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Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [103v] (206/544)
The record is made up of 1 file (272 folios). It was created in 13 Mar 1918-7 Jan 1919. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
6
o
to the conclusion that they were anything but helpful to the
country, or friendly to our interests. He reminded the Committee
of the alternative proposal contained in the Government of India’s
telegram, that the South Persia Rifles might be handed over to the
local Persian Governor-General.
General Macdonogh stated that if the South Persia Rifles were
handed over to the Governor-General of Pars they would become an
armed rabble, who woidd be easily seduced by German agents, and
might threaten the security of Malleson’s communications and
our East Persia Cordon. The War Office would prefer to keep
control of the South Persia Rifles during the war, but had little or
no interest in what happened to the force after the war.
Mr. Oliphant stated that the main object of the maintenance of
the South Persia Rifles in peace time was to protect the Anglo-
Persian oil-fields by maintaining order and security in South Persia.
General Macdonogh thought that this might be done by the
creation of a Persian army, which was by no means an impossibility.
Lord Robert Cecil pressed his view that a telegram should be
sent to Sir C. Marling informing him that our first consideration was
the maintenance in power of Yossugh, and our desire to come to an
immediate arrangement with him in regard to the South Persia Rifles,
in the event of his position being threatened should such an agree
ment not be arrived at.
The Chairman felt, on the other hand, that any such agreement
might queer the pitch as far as Sir P. Cox was concerned, and was
most anxious to postpone decision in regard to the future of the
force.
Mr. Montagu drafted a telegram (E.C.-1283) (Appendix A)
which, after some discussion and alteration, was adopted by the
Committee.
(b.) With regard to the proposal in the Government of India's
telegram that Sir Percy Sykes should be withdrawn, Lord Robert
Cecil thought that a reply should be sent agreeing in principle with
this proposal, but that in view of the uncertainty wdth regard to
the future [of the South Persia Rifles it might be undesirable to take
immediate action.
The Committee agreed with this view.
(Initialled) C. of K.
2, Whitehall Gardens, S.W.,
August 22, 1918.
About this item
- Content
This file is composed of papers produced by the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee, which was chaired by George Curzon for most of its existence. The file contains a complete set of printed minutes, beginning with the committee's first meeting on 28 March 1918, and concluding with its final meeting on 7 January 1919 (ff 6-214 and ff 227-272).
The file begins with two copies of a memorandum by Curzon, dated 13 March 1918, proposing the formation of the Eastern Committee. This is followed by a memorandum by Arthur James Balfour, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, approving Curzon's proposal, and a copy of a procedure for the newly created committee, outlining arrangements for committee meetings and the dissemination of information to committee members.
Also included is a set of resolutions, passed by the committee in December 1918, in order to guide British representatives at the Paris Peace conference (ff 216-225). The resolutions cover the following: the Caucasus and Armenia; Syria; Palestine; Hejaz and Arabia; Mesopotamia, Mosul, Baghdad and Basra. They are preceded by a handwritten note written by Curzon 'some years later', which remarks on how they are a 'rather remarkable forecast of the bulk of the results since obtained.'
- Extent and format
- 1 file (272 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 272; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- Mss Eur F112/274
- Title
- Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee
- Pages
- 1r:214v, 216r:272v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence