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Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [146v] (292/544)
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
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8
Sir C.
Marling:
Tel. 690,
Aug. 10.
F.O. tel. 422
of Aug. 14.
Sir C.
Marling:
Tel. 716,
Aug. 19.
F.O. tel. 442.
Sir P. Cox:
Tel. 856,
Oct. 1.
country made him consider that some immediate settlement was impelative. He^
accordingly urged that His Majesty's Government should consent to the employment ot
Swedish officers.
It was pointed out to Sir C. Marling in reply that, in view ol the past experience
of His Majesty’s Government of Swedish officers, they could not entertain the idea ot
repeating the experiment, but if Sir C. Marling approved, and thought the moment
opportune, he might, in conversation with the Prime Minister, suggest the employment
ol A.m6riCciu oHiccrs
Sir C. Marling then reported that the Prime Minister very strongly preferred the
selection of Swedes. His Highness rejected the suggestion which had been made of a
Persian figure-head with Colonel Stokes as his Chief of Staff, and added that, after
his experience of the Shuster Mission, he personally objected to the suggestion of the
employment of American officers. His Highness added that America had lost
popularity since she joined Great Britain and Russia in the war. He stated that if we
accepted Swedish officers his own position would be made easier, and that our interests
would be assured by the careful selection of officers. Meanwhile, it vve agreed to this,
and the South Persia Rifles were ostensibly under the general orders of Farman Farma,
he thought the matter could be temporarily shelved.
We informed Sir C. Marling that, in view of the past, the idea of Swedes was
still very unwelcome to His Majesty’s Government, and as a counter suggestion we
proposed the selection of Norwegian or h rench-Swiss ', or that the South f ersia lufles
should be made a purely Persian force.
Sir P. Cox stated on the 1st October that, as regards the employment of neutral
officers there was no opposition to French-Swiss. He suggested informing the Persian
Government that we shall claim to be consulted in regard to their selection, and also
suggested means whereby the arrival of such neutral officers should be deterred, and in
anv case, not sent to the South until after the war.
On this telegram, to which no reply has yet been sent, Sir E. Crowe pointed out
that if we accepted the Commission of Swiss officers we should remain definitely
bound to the scheme of a Swiss officered, British-paid, Persian force. He recalled
attention to the previous example ot the Swedes, and to our experience or Dutch
officers in Albania, and urged strongly that we should do nothing in this matter, but
instruct Sir P. Cox to make every conceivable pretext for putting the matter off.
Lord R. Cecil said that, sooner or later it was essential to decide on the direction
of our policy in Persia, i.e., protectorate or independence. If the latter, some means
must be found for giving to the Central Government at Teheran a force for preserving
order, which will not be a British force. He saw no device except neutral officers for
that purpose.
(Initalled) L. O.
\<>th October, 1918.
Draft telegram to Sir P. Cox (Teheran.)
(No. •) Foreign Office, October , 1918.
YOUR telegram No. 856 of 1st October.
Whole question of future relations of His Majesty’s Government with Persia has »
been carefully considered.
Guiding principle must be the permanent maintenance of British influence in
country bordering on Indian Empire, not any temporary expedient to meet a sudden
and passing emergency. With this object, His Majesty’s Government are anxious to
see in Persia a Government friendly to them, and as competent as is^possible, and they
regard Vossugh-ed-Dowleh as a suitable Minister. It is not, indeed, so important now
as it was a few weeks ago to secure his services in that position. Then he seemed the
onlv alternative to an administration definitely hostile to this country. Now that is
probably not true. Still we should decidedly regret his disappearance from office.
In these circumstances His Majesty’s Government are not convinced that there is
anv justification for entering into agreement such as that proposed in respect of the
South Peisia Rifles, which might eventually turn out not to be in the best interests
either of Persia or this country.
There are obvious objections to acceptance of an arrangement whereby the gendar-
marie paid by us is officered by another nation, and our experience of foreigners in
Persia has not been reassuring.
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.
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- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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- 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