Papers of the Interdepartmental Conference on Middle Eastern Affairs [‎38r] (75/290)

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On the opening of the northern part of the sea to navigation, probably about the
middle of March, considerable naval activity is expected. This will be due to :
( 1 .) The possible intention of the Bolsheviks to capture Baku, vide paragraph 5.
( 2 .) The Bolshevist fleet being attacked by our naval and air forces on the well-
knofan principle mentioned in paragraph 4.
9. Policy.
The whole question of the policy to be pursued requires definition. Lt has^ been
shown that it is essential for us to attack the Bolshevist fleet at Astrakhan. To do
this we may require a base from which to fly further north than Petrovsk, the furthest
the army are allowed to extend their operations. It is understood that the military
policy is to hold the Batum—Baku railway line to prevent the spread of Bolshevism
to the southward and to avoid interference with the embryo republics as far as possible.
This policy is materially assisted by the presence oi the Caucasus range immediately
to the northward of the railway, which cannot be turned, as it rests on the navy at
either end. The navy, however, must have the support of the army in any operations
considered necessary in the furtherance of the objects outlined above and in
paragraph 5.
10 . Action Required.
That a clear policy for future action be laid down, and that the Admiralty and
War Office should be consulted in the framing thereof, as the present apparent
differences are most unsatisfactory.
APPENDIX IV
Memorandum by Foreign Office.
I. Policy in the Caucasus.
OUR policy in the Caucasus was outlined to General Milne in
telegram No. 70903, dated the 16th November, 1918, which
reads:—
“ Please announce the following* :—
“ Our policy is to police area between Caspian and Black
Sea as may be required to maintain order and enforce terms of
armistice pending final settlement at Peace Conference of
various territorial questions involved.”
It was stated at greater length in W.O. No. 72436 of the
11 th December, 1918, and repeated in W.O. No. 72631 of the
16th December, 1918, thus :—
“ Your G.C. No. 660,t dated the 3rd December.
“ Our policy in the Caucasus at present is to ensure that
the terms of the armistice are complied with in full by the
Turks to reopen the pipe-line between the Black Sea and the
Caspian, and to that end to occupy Batum and Baku, and
probably Tiflis, and so much as may be necessary of the railway.
We desire to see strong independent States in Georgia,
Daghestan, and Russian Azerbaijan. The question whether we
shall favour the consolidation of the Armenian State near
Erivan, or whether we should prefer to see it part of a greater
* Announced on the 24th November.
t Asking for information regarding our policy in Caucasus as to our attitude
towards the inhabitants.
[987]—309
H