Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎25v] (50/544)

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co-operation and continuity of policy were maintained between the
operations of the Ministry in Russia on the one hand, and the
operations or the Eastern Committee in the Caucasus and Persia
on the other.
General Macdonogh said that Sir William Tyrrell had pressed
that Colonel Keyes’ services should be utilised in this connection.
He had accordingly sent Colonel Keyes to interview Lord Beaver-
brook, the latter apparently welcoming the suggestion. General
Macdonogh had written yesterday to ask Lord Beaverbrook to
confiim in writing, what he understood was his wish, that Colonel
Keyes should be utilised for propaganda pui poses. Lord Beaver-
brook’s reply had not yet been received.
Sir Mark Sykes said he had seen Mr. Philips and Mr. Long,
who worked with Lord Northcliffe, and also Mr. Pembroke W icks.
The proposal was not that the Eastern Committee should conduct
propaganda in the countries named, but that they should control it.
He thought there should be one controlling body, but that the
executive should rest in the hands of Lord Northclitfe.
Mr. Schuckburgh pointed out that the Mesopotamia authorities
were already in touch with Lord Beaverbrook’s department. A
proposal had been made, and had received the support of Sir Percy
Cox, that an officer should be sent out by the Department to
Mesopotamia to woik under the Civil Commissioner.
Lord Hardinge considered that all the Committee could do was
to endeavour to control propaganda in that quarter.
The Chairman thought that the Committee should inform
Lord Beaverbrook that they could not undertake, propaganda work,
which was the function of the Ministry of Information. The Com
mittee, however, would wish to be consulted and also to supervise
any literature which the Ministry might send out. They would
further like to advise as to the appointment of a liaison officer and
to be kept informed generally of what was being done in the way of
propaganda. He agreed with the Director of Military Intelligence
that Colonel Keyes would he a good appointment.
Lord Hardinge said that the Foreign Office liaison officers with
Lord Beaverbrook were Mr. Gaselee and Mr. Philips, respectively.
It was decided —
That Sir Mark Sykes should reply to the Secretary to the M’mister
of Information in the following sense :—
(a.) The Eastern Committee could not itself undertake
propaganda in the East;
(b.) Such propaganda should be conducted by the
Ministry of Information in consultation with
the Foreign Of ice and the 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. , who
would refer to the Eastern Committee if advice
or instructions were required.
Persian Alliance. —(i.) The Chairman said that the papers circulated were
mainly for information. Sir Charles Marling had asked if His
Majesty’s Government would be prepared to enter into an alliance
with the Persian Government against the Turks, should the latter
Government suggest it. We had replied (E.C.-375) that if the
alternative to a Persian alliance with Great Britain was a Persian
alliance with Turkey and our enemies, we would certainly prefer the
former. If, however, the alternative was continued neutrality, it
seemed that comparatively little advantage would be gained by such
an alliance. If, therefore, Vossugh-ed-Dowleh, in course of conver
sation, should suggest the idea, of an alliance, Sir Charles Marling
should not reject the proposal, but should endeavour to ascertain
his exa-ct meaning and what concessions he would require.