Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎25r] (49/544)

5
.Janguli
Movemenl
Propaganda in
the Caucasus,
Asia Minor, and
Persia.
harvest in Persia were said to be very good. 1,000 infantry
was not an adequate force to keep the line open, but 1,000 infantry
in cars was equal to at least three or four times their number on
foot, and he himself thought it was a good idea worth considering.
The War Office, on the other hand, had wired to the effect that while
fully appreciating the desirability of having a mobile force, they did
not think that the scheme outlined by General Marshall was
adequate.
General Macdonogh said that the War Office had not definitely
turned the scheme down, and that the telegram referred to had been
sent before General Marshall’s explanation had been received. There
were at present two cars in Kasvin and three in Hamadan, while a
squadron of cars was already on the way between Kerman and
Hamadan.
The Chairman thought that the Committee were now disposed
to view the scheme with favour, and proposed tJiey should give
authority to the War Office to carry out the project.
(This was agreed to.)
4. The Chairman said that the Committee had previously
regarded the Jangalis as a troublesome but not too formidable
people. They were now rumoured to be moving to the south-east
corner of the Caspian towards Astrabad and the Turkoman country,
Gumesh Tepe, &c. They were further reported to be on friendly
terms with the Bolsheviks. Probably the Germans were behind this.
Unfortunately we could take no measures to stop this movement,
which marked, however, an ominous development of the situation.
Some of the Jangalis were said to be at Damgan, and their
intention was apparently to cut the main route between Meshed and
Teheran.
General Macdonogh pointed out that there were a number of
Hazaras in North-East Persia, and he wondered whether it would be
possible to organise them against the Jangalis.
The Chairman thought that when our mission reached Meshed
they might find plenty to do in Persia itself, without attempting to
penetrate into Central Asia.
After some discussion—
General Macdonogh undertook to warn Major Redl of theJangali
movement eastwards, and to ask him if he thought it possible, with the
aid of British officers or otherwise, to raise a force among the Hazaras
of North-East Persia.
Lord Hardinge undertook, on behalf of the Foreign Office, to
ascertain the view of Sir Charles Marling as to the practicability of
such a scheme.
5. The Committee had before them a copy of a tetter dated the
10th May, 1918, from the Secretary to the Minister of Information
to Sir Mark Sykes, stating that it was understood that, in Sir Mark’s
view, propaganda in the Caucasus, Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine,
Mesopotamia, and Persia could only be conducted by those who have
made a life-long study of the questions connected with Oriental
psychology and conditions, and thought it was better that the control
of these matters should be retained by the Eastern Committee.
The letter stated that Lord Beaverbrook was anxious to fall in with
Sir Mark’s wishes in this matter, but he understood that the Committee
did not wish to deal with propaganda in lurkey in Europe and
Bulgaria, which countries, for propaganda purposes, were under
Lord Northcliffe. .The letter went on to say that Lord Beaverbrook
suggested that a liaison should be establised between the Eastern
Committee and the Ministry of Information, in order to ensure that
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[365—9]