Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎97r] (193/544)

rThis Document is the Property of His Britannic
Majesty s Government.]
[365—25]
Printed for the War Cabinet. August 1918.
SECRET.
E.C. 26th Minutes.
WAR CABINET.
EASTERN COMMITTEE.
Minutes of a Meeting of the Eastern Committee held in Lord Curzon's Room at the
Privy Council Office, on Thursday, August 15, 1918, at 3 p.m.
Present:
The Right Hon. the Earl Curzon of Kedleston, K.G., G.C.S.I., G.C.LE.
(in the Chair).
The Right Hon. Lord Robert Cecil,
K.C., M.P., Assistant Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs.
Sir R. Graham, K.C.M.G., C.B. (repre
senting the Permanent Under-Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs).
Mr. L. Oliphant, C.M.G., 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. .
The following also attended :
Lieutenant-General Sir H. V. Cox, K.C.M.G., C.B., C.S.I. (Military Secretary,
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. ).
1. The following telegrams came under discussion : Bagdad,
Saud - Nos. 6489, 6490, 6491, 6492, and 6500 (E.C. 1118, 1119, 1139, 1095,
and 1096 respectively) and Cairo Nos. 1205 and 1209 (E.C. 1132
and E.C. 1154).
Mr. Montagu read to the Committee a Minute prepared at 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. explaining the general situation.
After some discussion the Committee decided :—
That Mr. Philby should be instructed to address a communica
tion to Bin Baud on the lines proposed in Cairo telegram
No. 1209 (E.C. 1154), subject to the following modifica
tions :—
(1.) The following to be substituted for the first paragraph of
Sir R. Wingate’s formula :—
“ We recognise our obligations to use every influence in
our power to prevent encroachments upon Bin Sand’s terri
tories, but feel that it is impossible to decide upon merits of
individual cases until precise limits of his territories have been
discussed and laid down as provided for in the Treaty.”
(2.) At the end of the third paragraph of the formula add the
words :—
“ King Hussein has offered to visit Bin Saud himself with
a view to discussing such reconciliation.”