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Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [173v] (346/544)
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.
LORD CURZON : There are t wo points. The}” should consult the French in
regard to the Dardanelles—that is an international question—and they should consult
the French with regard to the
Levant
A geographical area corresponding to the region around the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
.
LORD ROBERI CECIL: Even there I should think it would be very rude to
do anything there without admitting the French had any rights; they have such
interests in 1 urkey. But apart from that, I should suggest to the Americans, as our
forces have occupied Aleppo
GENP-jRAL bMUlS: Perhaps that is the reason why they are asking us, but
they have as much reason to ask the French, too.
LORD ROBERT CECIL: And we think they have.
GENERAL SMUTS: They are probably consulting the French and making- that
suggestion. °
LORD CURZON : I want to get the thing started, and I do not want to get it
tied up by the French immediately treating this as a political move, which I am afraid
they will do.
LORD ROBERT CECIL: If you did it without consulting the French, they are
more likely c J
LORD CURZON : I am in favour of taking some part in it ourselves and
adopting Admiral Webbs suggestion.
GENERAL SMUTS : We are taking independent action through General Allenby
where we should not consult the French at all.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : Are we in military occupation there ?
SIR JOHN BEALE: We have a fund which is anxious to despatch personnel
there.
GENERAL SMUTS: They have done nothing, and we should set them going
It is only General Allenby, so far, and he complains that the Armenian fund has done
nothing.
SIR JOHN BEALE: It should be encouraged to send people there.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : If the Americans say, “ We want to go to Aleppo,” they
would require General Allenby’s leave, of course. ’ ^
LORD CURZON : I am anxious not to say anything to the Americans which will
give them the idea that we think the French are the only great European Power who
has an interest in Armenia.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : I did not contemplate that at all. I suggest that we
should say, in answer to their enquiry, “We have no objection, but we probably think
it desirable you should consult the French.” That is all.
SIR JOHN BEALE: Are we to encourage the Armenian fund to go there too?
LORD ROBERT CECIL : Yes, certainly.
SIR JOHN BEALP]: If they go there they will require shipping from us It
would be an inefficient body. There are two or three people proposing to arrive
overland to start with, and I am afraid there will only be friction.
MR. MONTAGU : Why do you want your own people there?
LORD ROBERI CECIL : dhey want to do something. They would be aggrieved
if we said they were not to do anything, and we allowed the Americans to do it.
MR. MONTAGU : You have not a plethora of food; you surely do not want to
double the machinery.
LORD ROBERI CPUIL: I should not let them take food. I thought they
wanted to be the personnel.
SIR JOHN BEALE: They desire to go, and, when they get there, if they can
import food they will.
LORD ROBEIPJ CECIL: As far as available, but we do not think there wi.l be
any for them.
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