File 299/1918 Pt 3 'Persia: situation in the South; aeroplanes at Bushire; post-war garrisons in the Persian Gulf; question of withdrawal of British troops; War Minister's visit to the South, 1922' [‎368r] (740/746)

Part n.—Mesopotamia.
the density o^populatfon^rthus 8 '20 per^quare"^!!^ T* 125 ’ 00 ? ® c i" aie miles;
tribes on\Tl W tMesTiuubTent^no 0 "f™ V ^ mde^Wdl the'
deal with by troops. The situation withl't t0
the c^culitaTito^nd o&b 8 ^^' 1 th ° T™"* in ful1 al > over
living memorv ■ our •ihilit,- r , ™ iimtamed , better than at any time within
adequate forces’to renress' tronbf 1 °t" ' 01 '’ 8 ' S ° c,e P e . nds on the maintenance of
done hitherto by aercq)lan & es with'very^ds^ctorjM-esnlt^'^^^^^ ThiR h “ S '-
wOTk'effieiently—ami on thP | av ° ,ir | aIlle loj'flyhi^'lf'Vhe^ivd AdminLtratmn T^ to
pace, ibis should be clone by the same aeroplanes as may be required for
fam;ii 1 a7w P i l th P t 0 heconnt 0 ry ^ ^ bec0lue 'boroughly
11. I therefore submit that as soon as peace has been signed the Officer
ddw^tvifh O' Z Al} F ° rCe m Me80 P°? amia should authorised to correspond
d rect uith Civil Commissioner, Mesopotamia, and to comply, subject to the exigencies
o le sei vice, with requisitions for aeroplanes for passenger purposes (at present this
has to be done through General Headquarters, and all correspondence whatever
between Koyal Air horce and Civil Administration has to pass through the military
authorities). Applications for aeroplanes for punitive purposes would be made
through the military authorities.
Id. I submit that the three squadrons allocated to Mesopotamia should be made
up to strength at the earliest possible date with machines suitable for use in punitive
operations at long distances. Scout machines, if required, to be surplus to
establishment.
13. Officers 1 ol the Royal Air Force who have joined the Civil Administration
1 Capt. A. 13. Fuller, pilot;Lieut. G. M. to be maintained on books of Royal Air Force
Lees, M.C., D.F.C., pilot; Lieut, J. Je L. as a special reserve, and to be allowed to keep
Kirk, observer. their hand in by occasional flying.
14. If three squadrons are maintained I anticipate that, provided troubles in
India and Egypt do not increase and spread to Mesopotamia, it should he possible to
reduce the existing garrison materially—the British infantry, however, remaining as
at present. It should be possible to reduce the Indian troops by 50 per cent.: this is
desirable on political as well as on financial grounds.
16th April 1919.
A. T. Wilson, Lt.-Col.,
Officiating Civil Commissioner.