Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎258v] (516/544)

Muscat and
Sheikh Said.
f2
which he read brief extracts) with Turkey was in course of
preparation in the Foreign Office, to serve as an aide-memoire to
our delegates at the Peace Conference.
(A verbatim report of the Chairman’s statement and the
ensuing discussion is printed as an Annex to these Minutes.)
The Committee were in general agreement on the following
points :—
(a.) That Great Britain held, both historically and politically, a
special position in regard to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and
Arabia, and that if the question were raised at the
Peace Conference, which was not in itself desirable, a
general recognition of that position by the Powers should
be obtained ;
(6.) That our relations with individual chiefs, in many cases
the legacy of a remote past, exclusively concerned
ourselves, and were not a matter either for examination
or revi>ion by others ;
(c.) That if the case were discussed, a disclaimer by other
Powers of any political interest in Arabia was desirable ;
(d.) That, in any case, a renunciation of all Turkish claims over
Arabia was essential;
(e.) That the ideal solution would be a mutual renunciation by
Great Britain, France, and Italy # of any desire or
intention to interfere in spheres where the political
influence of the other party or parties was predominant.
The Committee took note that negotiations were proceeding
with a view to the conclusion of a Treaty with France in respect of
a general readjustment of our mutual positions in Egypt, Morocco, &c.,
and that this Treaty would embrace the outstanding questions of
Muscat and Sheikh Said.
Attention was called to a telegram (E.C.-2853) from the Civil
Commissioner at Baghdad, recording an interview with the Sheikh of
Moharnmerah, in which the latter had put forward claims to the
Amirace of Mesopotamia, should such a post be set up. If his
candidature were favourably considered by Great Britain, the Sheikh
projected a pilgrimage through Mesopotamia with a view to
canvassing the locality and gaining public acceptance.
Mr. Montagu submitted a draft reply to the Civil Commissioner,
instructing him to dissuade the Sheikh from undertaking the
pilgrimage and also from pressing his claims to the Amirate, which,
it was pointed out, would be a certain source of discord and
embarrassment, and would meet with no favour at Baghdad.
The Committee decided :—
(1.) To approve the Seereta7~y of State for India’s draft reply to
the Civil Commissioner in reference to the Sheikh of
Mohammerah;
(2.) That every endeavour should be made to prevent hostilities
between King Hussein and Ibn Sand until the end of
the war, and that, on the conclusion of peace, His
Majesty’s Government would be prepared to act as
arbitrator between the two, and endeavour to settle their
boundaries ;
(3.) That the discussion as to the future administration of
Mesopotamia should be resumed as soon as the Committee
were in possession of the final recommendations of the
Civil Commissioner, which had been promised by the end
of the year.