Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎171v] (342/544)

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GENERAL THWAITES : ft must have been circulated a few days ago.
LORD CURZON: Then it is with the Papers, and we have seen it.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : Even if they are after a commercial enterprise, do you
think it would be possible for us to refuse the offer?
GENERAL THWAITES : No, I do not think so.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : It is all mixed up with other things, as everything is
in America.
LORD CURZON : As you know, the copper mines near Diarbekr are among the
most important in Asia, and, I suppose, among the most important in the world.
There is something in one ot the telegrams that is a little suspicious, because, after
talking about lorries and transport, and so on, there is a phrase that alludes to
such extras as mechanicians.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : They always do that, and mix them up.
GENERAL THWAITES : It is in the back of my mind that there is something
of that kind behind it all.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : I think it is most probable. You cannot avoid that,
I think.
GENERAL SMUTS : This is the phrase: “ 300 doctors, relief workers, mechanics,
agriculturists, and so forth.”
LORD CURZON : Yes, “ mechanics, and so forth.” That is a very large and
dubious phrase.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : Even if it be so, assuming we are agreed that at any
rate part of Armenia must go to the French or to the Americans, and that we do not
want to take it ourselves; if it is going to the Americans it does not matter to us at
all whether they are going to develop it commercially or not. If it is going to the
French, it is a matter for the French and the Americans, and not for us.
GENERAL THWAITES: Yes. However, from the military point of view, the
War Office are not prepared to take any action with reference to it.
LORD CURZON : You do not take the line that you would regard the infusion
of America as involving a military peril ?
GENERAL THWAITES : Except so far as this, that if they are going in for
commercial interests it may expand.
LORD ROBERT CECIL: Ido not believe the Americans would ever send troops
to Armenia.
GENERAL THWAITES: No.
LORD CURZON : That is a very contingent, danger. Sir John Beale, do you
wish to say anything on the matter ?
SIR JOHN BEALE : Yes, there is one remark I should like to make. I did not
see the Papers until I got here, but I notice that a suggestion is put forward bv the
American Government that this is part of Mr. Hoover’s general plan. I do not know
what Mr. Hoover’s general plan is. He has not told anybody in this country what his
plan is. If you must accept the offer on his part as part of his general plan, you may
to some extent prejudice yourself when the general plan comes up lor discussion.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : I had forgotten they put it forward as part of a
general plan.
SIR JOHN BEALE : That is so.
GENERAL SMUTS: “ Mr. Lansing adds that the foregoing plan enjoys the
complete approval of the Government of the United States and is part of Mr. Hoover’s
food scheme.”
SIR JOHN BEALE : It must be remembered that Mr. Hoover is about the most
successful mining engineer in the world. That may have some bearing on this question.
When he was here in July and August his suggestion was that the European Allies
should set up an Inter-Allied Food Authority in America to look after all food supplies.