Papers of the Interdepartmental Conference on Middle Eastern Affairs [‎51v] (102/290)

4
Quasi Civil
Departments.
tion, and to deal direct with the Treasury. The delay involved by
dealing with the Government of India in such matters was very
embarrassing and detrimental to efficiency. It took six or eight
months to obtain a reply to a simple proposal if financial
considerations were involved.
The estimated cost of completing the existing railways was
2,000.000Z. The scheme had been approved by the \\ ar Office,
who had agreed to his suggestion that, in order to save dislocation
and friction when the transfer of control took place, and to make it
as^easy as possible for them, the services of General Lubbock, with
increased powers as Director-General of Transportation, should be
retained under the Civil Administration.
Mr. Waterfield asked if he was correct in supposing that out of
this 2 , 000 , 000 ?. only 500,000C was properly chargeable to military
funds, and the remaining 1,500,0001. was needed for civil expendi
ture.
•
Colonel Wilson said that 500,000L was needed to extend the
railway to Mosul, and 1,500,0001. was required to link up the
existing railways and to put them into working order. Until
Basra and Baghdad were connected by railway a large I.W.T.
fleet would have to be maintained at great expense to military
estimates.
Mr. Waterfield said that he was not authorised by the Treasury
to accept any such expenditure. The only sanction which had been
given for capital expenditure was for that which had been definitely
earmarked for military purposes.
Sir T. Eolderness said that the Conference was not in a posi
tion to give advice on the financial question or on expenditure. It
could only concern itself with the general proposition as to the
advisability of transferring the railways from a military to a civil
basis.
Mr. Waterfield said he was sorry to press the point, but as long
as there was going to be a deficit, Treasury would look to Colonel
Wilson to put forward proposals to them.
Colonel Wilson said he would do so, and immediately on his
return he would put up proposals by telegram.
Sir T. Eolderness said that he understood Colonel Wilson
anticipated that India would continue to supply the funds and adjust
accounts later with the War Office. There seemed to be no reason
why this should not go on.
Mr. Waterfield agreed that ways and means gave rise to no
difficulty. The whole problem, so far as Treasury was concerned,
related to capital expenditure.
The Conference decided —
That in the meantime the Civil Commissioner should proceed
with his arrangements in anticipation of the ultimate
transfer of the railways to civilian control, but that the
actual transfer of the railways from a military to a civil
basis could not take place until peace had been formally
declared, and the mandatory power for Mesopotamia
chosen.
2. Colonel Wilson said that in the 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. Memorandum of
the 2nd April, entitled “Mesopotamia : Civil Administration,” which
was before the Conference (Appendix), other “ quasi-civil ”
Departments were mentioned. His proposals with regard to these
Departments were as follows :—