Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎68v] (136/544)

4
Baku and the
Caucasus:
Submarines in
the Caspian.
after General Malleson’s arrival, which would probably be on the
17th July. In forwarding the telegram, the Commander-in-Chief
stated that Redl had been told to postpone the departure until the
arrival ot Malleson. General Maedonogh said that there seemed to
be no real ()bject in waiting for Malleson, who would be quite new to
the situation, ol which Major Eedl and General Munro were fully
informed. Our intention had been to send up a detachment of
20'> men who should go as far as the frontier, at Mohammedabad
(neai Askabad), as a “moral support.” We had, however, sent
200,000 roubles across the frontier to Djunkovski of the Turkestan
Union, which was to undertake the destruction of the railway. He
thought that it either belligerent party crossed to our side of the
frontier, we should give our support to our friends and should
restrain the activities of those who were opposed to us, and that the
detachment should now be sent forward to the frontier, hut not
beyond, though he would like to see a Mission despatched into
lurkestan itself to organise any force that might be prepared to work
in our interest.
Chairman said that Turkestan and Trans-Caspia were two
very different questions, and at present it was with the latter only
that we were dealing.
^■ <, ‘-higu submitted a draft reply to the Indian Government
in the following sense :—
J unction of force despatched to Perso-Russian frontier is
generally to. form rallying point for pvo-Entente parties in
Russian territory, and give them all possible assistance and
support. In detail officer commanding must be guided by
circumstances and by instructions which you give him in
pursuance oi general object of force. Care should be taken to
avoid interference with Afghan subjects.
“ As regards specific point raised by Redl in C.-in-GVs
telegram above quoted, assistance should be given to fugitives
belonging to party which we have decided to support and
pursuit by enemy into Persian territory should be prevented.
Organisation of Russian force in Persian territory may be
permitted il Redl and Malleson consider it advantageous to us.”
The Committee decided—
1 o author ise the despatch of the above telegram.
O, . 4 ' The Commrttee took note of a Paper from the Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs (E.C.-803), urging that at least one
experienced na™! officer, as well as sailors with a naval training
should be despatched to the Caspian. There seemed to be good
gtound for behevmg that a German submarine might make its way
from Lake Ladoga by inland waterways to the Caspian, and thus
give the enemy complete control of that sea.
General Macdonogh replied that the Admiralty were already
sendmg up an experienced naval officer to report on the possibility
of securing the two gunboats and the fleet on the Caspian, and also
on the possible use of submarines in that sea
Tim Chairman then read the draft of a telegram which the
ai Office desired to send to the General Officer Commandino-
Mesopotamia, urging more energetic action if we were to obtain
control of the Caspian.
decided— IS0USS1 ° n t0 " k P ' aCe ° n th ' S draft and !t was ev entually
j uul me vv ar
yince snoma oe instructed to send the
the following amended form :—
LKLty
/ r n o n
" ' r ° G .O.C.-in-C., Mesopotamia (repeated C.-in-C., India).
“Reference your X .-10 of the 4th July forwarding
Dunsterville s N.G.-1076 of the 3rd July. Dunstervilleseems tc