Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎67r] (133/544)

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Printed for the War Cuhtnet. July 1918.
SECRET.
E.C. 20th Minutes.
WAR CABINET.
EASTERN COMMITTEE.
if
Minutes of the Twentieth Meeting of the Eastern Committee held in Lord Curzon's Room
at the Privy Council Office on Monday, July 15, 1918, at 5.30 p.m.
Present:
The Right Hon. the Earl Curzon of Kedlkston, K.G., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E.
(in the Chair).
The Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, O.M., M.P.,
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
The Right Hon. the Lord Hardinge of
• Penshurst, K.G., P.C., G.C.B., G.C.S.I.,
G.C.M.G. [Knight] Grand Cross of [the Order of] St Michael and St George (accolade). , G.C.I.E., G.C.V.O., I.S.O.,
Permanent Under-Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs.
The Right Hon. Lord Robert Cecil, K.C.,
M.P., Minister of Blockade.
Mr. L. Oliphant, C.M.G., Foreign Office.
Sir Mark Sykes, Bt., M.P., Foreign
Office.
The Right Hon. E. S. Montagu, M.P.,
Secretary of State for India.
Mr. J. E. Shuckburgh, C.B., 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. .
Major-General Sir G. M. W. Macdonogh,
K.C.M.G., C.B., Director of Military
Intelligence (representing the Chief of
the Imperial General Staff).
Ibn Sand and
I bn Rashid.
Lieutenant-Colonel L. Storr, Secretary. 1
1 . The Chairman said that according to a telegram, A.B. 925,
dated the 11th July, from the Arab Bureau (E.C.-795), Ibn Saud’s
followers, numbering about 5,000, were expected to start about the
22nd June on a harrying expedition against Shammar, and that
Ibn Saud, who would be accompanied by Philby, would probably
assume command in person at the beginning of this month. A
telegram had been circulated just before the meeting from the Acting
Political Officer at Baghdad, No. 5841, dated the L5th July
(E.C.-812', saying that he had posted to the Government of India
and to Cairo on the 9th July a lengthy communication received from
Philby, dated the 25th June, summarising the situation in Central
Arabia. Philby reported that Ibn Saud had already given a solemn
undertaking that no aggressive action would be taken by the people
of Khurmah pending a reply from the Government to the repre
sentations made on his behalf by Philby, who was remaining with
him. The Acting Political Officer urged that no message should be
addressed to either party until Philby’s report had been received and
considered by the Government of India, Sir P. Cox, and the High
Commissioner at Cairo The telegram concluded with a suggestion
that if it was decided eventually to address an identic communi
cation to the two parties, the form suggested by Sir R. Wingate
(E.C.-709) was more likely to make the desired impression than that
coirained in 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. telegram of the 13th July (E.C.-8L7).
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