![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART II. (From 15th to 28th February 1918.)’ [‎182r] (368/442)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000214/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3294_0368.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART II. (From 15th to 28th February 1918.)’ [‎182r] (368/442)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART II. (From 15th to 28th February 1918.)’ [182r] (368/442)
The record is made up of 1 volume (217 folios). It was created in 12 Jan 1918-28 Feb 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.
396
must now be given to the Persian note of the 1st February [vide nay telegram
No. 80 [By. No. 9388) Persian], and also to the verbal demand of Minister for
foreign Affairs regarding the withdrawal of our troops, the delay in replying
to which is already leading Cabinet to expect a refusal.
It is desired that a communication should be made to the Persian Govern
ment to the following effect :—
That w r e agree to withdraw our troops and to enter into pourparlers
respecting the contemplated uniformity of force in return for a recognition of
the South Persia Rifles under British officers until the end of war.
That we are ready to meet Persians’ wishes as regards points (2), (3) and
(4) in the note with the qualifications you have already indicated.
That we will give final support on lines you have approved.
Extremist party by which in reality the Cabinet is terrorised into sub
serviency has been much encouraged by (scandalous ?) Dunsterville fiasco and
I must warn His Majesty’s Government that if these tremendous concessions
and particularly that of withdrawal of our troops are made that party will be
confirmed in its intransigeance that there will be no end to its demands.
It will not be satisfied with the removal of trifles in Pars and Kerman but
will require also removal of force at Bushire, of eastern cordon and even of
guards at oilfields. The recognition of the South Persia Rifles moreover will
be deferred so long as any of our troops remain. Our moderate friends will be
correspondingly disheartened by what will be recognised as a sign of weakness.
I do not (think ?) such a step can recommend itself to His Majesty’s Govern
ment.
I venture to suggest the alternative. The real trouble is
(1) Terrorism which extremists are ready to employ.
(2) Jangali menace, which works in with (1) and which prevents
former moderate Cabinet which sober Persians would welcome
(from returning ?). The discontent with the present Cabinet is
such that the Ministers only want excuse to resign but they wish
the excuse to be furnished by us. It is thus easy to upset
Cabinet; the difficulty would lie in inducing anyone to take office
and incur immediate displeasure of terrorists and the future
enmity of Jangalis. (By ?) Lavish promises of money for secret
service purposes and an engagement that in case of Jangali move
on Tehran we will send troops to smash it, w r e could possibly
induce someone to take the risk. We shall have to pay very big
sum. It appears to me that if His Majesty’s Government are
willing to give undertaking to send troops to protect Cabinet, if
necessary, against Jangalis, it would be better to try this course
rather than concede the withdrawal of our troops with further
unlimited concessions wdiich policy of conciliation would entail
in present conditions, concessions moreover which will not bring
us anything whatever in return.
Both His Majesty’s Government and Government of India consider
Afghanistan to he the vulnerable point.
Persia, however, is also a danger spot, for if Persia joins our enemies, her
example will affect Afghanistan as effectively as arrival of enemy agents. It
is possible to make Persia safe whereas we cannot by any means close Turkes
tan route to Afghanistan.
This is with reference to your telegram No. 104 {By. No. 15592).
Working copy to G. S. (M. O. 1).
Copy to M. S. C., G. S. (M. 0. 3).
Telegram P., No. 40, dated 22nd February 1918. (Dy. No. 15£>92)
(Despatched 6-30 p.m., received 7-50 a.m, 23rd February 1918.)
From—His Britannic Majesty's Minister, Tehran.
To -The Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign and Political Department.
Following telegram received from Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
104, 21st February. The measures advccated in your telegram No. 99,
About this item
- Content
The volume contains a chronological list of brief summaries of papers relating to the activities of the Indian Expeditionary Force D (also known as the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force) between 15 and 28 February 1918. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, tables, memoranda, and letters.
An index to the contents of this volume can be found at the start of IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3293. The volume concerns:
- Military personnel issues, including: recruitment, reinforcements, and promotions
- The supply of food, construction materials, oil, ordnance, and other items to Force D
- Shortages of copper, brass, and iron in India
- River and road traffic in Mesopotamia
- Evacuation of sick and wounded Force D soldiers
- Attitudes of the residents of Basrah [Basra] to British occupation
- Approval of a scheme to dredge Lake Hammar
- British aerial bombardment of enemy camps near Hit
- Arrest of Sulaiman Mirza [Sulaymān Mīrzā A title of honour originally applied to princes, later to military leaders, and later still to secretaries, chieftains, and other ‘gentlemen’. ] by British troops near Khanikin [Khanaqin]
- Movement of Turkish [Ottoman], Austrian, and German military units
- Conversion of Mesopotamian river fleet and railways to use oil instead of coal
- Proposal for Force D to adopt a ‘purely defensive role’ in Mesopotamia and support the British offensive in Palestine
- Construction of telegraph lines and railways in Mesopotamia and Persia [Iran]
- Location and number of prisoners of war captured by the Russian Army
- Matters relating to Dunsterforce, including: departure of officers, soldiers, and motor vehicles from Baghdad to join Dunsterforce; retreat of Dunsterforce to Hamadan due to Bolshevik and Jangali [Jangalī] opposition; and proposals for British military action against the Jangali forces in Gilan
- Proposed occupation of key roads in Persia by British troops
- Negotiations between British representatives and the Persian Government
- Efforts by the British to ‘secure co-operation between Kurds and Armenians’ in Persia
- Reports of ‘disorders and small massacres’ between Muslims and Armenians in the Caucasus, and Armenian concerns about imminent ‘massacres on a large scale’.
The volume also contains:
- Distribution and composition of Force D, including details of: lines of communication; and general organisation (ff 171-176)
- Strength return of Force D on 1 December 1917 (ff 136-142), 8 December 1917 (ff 145-151), 15 December 1917 (ff 206-213), 5 January 1918 (ff 6-8), 12 January 1918 (ff 16-18), 19 January 1918 (ff 48-50), 26 January 1918 (ff 155-156)
- Report of number of pilots, balloon officers, and aircraft available for service in Mesopotamia, 14 February 1918 (f 11), 21 February 1918 (f 97)
- Returns of sick and wounded dated 2 February 1918 (ff 19-20), 9 February 1918 (ff 83-84)
- State of supplies on 9 February 1918 (ff 20-22), 16 February 1918 (ff 76-77, 118-119), 23 February 1918 (ff 195-196)
- Ration strength of Force D, 12 January 1917 (ff 30-36), 19 January 1918 (ff 157-160), 26 January 1918 (ff 36-39), 2 February 1918 (ff 152-154)
- Distribution of the Turkish Army dated 19 February 1918 (ff 66-68), 26 February 1918 (ff 185-187)
- Distribution Report showing number and condition of motor vehicles with Force D, January 1 1918 (ff 108-117).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (217 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 219; 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. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 3-217; these numbers are printed and are located in the bottom centre of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
Dimensions: 21 x 33 cm
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART II. (From 15th to 28th February 1918.)’ [182r] (368/442), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3294, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100140957927.0x0000a9> [accessed 28 February 2025]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100140957927.0x0000a9
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100140957927.0x0000a9">‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART II. (From 15th to 28th February 1918.)’ [‎182r] (368/442)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100140957927.0x0000a9"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000214/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3294_0368.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000214/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3294
- Title
- ‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART II. (From 15th to 28th February 1918.)’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:218v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence