Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎26v] (52/544)

the effect that they could not he substantiated. In his view, the
question was mainly political. He further pointed out that Baratof
had handed over certain stores. The War Office did not recom
mend that 1 i million krans should be paid in ca«h to Baratof, but
that we should pay his billeting requisitions up to the value of the
stores handed over. There was something to be said for Baratof s
claims, as between the 13th February and the 13th April he had
only drawn 13-| millions instead of 20 millions.
Mr. Keynes said that the view of his Department was that the
Committee should be on their guard against the squandering of
unlimited funds on adventurers.
General Smuts agreed that the Committee must be careful, in
view of possible developments, not to overstep the danger-point of
credit. On the other hand, Baratof was upholding the credit of
Russia and ourselves. He thought it was evident that the
1^ million krans must be paid.
The Chairman thought it was fairly clear that Baratof, from
his own language, did not really expect to get the 8^ millions.
It was decided —
That the Treasury should he authorised to pay the 1J million
krans, hut that they should refuse to admit the claim
for the 8|- millions.
Mr. Keynes said that the amount disbursed on behalf of
General Bicharakof was 2,200,000 krans a month ; he was now said
to need 4 millions. General Dunsterville had continued to pay the
former amount without definite authority for so doing. The
Treasury, however, would raise no objection to paying the 4 millions
said to be necessary, although he must warn the Committee again
to be cautious about their future commitments.
It was decided —
To sanction, for the present, a monthly disbursement of
4 million krans to Bicharakof through General
Dunsterville.
Jfedjnz Mission to
Turkestan.
8. The Committee had before them various papers on the
subject of the Hedjaz Mission to Turkestan and, in particular, a note
by the Secretary of State for India (E.C.-399) dated the 23rd May,
in which he strongly opposed the project.
The Chairman said tliat he understood the Committee were
unanimous in thinking it most undesirable that the Mission should
be pe mitted to proceed. The Foreign Office had submitted to him
the following draft telegram to Sir Reginald Wingate:—
“ Owing to the disturbed state of Persia, Turkestan, and
Caucasus, it would be impossible for the King of the Hedjaz’s
delegates to travel at present. There is no immediate prospect
of the situation ameliorating sufficiently to allow of the proposed
journey. Please inform the King of the Hedjaz.”
It was decided —
To authorise the despatch of the above telegram
Bakhtiaris.
Subsidies to
Jdkhani and Ilbegi.
9. With reference to Minute 3 of the Second Meeting, Lord
Hardinge drew attention to Sir C. Mailing’s telegrams No. 335
(E.C.-I86) and No. 434 (E.C.-368) regarding the arrangements to
be nudj for the llkhani and Ilbegi. In the latter telegram, Sir C.
Marling had pressed for an early decision on the question raised in
his former despatch regarding the subsidy to be paid to tht heads of
the aforesaid clans. He notified the provisional arrangement to ho