Papers of the Interdepartmental Conference on Middle Eastern Affairs [‎115v] (230/290)

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not to take over any charges which involved liquidation of expenses
incurred by the military authorities.
With regard to the suggestion that a clause on the subject of
commandeering should be inserted in the sale contract, he did not
think that this should be done until after the sale. He was not
aware exactly what the Civil Transport Pool meant.
Mr. Garbett pointed out that the Civil Transport Pool was
a necessity for the transportation of officers of the civil administra
tion, it being practically impossible to get to many places in
Mesopotamia without a launch.
The Chairman, referring to the telegram from Baghdad, asked
what was the bearing of Colonel Wilson’s objection to taking over
the inland water transport on account of the heavy expenditure
involved. He presumed that the expense had been borne by the
Treasury hitherto, and if Colonel Wilson thought it was excessive
he could cut it down when he took over.
Mr. Garbett said he thought Colonel Wilson’s object was to
take over only a continuing service and not one which would have
to be liquidated. He observed that with regard to the eight
“ fly-boats,” a question of policy was involved. If, under the
mandate, the forces in Mesopotamia were to be those of the
Mandatory Power and the forces of the Mandated Power were to be
limited, we should not be justified in handing over these armed
vessels, even as police boats, to the civil administration, who now
represented the future Arab Government, i.e., the Mandated Power.
Colonel Txedman pointed out that the armament of these boats
was movable.
Major Young thought we should be particularly ca reful about
boats which were useless except for military nu rnosesy^Cou ld nop
/^blieAnllitar^autlioritiesA-etain them for th e pres er^jTTwouhllje
oifiTcult not to hand them over to a future Arab Government if they
were now transferred to the civil administration.^
General May pointed out that much uncertainty appeared to
exist as to the number of vessels involved, &c. A telegram had
been sent from the War Office to the General Officer Commanding,
Mesopotamia, whose answer, when received, would probably clear up
the situation. He suggested that the question should be again
considered by the Sub-Committee after the receipt of the General
Officer Commanding, Mesopotamia’s answer.
The Chairman agreed, but considered that the handing over of
the Civil Transport Pool and the Bridges and Dredging Services
should be approved in principle. This was agreed to.
The Conference decided —
]. That the port should be handed over to the civil administra
tion on the 1st April, 1920.
2. That the handing over of the surveys should be approved in
principle, subject to fuller information being furnished to
the Treasurv.
•/
3. That the handing over of the Civil Transport Pool and the
Bridges and Dredging Services should be approved in
principle.
4. That the Sub-Committee should again meet to consider the
question of the Inland Water Transport on receipt
of a reply from the General Officer Commanding,
Mesopotamia.
• (Initialled) J. T.
Foreign Office,
March 10, 1920.