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Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [157v] (314/544)
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.
10
merely that of finding a substitute for them more in consonance with the present policy
of His Majesty’s Government. This should be made clear to Sir P. Sykes before he
leaves Persia.
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.
, November 16, 1918.
APPENDIX II.
E.C.-2179.
Note by 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.
on Present Situation and Future Action
in Turkestan.
THE Government of India’s telegram No. 14347,* dated the 23rd October, which
was circulated to the Eastern Committee on the 28th October, embodied their
appreciation of the situation in Trans-Caspia, and ended with the conclusion that we
should tor the time being continue to support the 1 rans-Caspian Government, making
this support contingent on the acceptance and carrying out ot certain measures by that
Government. . .
The telegram under reference was despatched prior to the cessation ot hostilities
with Turkey, but after the severe defeat inflicted on the 1 urks in Palestine, which
resulted in the withdrawal of part of their forces from the Cauc tsus, it remains to be
considered whether the fact that the Turks are now out of action renders British control
of the Caspian and Trans-Caspian still necessary or desirable. It is doubtful whether
the removal of the Turkish menace renders the presence of General Malleson s forces
less necessary than previously. Throughout the war Germany lias endeavoured to
create trouble for us in Afghanistan and Persia, so that we should be forced to divert
troops and war material to the Indian frontier.
The main lines by which German agents and troops could reach the Afghan
frontier are—
(a.) Black Sea, Batum—Baku Railway, Caspian Sea, and Krasnovodsk-Merv
Railway.
(b.) Moscow to Astrakhan, and thence to any point on the eastern shore of the
Caspian.
(c.) Through Russia by the Moscow-Samara-Orenburg-Tashkent Railway.
Until the British fleet has obtained complete command of the Black Sea (a) above
remains open to the Germans if British control of the Caspian is relaxed.
Control of the Caspian is also necessary to block line (b) to the Germans ; and
even with the complete British control of the Black Sea and Caspian Sea the line (c)
remains open to the Germans and their Bolshevik friends.
According to the latest information, dated the 28th October, General Malleson lias
the following effeetire forces in Trans-Caspia :—
Effectives.
Infantry.
Cavalry.
Guns.
Kaahhi Front.
1 section R.F.A.
. .
..
2
British infantry
120
. •
Indian infantry
Indian cavalry
300
150
. .
Reinforcements m route
51
72
• •
Total
471
222
2
Krasnovodsk.
British infantry
500
2
1 section R.F.A.
• •
♦
Total
500
••
2
• Reproduced below.
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