![Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎216r] (431/544)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001491.0x0002a8/Mss Eur F112_274_0431.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎216r] (431/544)")
Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [216r] (431/544)
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.
ITHI5,, DOCIMBFT 13 THE PROPERTY 0? HIR -RRITAWT^ l^JESTY’S GOVERNMEFT)
WAR G ABIKET,
71A3T]
ccmv tt:hie .
3 t Q -R R r .
z.h. 2715.A.
resolutions on THE CAUCASUS A:-7 D ari.qrtia.
1. We desire to see strong independent states - offshrotn 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 S'tates, viz. Daghestan,
Azerbaijan, and Russian Armenia, must depend on the march af
events and their successful assertion of an autonomous existence.
4. Whether Russian Armenia shall have a separate existence
(as distinct from Turkish Armenia) will "be determined in the
main "by the attitude cf the people themselves.
5. Whether the independent States cf the Caucasus combine
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 Govern
ment of 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 cr 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 concerned, the selection of /unerica
would be preferable to that of France, but is not in itself
desirable. The selection 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 pro
visionally accept the task.
8. In any case we have no intention of annexing any of these
territories or converting them into a British Protectorate,
•r ef accepting any commitments which will involve the per
manent 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. The ultimate settlement should provide if possible for
the declaration as Free Ports of Batum, ?oti, Trebizond, and
Baku, and for free transit on the railway grom Baturn to Baku.
11. Spatial steps may require to be taken for the due safe
guarding of international interests in the oity and oil-fields
of Baku.
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
Use and share this item
- Share this item
Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [216r] (431/544), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F112/274, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100069672679.0x000020> [accessed 17 June 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100069672679.0x000020
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100069672679.0x000020">Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎216r] (431/544)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100069672679.0x000020"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001491.0x0002a8/Mss Eur F112_274_0431.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000001491.0x0002a8/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
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