Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎49r] (97/544)

from that of boper and to place former under general officer
responsible to Government of India, it has also been decided
that Meshed and Kashgar missions shall remain under control
of Your Excellency’s Government and not of War Office.
k< His Majesty's Government will be glad to receive as soon
as possible Your Excellency’s views as to further measures of
military precaution in sphere allotted to you. As regards
Afghanistan, question arises whether, in view of enemy
menace, we can rely any longer on policy hitherto so success
ful of treating country as neutral enclave An area of land belonging to one country and entirely surrounded by land of just one other country. in war area. If
not. and if necessitv of protecting Afghanistan against enemy
encroachment is admitted, requisite action can only be taken
by Afghans themselves. Do you think it feasible in these
circumstances to invite immediate co-operation of Amir with
a view to committing him definitely on our side before we are
forestalled by enemy? Invitation for which his recent request
for arms gives pretext, might take form of offer of arms, etc.
for defence of his Northern frontier and of suggestion that
he should form defensive alliance with Amir of Bokhara for
purpose of resisting enemy aggression. In any case, His
Majesty's Government think it essential that our means of
information regarding affairs in Turkestan should be im
proved and that with this object prohibition of entry of
British Agents into country should now be withdrawn.
Please instruct Malleson and Redl accordingly and authorise
them at their discretion to send agents across frontier for
purpose of obtaining information and paving way for
despatch of regular Mission hereafter.”
The Chairman .suggested that in the 9th and 10th lines for
“ Area will include South and East Persia ” should be substituted
“ In addition to South Persia already assigned to you, the area
will be, etc.”
(This was agreed to.)
Mr. Balfour enquired who had prohibited British agents
going to Bokhara.
Mr. Montagu replied that instructions to this effect had been
issued by the Indian Government and had been approved by H.M.
Government.
Lord Hardinge pointed out that nothing appeared in the
telegram about the suggestion regarding Afghanistan and
Penjdeh.
The Chairman was inclined to think that the telegram con
tained too much in a single compass. First, it defined all the
areas and delimitation of spheres of control. Secondly, it
referred to Afghanistan, but did not state a programme that we
should submit to the Amir. This latter, he thought, might be
sent in a private telegram, proposing that it should be suggested
to the Amir that he should try and recover Penjdeh; and, further,
hint at Roshan and Shighnan. Thirdly, he thought it doubtful,
at this stage, whether we should suggest that our missions should
be allowed to proceed. We ought first to ascertain what the
attitude of the Amir would be. India had always been most
apprehensive whenever it had been suggested to send missions into
Turkestan. It would be a pity if our new policy were handi
capped by a bad start.
Mr. Montagu said it was difficult to say which policy should
come first. If we brought in the Afghans, this might influence
the Turkomans and others. On the other hand, if we managed to
placate the Turkomans and the rest, this might impress the
Afghans. In any case, we did want to ascertain the attitude of
the peoples in Turkestan.