Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎83v] (166/544)

4
Tehran:
Persian Govern
ment.
American Relief
Mission to Persia:
Mr. Judson.
thought it unwise to extend too
mucli authority to one man ( Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
/jciiliiL y
Mr. Shuckburgh stated that 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. were preparing a
note on the subject, which would be circulated to members before
the next meeting.
discussion was adjourned.)
5. The Committee took note of Foreign Office telegram No. 401 ,
dated 7th August, to Sir C. Marling (E.C.-1070), empowering
Marling to express to Vossugh-ed-Dowleh, if he thought desirable,
the pleasure with which His Majesty’s Government had learned of
Vossugh’s accession to office, and assuring him of our support, dhe
telegram further suggested that Marling should consider whether
action was now possible in the sense of h oreign Office telegram
No. 347 of the 2yth July (E.C.-672).
6 . The Committee had before them a memorandum by Lord
Robert Cecil (E.C.-1027) regarding the American Relief Expedition,
which was going to Persia under the leadership of Mr. Judson, the
head of Chicago University.
Lord Robert Cecil said that the Mission had two objects—first,
to distribute relief (with practically unlimited credit at its back)
and, second, to collect information. Lord Robert said that he had
seen Mr. Judson, who was most anxious to work in with us in every
way. It was impossible for us to stop the Mission without giving
grave offence to the United States. At the same time, the unlimited
funds which the Mission could dispose of might very seriously affect
the exchange in Persia. He thought that this should be explained
to Mr. Judson, as well as the nature of our policy in Persia, which
was not aggrandisement, but only designed to put Persia on her
legs and avoid a great military danger to the Allied cause. He
thought that, before facilities were given to the Mission to proceed,
Mr. Judson should give an undertaking that he would do nothing
without consultation with Sir P. Cox. Although there was no need
at all to doubt the good faith of this Mission, Sir William Wiseman had
recently telegraphed to the Foreign Office saying that an eye should
be kept upon some of these Missions, as the Persians were quite
disposed to intrigue with the t nited States and to complain to them
of Russian and British oppression The Persians had also suggested
that the gendarmerie should be officered by x\mericans.
The Chairman agreed with Lord Robert Cecil and thought that
the last suggestion might ultimately be welcome, since on the whole,
the United States were more likely to be friendly to us in Persia
than any European nation. It was very desirable that the Mission
should be encouraged to go to places where British interests were at
present predominant and where it might exercise a beneficial
influence on the situation. Apart from the question of the exchange,
he thought that the lavish expenditure of cash by the Mission might
really be advantageous. He suggested that Mr. Oliphant should see
Mr. Judson and explain that it had been no wish of ours to send
armed forces to North-West Persia, and that we were only there in 0
our own defence and for the general purposes of the Allies and,
indeed, in the interests of Persia herself.
Mr. Oliphant said that he had arranged to see Mr. Judson on
the following day, and would hold language to him in this sense.
Although the Treasury were apprehensive about the exchange, they
were, of course, prepared to support the Government policy if it was
decided to let the Mission proceed. He had made an appointment
for a Treasury official to discuss the exchange question with