'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [‎634r] (1280/1386)

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recommend as a better altmjrtative to paying the money uf AJavia that a
liritish force of one brigad^)f infantry and one moiintainmattery should be
sent to Dala. I have ncynoubt such an advance on our Jfavt will call in all
our tribes as well as^Iavia who. would light with Jfsin defence of their
interests. Situatimfr is entirely changed since>flie Turks crossed the
frontier, and it isinow imperative for Dritish profitige among our pi’otectedj
tribes that the British should take action iiun lead them against d urk^
and not leave ij/to Mavia, a Turkish Arab, to^no.’’
Telejram from \ icjfoij, Wth February 1915
Tract.)
Private. Idle serious"si(le r of the situation, as far as Indip is concerned,
is that if Persia joins Turkey it will be very difficult for th<£ Amir to resist
any longer influences in ^Afghanistan which are already ufreaching a Jihad
amongst some of the tribes. This would create a critical situation on the
frontier and amongst Our frontier tribes, and it might so Jftr affect our position
as to necessitate re^ll of some of our troops from overseas. It is therefore
very desirable in every way that I’ersia,should maintain her neutrality.
No. 121/2760. (M.U
mr Office to 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. .
VlSc Otlice, I iOndoi^S. YV 7
Sir, y v J 11th Februa^^T915.
1 am coinmandpi by the Army ( huncil/fo acknowleiffi^r your letter,
M. 2461, of the Srcffi^bruarv, on the subh^oi reinforcemeupaately received
from India for thjgPndian Contingent
As indicatedpin the enclosures Vo \fiy letter of 28^7 danuary 1915 . the
reports on thnjtsubject received fiTmlOeueral Headqwrters in Franc'e are to
the effect than 'tile later drafts nvWcIi have arrijpl from India to replace
casualties apt he front are satisfactory. 'The \nm T (’ouncil fully appreciate
the efFortgywhich have been made, and they opnize the strain which thej
demaml# must throw upon the military oijpiii sat ion ih India : they t-rpst,
howe\^r, that this organisation will prove Jffself capable of dealing witlpihe
difficulties of the situation
s regards the ■ position for intm^fal security in India, to vtpfuch a
reference is made in your communi(fdon under reply, I am to asJv you to
vite the attention of Lord Crew^o War Office letter No. 0164/^146,01 the
11th instant, which sets forth the views of the Council on that subject.
1 am, &c.,
The Under Secretary of State R. H. Brade.
for India.
fy- tfLJ" ^
^ ** * V&Sfc—W&r Office to Inc
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. .
No. 0164/3146. (M.O. I.)
War Office, London, S.W.,
Sir, 11th February 1915.
In reply to your letter of the 4th instant, No. 1623, I am commanded
by the Army Council to inform you that they must still adhere to the views
expressed in their letter of 2nd February that the prosecution of the war on
the Continent is of primary importance; and the necessity for making
adequate provision for its strenuous-prosecution, as well as for the mainte
nance of the efficient defence of this country, does not allow of further troops
being taken from home for despatch to India, as suggested in your letter
under reply. Neither are they in a position, in view of the facts reported
from Fgypt in the 1 most recent telegrams (copies of which are attached),
showing that our forces there are now seriously engaged with the enemy, to
detach any Indian troops from Fgypt to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
17921.—4#.