'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [‎392r] (793/1386)

SECRET.
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Papers relating to the Operations in Mesopotamia.
jb.
ADDENDUM.
Mr. Beaumont to Sir Edward Grey, dated \btli August 1914.
■legraphic.)
Admiral Limpus ami all officers of British Naval Mission have suddenly been replaced in
their executive command by Turkish officers, and have been ordered to continue work at
Ministry of Marine if they remain. Although 1 have been given to understand by a member
of the Government that they are still anxious to get officers and crew of the Goeben and
Jireslau out of Turkey, this will probably mean retention of mechanics and technical experts
at h ast, which will create most dangerous situation here,
Sir L. Mallett to Sir Edward Grey, dated 2(Uh August 1914.
(Telegraphic.) - .
Ninety German sailors passed through Sophia yesterday on their way to Constantinople.
I have protested stiongly, but Grand. Vizier is unable to control the situation, which is
dominated by the German Ambassador and generals. Weber Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , who is in command at the
Dardanelles, is said to be urging closing of the Straits. 1 have brought this to the notice ol
the Grand Vizier. His Highness most positively repudiated any such idea, and begged me to
have patience, as this situation would not last, and he was gaining authority. In the mean
time general mobilisation is proceeding feverishly, and pre larations are being pushed on in
the fleet. Eighty pounds’ worth of surgical appliances, dressings, Ac., were bought by doctor
of the Coreotanfo tu-day, 1 am informed that there is a 5-ii.ch gun hidden h\ canvas at her
miorfC She still lies''at Therapia. it is not likely that the two German men-of-war will
come out of the Dardanelles, but there are grounds for thinking that German plan is to urge
Turkey to attack Russia after Prande is beaten- about ten days hence in their estimation.
Straits would be entirely closed, and, according to the German Ambassador, quite impossible
to force, since Germans have taken special measures to make them impregnable, lo sum up,
the situation is most unsatisfactory, though not actually desperate.
Mr. Cheetham to Sir Edward Grey, dated 28th August 1914.
forces are being mobilised in Hedjaz and flirt,her south, and existing mi
d Sea may thus be explained. About sixty Turkish fffficers arrived at Alexs
passed through Egypt down Red Sea. Their destination was the V
military
mdria
emeu.
Signs are not lacking that,
■V few Turkish officers are
(Telegraphic.)
Ottoman for
activity in Red
recently and ^ ^ .
Twelve thousand Turkish troops are reported in Jeddah region,
in case of war, an attack on Egypt is contemplated by lurkey
now in the Delta. Steps have been taken to watch all those that are known. 1 learn from a
good source that all information of Turkish mobilisation reported from Constantinople is
correct. Meanwhile, emissaries are being sent to India, the Yemen, Senoussi, and Egypt, to
stir up feeling against Great Britain. Activity at Gaza is reported, but it As uncertain
whether this is more than raising of levies to replace regulars withdrawn from thejiorth by
mobilisation.
<&■/
Sir L. Mallett to Sir Edward Grey, dated oth September 1914.
(Telegraphic.)
1 hear that Inspectm from Constantinople of Committee of Union and Progress left
Erzeroum on the 1st September for Persia, where he has previously lived. He was accom
panied by three Persian revolutionists from Constantinople, one of them named Agha Mehemet
Ali. They have ideas about Afghan and Indian Moslems, and also intend to stir up anti-
Russian trouble in Persia.
Viceroy to Secretary of State for India, dated 7th October 1914.
(Telegraphic.)
In reply to your telegram of 5th October, in which you ask for a full expression of my
views upon the Abadan project, l venture to put forward following considerations after
consulting Commauder-in-'Jhief. It appears to us perfectly clear that the policy of Turkey
which is not in a position to give real material assistance to the e iemy, is dominated by
Germai v, whose aim is to create a situation in which it will appear that Turkey is the object
of aggression of one or more Christian Powers. Violations of neutrality, as in case of Goeben,
arc too technical to be understood by the M uhammadan masses, but the presence of belligerent
ships and the idsembarkation of troops in Turkish waters are facts of which the provocative
character are apparent to all. That such provocation should be given by Indian ships or
troops will create a bad effect in India and Afghanistan and must be to play into the hands
of Germany. I agree with Sir L. Mallet that at present moment, presence of three of our
ships in the Shatt-el-Arab is not defensible from an international point of view, but to sepd
M.S. 2oj. A