Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎179r] (357/544)

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The lines of communication must be by sea, they cannot cross the Alps, and we could
cut their communications.
LORD CURZON : In time of war, of course we could.
COLONEL GLIBBON : Dealing with General Smuts’ idea of giving America the
mandate, it is not necessary to have one of the greatest Powers as the guardian ot
these Republics at all, because you would have the power of the League of Nations
behind, whatever mandatory was put in. It wouid not be necessary to contine your
choice to the three great Powers intimately interested in the East.
SIR LOUIS MALLET : I do not think a minor Power would have the authority
or prestige of a great Power, even although she were backed up by a League of Nations.
GENERAL SMUTS: Take the case of Persia. To put a very small Power in
charge of Persia would not solve the difficulty.
GENERAL COX : I was thinking of what we were discussing just now, which is
a very difficult question—not Persia.
LORD CURZON : The one point we are generally agreed upon is that the
future of Armenia ought to be handed over to some great Power. Opinions are divided
as to whether it should be France or America. France already has claims arising out
of the Sykes-Picot Agreement, which for certain reasons she may wish to push forward
in the North, as she has done in other places further to the South. In that case it
might be difficult to contest her. Some of us would sooner see America there. At the
present moment there appears to be a direct plot, or, if not a plot, an organisation to
bring her in, to which some of her people are a consenting party. I would not,
therefore, accept the view that America will in no circumstance take it up. When we
get beyond that we are in a region of doubt and of difficulty. As regards the countries
in the Caucasus, we have not even arrived at a solution of the question whether we
ought to recognise their independence or not. As to Georgia, we are united ; as to
Daghestan, it is really immaterial; as to Turkish Azerbaijan, in theory, yes, but in
practice it is difficult to do anything of the sort at the moment. I imagine our general
line ought to be to encourage the growth of autonomous institutions and States, and
that all of us think there must be, for the time being, a continuation of military
occupation. That occupation may have to assume civil responsibilities. At the two
ends of the railway line there are Baku and Batum, and it may be necessary to set up
international control there for a time. We are not at all united as to who should be
the great Power, if any, to look after this region. We all of us feel the existence ol a
certain logic that will compel the Power which takes Armenia to take the Caucasus.
Some of us would be very glad to see America there ; others would be willing to see
France there. Others, again, of whom I am one, are very much alarmed at the idea of
seeing France there at all. Beyond that I do not see that we can go to-day,
and really the question will depend, as General Smuts has pointed out, first, upon
an agreement about the League of Nations, if arrived at; secondly, upon the degree to
whicti each of these States is to be given the right to determine not merely its own
future autonomous existence, but who should be the tutelary Power to look after it.
But while we are here discussing whether it should be France or America, Georgia may
say, “ I will not have either ” : or Daghestan may say, “ Sooner than be under a Western
Power, I will go back to Russia ” ; Turkish Azerbaijan may take a similar line, and all
our academic a 'priori discussions here would be thrown to the winds.
MR. MONTAGU : I do not think there is any difference of opinion, as far as I am
able to judge, as to the first choice, America. It is only when the second choice comes
in, whether you would prefer Russia to come back or bring in France, that any
divergence appears.
LORD CURZON : I do not definitely say anything about Russia. Russia is in
such a welter that I should not like to give any opinion. But I am nervous about
bringing in France. Upon that I do feel strongly.
MR. MONTAGU: At least it would be clear that we should never recognise the
autonomy of Turkish Azerbaijan till the Turks are out of it.
LORD CURZON : By the Turks, you mean the Turkish garrison and the Turkish
officials, for the population are Turks, or Tatars, and they are a Turki-speaking people.
They are also mostly Sunnis, and their natural gravitation, politically and ethnographi-
cally, is towards Turkey. We cannot get away from that. We do not want to have a
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