Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎208r] (415/544)

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MR. BALFOUR : I agree.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : Then you have the thing on quite a different footing.
MR. BALFOUR : That was why I said it was another hare I was starting.
LORD ROBERT CECIL: If you want to guard the railway merely, that
becomes a different proposition, and will have to be done; but I should like to say it
will probably be a matter to be considered whether some special international
communication will not have to. be devised.
LORD CURZON : I think these words are open to your objection, namely, “ to
maintain order, or to offer protection to the States concerned. ” Perhaps they are
too strong.
GENERAL SMUTS : Those words might go out, and have simply “ the services
of a Great Power are required for a period for the above area.”
LORD ROBERT CECIL: You might say that, if that is wdiat you mean.
MR. BALFOUR : “To protect international interests.”
LORD ROBERT CECIL: “ In the above area.”
MR. MONTAGU : If the League of Nations wants to protect international
interests, it should not be done by any one Great Power, but by an international
force.
GENERAL SMUTS : That is impracticable. That is the difficulty.
LORD CURZON : I am content to accept Lord Robert Cecil’s suggestion: “ 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 area concerned, the selection of America would be preferable to that of France.”
I hope you will not press me to recede from the phrase about France, because I feel
that very strongly.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : I will not press you to do anything you disagree
with. I think it goes too far. If it is only a question of guarding a railway I do
not think it matters whether it is France or anybody else there.
MR. BALFOUR : I w^ould rather America did it than anybody.
LORD CURZON: With the alteration we have made, may we pass No. 7 ?
MR, MONTAGU : I will not delay you except to say once again with great
regret that No. 7 does not express my view.
LORD CURZON : Even in its modified form?
MR. MONTAGU: Yes.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : Even if we alter “ would ” into “ might ” ?
MR. MONTAGU: It is better now, I agree; but, whatever happens, I do not want
to go there. I thought Lord Robert Cecil was pressing this, that if the League
of Nations wanted to guard international interests it should be done by an inter
national force. I agree to that; but I do not want to go there alone, even with a
semblance of reluctance.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : Supposing we say it is to be done only if the League
of Nations asks a Great Power to undertake it for the League of Nations, and then
only to guard international interests?
MR. MONTAGU : You have made a great improvement.
LORD CURZON: Now No. 8. That we shall accept, I think. Next No. 9.
MR. MONTAGU : I am sorry to be a nuisance, but I do not see the necessity
for the British keeping order in the Caspian. I dare say for the next fortnight or
three weeks, or perhaps a month, it may be necessary, but from the point of view of
order in Transcaspia it seems to me, and the Government of India have sent telegrams
to the effect, that they do not want, in the interests of India, to keep forces in
Transcaspia.
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