Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎144r] (287/544)

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After some discussion the Committee decided—
(a.) To approve the draft telegram to General Allenhy in the
amended form as given in Appendix “ B.”
(b.) r To defer the discussion of the War Office paper, “ f^litical
Service in the Middle Bast (Per.) A Persian custom allowing an individual to seek asylum at a designated location. ” to a future Meeting.
Mr. Montagu suggested that no reference to Mesopotamia be
made in the telegram to General Allenby or Sir Mark Sykes’
instructions, but that a telegram should be sent to Colonel Wilson,
at Bagdad, informing him of Sir Mark Sykes’ mission, and suggesting
that he should meet Sir Mark Sykes either at Damascus. Bagdad, or
some other place convenient to Colonel Wilson. He further requested
that the telegram to General Allenhy, which the Committee had
approved, should he repeated to the General Officer Commanding in
Mesopotamia.
The Committee approved these recommendations.
Aden. 4. The Chairman stated that our position at Aden still appeared
to be somewhat ignominious. For more than three years the Turks
had been in possession of the greater part of the British territory
round Aden, and he had several times spoken to the former Chief of
the Imperial General Staff, who had always declined to provide the
I f troops because of more important military requirements in other
spheres. Lately, however, the War Office appear to have contem
plated taking more active measures, hut, on further enquiry from our
, representative at Aden as to the amount of additional forces
required, thev had again postponed taking action.
Lord Robert Cecil stated that he understood that a number of
people were of opinion that if the Turks were not driven out of
Lahej by force before the end of the war, our prestige in Southern
Arabia would be seriously affected after the war.
Mr. Montagu pointed out that the Turk was the only Power in
occupation of British territory, and whereas President \\ ilson had
refused to consider the question of an armistice with Germany
except on condition of the evacuation of occupied Allied territory,
and whereas Bulgaria had been forced to evacuate Serbia, it would
be disastrous if like conditions were not imposed upon our
Mahommedan and Asiatic enemy.
General Thwaites stated that the point had not been overlooked
in considering the terms of an armistice with Turkey. \\ ith regard
to the present situation, the Resident at Aden had asked for a
reinforcement of three to four battalions, as the minimum necessary
to drive the Turks out of the Aden Protectoiate. After careful
consideration, the General Staff had decided that the diversion of
* t freight which such a reinforcement would entail, was not justifiable.
A local reconnaissance towards the enemy’s left flank involving a few
casualties had taken place some fifteen miles from Aden on the
^ previous day, in which Somali Hill had been taken and held. Ihe
prosecution of this reconnaissance towards Mahatt was ineffective.
The Committee took note of the information given.
Mesopotamia:
Future
Administration.
5. With reference to the 34th Meeting (Minute 2) the
Committee had before them a note by the Political Department
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. , dated the 21st October, entitled: “Administration of
Mesopotamia” (E.C. 2030), and Sir P. Cox’s Memorandum, dated
the 22nd April, 1918 (E.C. 173). . , T j.
Mr. Montagu said that it had been his intention that the India
Office departmental note, which had issued somewhat prematurely.