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'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [269r] (543/1386)
The record is made up of 1 file (687 folios). It was created in 1915-1918. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
From Viceroy, 6th October 1915.
Private. Your private telegram of 4th instant. Nixon’s plans. Please
see official telegram of to-day. Orders were telegraphed yesterday to Nixon
to stop further advance. Present situation is-as follows. Nixon with forces
at his disposal could without much difficulty capture Baghdad, and at the
same time take or destroy Turkish steamers and other boats, thus practically
preventing any further attacks down stream. But he could not remain
there exposed, to attack by Turkish reinforcements from Mosul or Aleppo
without himself being reinforced by one division of troops. It would be a
grave political error to advance to Baghdad and to retire later under
pressure from the Turks. Consequently, unless it be possible to reinforce
Nixon from elsewhere other than from India, he must remain at Kut-el-
Amara. On the other hand, from a political point of view, capture of
Baghdad would create an immense impression in Middle East, especially in
Persia, Afghanistan, and on our frontier, and would counteract unfortunate
impression created by want of success in Dardanelles. It would also isolate
German parties in Persia, probably produce pacificating effect in that
country, and frustrate German plan of raising Afghanistan and the tribes,
while impression throughout Arabia would be striking. In India effect
would undoubtedly be good. These are considerations to which I attach
great importance, but I put them forward to be weighed by you and His
Majesty’s Government, for 1 fully realise that it is for His Majesty’s
Government to decide where and how our forces can be used with the best
possible effect.
About this item
- Content
This file contains working drafts of confidential prints, correspondence and telegrams from the room of Sir Edmund Barrow, Military Secretary 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. , collected for the Mesopotamian Commission which was convened to examine the causes of the besieging and surrender of the Indian Expeditionary Force in Kut-el-Amara [Al Kūt].
The papers cover a range of topics and include the following: General Townshend's assessment of the situation after the Battle of Kut-el-Amara; a précis of correspondence relating to the origins and development of the Mesopotamia expedition; and a collection (ff 396-399) of private telegrams between the Secretary of State for India and the Viceroy, prior to the outbreak of war with Turkey.
The file also includes some tables showing the strength of General Townshend's force at Ctesiphon (folio 111) as well as the Indian Expeditionary Force 'D' (In Mesopotamia) Troops of the 6th Poona Division (folio 114).
Correspondents include: General Sir John Nixon; Major-General Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend; the Viceroy of India; officials of the Admiralty; officials of the War Office.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (687 folios)
- Arrangement
The entries are recorded in chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 686; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Multiple additional mixed foliation/pagination sequences are present in parallel; these numbers are written in crayon and pencil; where they are written in pencil and circled, they are crossed through.
The file has one foliation anomaly, f 374A.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [269r] (543/1386), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/5/768, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100116195930.0x000092> [accessed 3 January 2025]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/5/768
- Title
- 'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:5v, 7r:89v, 91r:107v, 109r:130v, 131ar, 131r:134v, 135ar, 135ar, 135r:136v, 137ar, 137r:203v, 204ar, 204r:225r, 225ar, 225v:295v, 296ar, 296r:316v, 317ar, 317r:374v, 374ar:374av, 375r:405v, 406ar, 406r:562r, 562ar, 562v:623v, 624ar, 624r:686v, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence