Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎264r] (527/544)

LORD ROBERT CECIL : He came to me some time ago and asked if T saw any
objection to drafting the treaty just to see how it looked, and 1 said it might do very
well, because, unless you put down a thing in writing first, you do not know exactly
what you do mean.
LORD CURZON : We ought, perhaps, to ask the view of the Government of
India on this. There was a telegram from the Viceroy, whose suggestion was this—
that the position as regards Arabia should be explained at the Conference, and that
general recognition of our position should be asked for. Those are very general terms,
and I do not know exactly what was meant.
MR. MONTAGU : There seem to me to be two things in regard to which we
could ask the French for certain definite agreements—the abrogation of the Declaration
of 1862 with regard to Muscat, and the disposal of any lingering French claim to
Sheikh Said.
MR. SHUCKBURGH : That is being done in connection with the Morocco-
Egyptian negotiations.
LORD CURZON : Why do not you put Muscat into it also?
MR. SHUCKBURGH : That is being done, too.
LORD CURZON : Is this a mere draft that is being drawn up, or is it under
actual discussion ?
MR. SHUCKBURGH : I think Sir Ronald Graham is discussing it.
LORD CURZON : Egypt, Morocco, Muscat, Sheikh Said ?
LORD ROBERT CECIL : It is really Egypt and Morocco, primarily, the main
purpose being to settle things like Capitulations, and things of that kind.
MR. SHUCKBURGH: Muscat and Sheikh Said are being thrown in.
LORD ROBERT CECIL: That is very intelligent. I do not know that.
MR. MONTAGU : So far as most of the other chiefs we have been talking about
to-day are concerned, we do not want anything new. We have treaties with them. By
these treaties they are not allowed to have any foreign relations with any other Power,
so we have nothing to fear from the French and Italians.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : We do not want anything from anybody. I suppose,
as a matter of regularity, we ought to get a renunciation from Turkey ?
MR. MONTAGU: Yes, and then if Turkey renounces, as Mr. Balfour stated, it
seems to me desirable that we should be recognised as the only Power that lias any
interest there.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : Yes. It will all work into the League of Nations.
LORD CURZON : But we do not want, do we, the League of Nations to set up
a mandatory power over these chiefs ?
LORD ROBERT CECIL: No, but if they said, “ We recognise nobody ought to
interfere in these districts except the British ”
LORD CURZON : Supposing, for instance, we had to regularise the position of
the Sheikh of Bahrein and to conclude a formal protectorate with him, we ought not
to have to go to the League of Nations, or anybody. We ought to be free to do it.
LORD ROBERT CECIL: Quite.
MR. MONTAGU: If this thing could be got into the treaty, it absolutely does
it : “ The High Contracting Parties recognise that by reason of the proximity of the
Arabian Peninsula to other portions of the British Empire and to the maritime
communications with India, Great Britain has special interests in the peninsula and, as
such, is, subject to the consent of the local rulers, the Power most qualified to afford
those rulers help and guidance. The other High Contracting Parties, in consequence,
declare that they seek no political influence for themselves in that region.”
LORD CURZON : That is very good, but that is an agreement between the
Powers ?
MR. MONTAGU : A suggested agreement, between whom
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