Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎165r] (329/544)

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MR. MONTAGU: Yes. The point I want to emphasise is this: we not only
get different advice from different people, but rather different advice in different
telegrams from the same person. It seems to me so vital, as Lord Curzon says, to
the continued existence of the British Empire, ot its continued prestige, to decide
on the right solution, some solution not having yet been explored.
LORD ROBERT CECIL: I agree. That is one of my reasons for (in spite of
Captain Wilson) being in favour of a Commission, I was anxious to get the thing
properly explored from every point of view. I agree it is too late now.
MR, MONTAGU: But is it too late? If everything that is claimed of
Abdullah is correct, he might be the right person. If Abdullah is the lascivious,
idle creature he is represented' to be, he is the ideal man, because he would leave the
British Administrator to govern the country wholly. If Abdullah is the person who
would be welcomed by the population he is the ideal man. Although 1 agree it
might diplomatically be very difficult to take the fifth alternative in Captain
Wilson’s telegram, of a British High Commissioner without a titular head for a
period of years, it does seem to me we might perfectly well carry through the Peac 1 ;
Conference a suggestion that we do intend to set up an Arab Confederacy, King
dom, Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. , Federation, or something, but that we are not yet prepared with
the right solution and we will discuss it. Why should we recommend the appoint
ment of any one person without a sufficient investigation? Captain Wilson says hft
has been conducting proceedings with a view to discover w 7 hat is the popular view 7 .
LORD ROBERT CECIL: I do not know much about the East, but as long as
our Armies are there, wall they not consider what we want?
MR. MONTAGU: Is that necessarily so? Supposing we said, “ We are going
to nominate an Arab ruler, what Arab ruler would you prefer?'' they would help
you to find the man they w T anted.
LORD ROBERT CECIL: They wxmld have a try to guess what you wanted.
LORD CURZON: I think Mr. Montagu is right. I was going to say that I
do not think we ought at this stage to select an Arab ruler, even if we can find him;
it would be presumptuous folly to do it. Among the questions to be submitted to
the people, which they will decide not necessarily in the way they think wdll please
us, but having regard to the manner in which the choice will affect themselves, will
be the questions whether they want Mosul to be under Baghdad or to be free, and
whether the Kurds axe to come in or not. And surely among the questions referred
to them it would be quite fair to ask for their views
GENERAL SMUTS: You are speaking of the Arabs?
LORD CURZON: Yes. It would be only fair to ask them to give their opinion
as to who should be the titular head. I think it would be unwise to commit ourselves
at this stage. Secondly, it is precisely one of the questions on which the people out
there may be trusted.
LORD ROBERT CECIL: Nor am I in the least against it. What I am against
is this. I do not know Captain Wilson personally; he may be a man of great
capability and tact and discretion. At the same time, it is evident if there was
anything stupid about the way the propaganda was carried on it might become a
very serious matter.
GENERAL SMUTS: It would not be possible to do that. We are getting to
a very important stage of the business, and you want a man you can absolutely trust.
LORD ROBERT CEChL: Sir Percy Cox would be an excellent ruler, but I
do not think he would be very good for this particular post.
GENERAL SMUTS: If at the time when we get to the Peace Conference we
put forward our case and are backed up, our position will be strong. 1 hat is the
point I should like to get to.
LORD ROBERT CECIL: I should like to have consulted Miss Bell. She is
still there.
LORD CURZON: Yes. She knows the Arabs so well, and has been there so
long, and in so many capacities. We might consult her as to the best way of
proceeding, and then decide what we should do.