Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎115v] (230/544)

said that General Marshall intended to withdraw from Enzeli to
Kasvin in order to prevent his force in North-West Persia from
being cut in two. This was not quite an accurate statement, as the
loss of only one-eighth of his troops, and not the half was involved.
If, however, General Monro were jjiven the new command, it would
be exceedingly difficult to fill his place, even temporarily, in India.
In General Cox’s view, every place we held on the Caspian and
in North-West Persia should he treated as an important point on the
outpost line and defended to the last at whatever cost. All these
places were really outposts of India and should be treated as such
tactically. He did not think that Baghdad was a suitable place for
the headquarters of the new Commander, as it was too near the
Mesopotamia fighting line, and it would he difficult for a Com
mander stationed there to get the right perspective: The true
strategic centre of the Eastern part of the British Empire was
undoubtedly Cairo, and this he considered was the right place at
which to centralise the new single control.
The Chairman said that Mr. Montagu and General Cox had put
forward a serious proposal, which was to constitute an immense new
Eastern command. Both this and General Smuts’ plan would
require to be more thoroughly explored before they could he sub
mitted to the War Cabinet. He suggested that both proposals
should be submitted for the views and comments of the Government
of India, not as carrying official authority, but as ideas which had
been put forward, the telegram being worded on the lines he had
already indicated. lie also suggested that General Wilson should
be asked to furnish a paper to the Committee, giving the considered
views of the War Office on these two proposals.
The Committee decided :—
(a.) 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. should draft a telegram to he sent to
the Government of India, after being seen and approved by
the Chairman and members of the Committee, embodying
the proposals of General timuts and Mr. Montagu respec
tively, and asking for the views and comments of the
Government of India thereon; the telegram to make it clear
that a single control, if created, could not be exercised from
India.
(b.) That the C.I.G.S. should submit io the Committee, for their
early consideration, a memorandum giving the considered
views of the War Office on the above proposals.
(Initialled) C. of K.
2, Whitehall Gardens, S.W. 1,
September 18, 1918.