Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎203v] (406/544)

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national interests in the areas concerned,” and in the last line for the
word “ would ” substitute “ might.”
Resolution 9.—To omit the words “ in the interests of order in
Persia and Trans-Caspia.”
Mr. Montagu desired that his objection to our remaining in the
Caucasus in any capacity should be recorded in the Minutes.
The Resolutions as regards the Caucasus and Armenia in the
form finally adopted by the Committee were a's follows (E.C.-
2715a:—
(1.) We desire to see strong independent States—offshoots of
the former Russian Empire—in the Caucasus.
(2.) Of these States Georgia is the most advanced and has
the strongest claims to early recognition.
(3.) Recognition of the remaining States, viz., Daghestan,
Azerbaijan, and Russian Armenia, must depend on the
march of events and their successful assertion of an
autonomous existence.
(4.) W hether Russian Armenia shall have a separate exist
ence (as distinct from Turkish Armenia) will be deter
mined in the main by the attitude of the people them
selves.
(5.) Whether the independent States of the Caucasus* com
bine hereafter in a Federation, or prefer to remain
separate is a matter for their own determination.
(6.) Similarly their relations to the present or future Gov
ernment or Governments of Russia is a matter that in
the main concerns themselves.
(7.) If it be decided at the Peace Conference, either as the
result of a request from the States, or at the instance
of the League of Nations (should such be set up), that
the services of a Great Power are required for a period
to protect international interests in the areas con
cerned, the selection of A merica would be preferable to
that of France, but is not in itself desirable. The selec
tion of France would on broad grounds of policy and
strategy be undesirable. Only in the last resort, and
reluctantly if pressed to do so, might Great Britain
provisionally accept the task.
(8.) In any case we have no intention of annexing any of
these territories, or converting them into a British Pro
tectorate, or of accepting any commitments which will
involve the permanent maintenance of large British
forces in the Caucasus.
(9.) It is important for the time being to maintain British
naval control of the Caspian.
(10.) I he ultimate settlement should provide if possible for
the declaration as free ports of Batum, Poti, Trebizond,
1 and Baku, and for free transit on the railway from
Batum to Baku.
(11.) Special steps may require to be taken for the due safe
guarding of international interests in the city and oil
fields of Baku.
(12.) In the reconstitution of Georgia, it will be desirable to
include within its boundaries the Moslem Georgians of
Batum and Lazistan.
;13.) If an independent Armenian State be constituted out
of either the six A rmenian vilayets or a smaller area,
and, if a Great Power be called upon either by the
League of Nations, or by the people themselves, to act
as protector to the new State, Great Britain should
refrain from advancing any claims, and should sup
port the case either of America or France preferably,
in the interests of a revision of the Sykes-Picot Agree
ment of 1916, of France.