أوراق المؤتمر بين الإدارات حول شؤون الشرق الأوسط [و‎‎٧] (٢٩٠/١٣)

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty s Government.]
Printed for the Foreign Office. February, 1919.
SECRET.
(T.D.C.E., 4th Minutes.)
FOREIGN OFFICE.
INTER-DEPARTMENTAL CONFERENCE ON MIDDLE EASTERN AFFAIRS.
Minutes of an Inter-Departmental Conference, held at the Foreign Office, on Tuesday,
the 4th Februar]), 1919, at 3’30 p.m.
Preseut:
t The Right Hon. the Earl Curzox of Kedleston, K.G., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E.
(in the chair).
Mr. J. E. Shuokburgh, C.B., India Office. Major-General P. P. de B. Radcliffe,
1 hrector of Military Operations, War
Office.
Lieutenant-General Sir H. V. Cox, K.C.B.
K.C.M.G., C.S.I., Military Secretary,
India Office.
Captain J. S. Alston, War Office.
Mr. L. Oliphant, C.M.G., Foreign Office.
Mr. E. H. Jones (Acting Secretary).
1. Plie Conference had before them a memorandum by the
General Staff, War Office, entitled “Operations in the Bushire
The Bushire
Expedition.
Hinterland,” three telegrams from the Viceroy (dated Dth, 22nd,
and 24th January, 19L9), three telegrams from Sir Percy Cox
(Nos. 27, 37, and 49), and a note by Sir Hamilton Grant, entitled
“ The Bushire Expedition.”
The Chairman reviewed the history of the expedition. He
reminded the Conference that the-expedition was not suggested by
the Foreign Office or the India Office, but by the Commander-in-
Chief in India. The Eastern Committee had held the view that
troops, if sent, should not go through Bushire, but via Bandar
Abbas through less difficult country to Shiraz. The Commander-
in-Chief took-a different view, and two battalions were landed at
Bushire. Once it had been landed, nothing remained but to ensure
success.
Hie expedition had landed in May, made its preparations
throughout the summer, and was ready to start in September.
They had laid a railway line to Borazjun, crossed the first passes,
and penetrated into the interior for a distance of over 100 miles to
Kazerun, where they were held up by illness and transport
difficulties. About the 28th January a junction with the Shiraz
force appeared to have been effected.
The Conference had now to decide what was to be done.
The military authorities, through the War Council, had reported
that the broad objects of the expedition had now been attained.
These had been, in their judgment, to re-open the trade route, to .
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