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Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [163v] (326/544)
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.
8
LORD ROBERT CECIL: Yes ; something of that kind, u, supreme British
adviser of some kind.
LORD CURZON : With his headquarters at Baghdad?
LORD ROBERT CECIL : Yes.
LORD Cl RZON : Whether a High Commissioner or whatever he be called—
that is a matter of detail—but there must be such a man.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : Yes.
LORD CL RZON : Again, although it does not concern us to-day, we should
all of us like to see Sir Percy Cox occupy that position if he is free to take it.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : I should think so. Upon that I should like to
reserve my opinion.
LORD CURZON : I am merely taking the telegram point by point, and we
need not discuss the details to-day. Now No. 7 :—
All agree that, before any decision can rightly be come to, the opinions
of the coimtry must be taken, and on clear understanding, on which the
inhabitants of the country themselves rely, that a protectorate will in due
course be declared, and that for the present military administration will con
tinue. I am prepared to arrange for this in a manner consonant with educated
opinion and not inconsistent with maintenance of public order. I do not doubt
that our confidence will be justified by results.”
I think we had better postpone that. It raises the whole question of a protectorate.
LORD ROBERT CECIL: I should not like to publish that.
MR. MONTAGU : He uses that as a term of art, and in its loosest form.
LORD CURZON: (8.) All difler as to Amir to be chosen. The following
names have been mentioned in this connection: “ (i) Hadi
Pasha
An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
al Umari ” he
is an old Turkish official, who has the solitary merit of being anti-German, although
he was educated in Germany. “ (ii) A member of the family of the Sultan of
Egvpt ”—which I hope we shall not consider for a moment. “ (iii) A son of the
Sherif of Mecca ’’—that is remarkable; and, lastly, he trots out, only to knock over,
the Nakib of Baghdad. Thus he disappears from the scene. Later on, Captain
Wilson says, as regards the third alternative, namely, the son of the Sherif of Mecca :
“ I am now advised that the third proposal would meet with widespread acceptance
in Baghdad, and that it would probably be well received outside, because all know
who the Sherif is. It is also considered that he would be acceptable to Shiahs on
account of Sherif’s well-known latitude in religious views. For reasons connected
with Persian Gulf—Central Arabia politics and on other grounds, I am, however,
strongly opposed to it ”—in other words, he retains his personal objections.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : That observation may have some meaning.
MR. MONTAGU : However broad-minded the Sherif is, is it not proved that
Abdullah himself is
LORD CURZON : I do not recollect that.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : I do not think that is admitted.
MR. MONTAGU : Abdullah is a gentleman who is very fond of his own com
fort, and so long as he is left with his women he does nothing at all. I think Ali is
the one I am thinking of.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : Yes.
MR. MONTAGU : He succeeded the Sherif himself.
LORD ROBERT CECIL: Abdullah is supposed to be rather a worldly person,
without any particular views.
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