred by advancing loans, which will not be repaid until
June, 1918.
(f) In view of the shortages of shipping the disadvantage indicated is far outweighed by the advantage
of securing our grain requirements in the country.
{g) The collection of grain at centres and transportation to the river would present no difficulty.
(h) The scheme was approved and recommended for adoption.
(i) The proposal is put forward on military grounds. The Chief Political Officer, however, agreed that
Mr. Garbett should administer the scheme with the existing revenue machinery.
Memorandum.
No. Q/1500/2.
Dated \2th August, 1917.
Forwarded.—The scheme has been approved of by the Army Commander in principle, and the necessary
-sanction of the Government of India is being obtained. In anticipation of formal sanction, action can at once
be taken to carry out the proposals outlined in Mr. Garbett’s scheme.
(Signed) H. O. KNOX,
Brigadier-General,
D.Q.M.G.
APPENDIX VI.
•8650 W. Telegram (Word Code).
From —-The Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Baghdad.
To —Foreign Secretary, Foreign and Political Department, Delhi.
No. 6104. Dated the \lth {received the 18£A) December, 1917.
Issue has arisen as to the rate at which civil administration of the occupied territories should be credited
with the value of cereals supplied to Resources Department for needs of army. Cereals in question are Govern
ment share received in kind from landowners in satisfaction of Government revenue dues. It is agreed that
such should be paid for at fixed rate and not at current market price at the time of each transaction. Director,
Local Resources, proposes assess values at approximately pre-war rates, e.g., barley Rs.56 per ton, wheat
Rs. 84 per ton, whereas present market rates are barley 450, wheat 650. Revenue Department proposes
barley 168, wheat 280, which are fair average rates under present conditions. Director, Local Resources,
advances no special argument in support of his contention.
Revenue Department urges that:—
(1) Money has been cheapened and that the value of given quantity of grain no longer purchases same
amount of any other commodity as it did before war.
(2) Cost of revenue collection which is between 10 and 15 per cent, of the value of cereals collected at
present prices of latter is shown in money at its present value. Acceptance of pre-war rates will
throw disproportionate burden on revenues of occupied territories.
(3) Some revenue grain has been disposed of to private individuals at prices greatly in excess of prices
now proposed, e.g., barley Rs. 500 per ton, wheat Rs. 750 per ton.
Similar questions have doubtless been raised and settled in India. As matter is one affecting finances
of this country and involving large sums, I submit case for orders of Government with recommendation that
proposals of Revenue Department be accepted.
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