"أوراق متعلقة بلجنة بلاد الرافدين من غرفة السير إ. بارو" [ظ‎‎٣‎٩‎٨] (١٣٨٦/٨٠٦)

As well as the above it will most likely le necessary to send one battalion
of Indian infantry and two battalions of Imperial bervice infantry lor ■
' VonTnist clearly understand that this telegram is sent as a warning only,
in order that you may have opportunity of considering the situation.
Telegram from Secretary of State to Viceroy, dated 27th August 1014.
Private. Your private telegram.of 20th instant. 1 oree 1>. Second
piiia°raph. Your contention is no doubt true, taken literally, but it must Oe ..
remembered that it was your Government in last paragraph of your oltieia
tGeo-ram of 30th July who lirst recommended acceptance of oilers of Imperial
Service troops. You moreover laid down limiting condition as to their. .
non-emplovment against organised European troops, and thus threw on us,
the onus of suggesting suitable theatre. This we endeavoured to oo m
uroposino- on the 8th instant their employment with Expeditions 15 and G; .
suggestions to which you did not demur at the time. Statement in your .
pc mi to telegram of 15th August that despatch of Imperial Service I roops..
to Europe is politically desirable was both at variance with and subsequent
toal,oye - '
Telegram from Secretary of State to Viceroy, dated 16th September 1914.
Private. British officers. Kitchener tells me he is telegraphing to Duff
about a further demand for officers from British regiments. It is a serious
matter, and I was taken aback when 1 heard the details, but the urgency of
the need cannot he disputed, partly because it is clear that in modern
warfare on this scale the part played by experienced officers is more
important than ever before, and partly because the unknown future of the
war obliges us to keep here, for training new troops, many uho might
otherwise iill vacancies at the front. The officer’s casualties seem to be
fearfully heavy. I am sure you and Duff will do all you can ; as a civilian
I do not venture to give any opinion on the margin you can venture to
touch, but the general conditions, and the present attitude of Turkey, seem
to render possible some risks which a fortnight ago we should have hesitated
to face. jt .
Telegram from Viceroy to Secretary of State,
dated 17th September 1914.
Private. Your private telegram of 16th instant. British officers. In
view of seriousness of emergency and the need for officers in France I have-
agreed with the Commander-in-Chief to give eight officers per British
Infantrv battalion as desired by Lord Kitchener.
/y*?
Tel eg ram from Secve' ary of State to \ iceroy, ^
dated 17th September 1914. ^ .
Private. Troops from India. Kitchener has to-day sent me a further
proposition of so serious a character that 1 let you know of it at once ioi
vour personal information and shall be glad of your own opinion, even before
v 0U are able to answer after consulting your military advisers. I do not
know whether Kitchener will have informed Duff, but probably he may.
The suogestion is that of the 42 British battalions left you after the three
divisions 1 have sailed you should only retain the Second Division intact, but
exvhangH ihe remaining 39 battalions for territorial troops from England,
thus oitdng three divisions of regular line .regiments for the war. Y ou will
no doubt wish to examine the proposal from the' standpoint of Irontier
defence, considering how far territorials can be substituted in the two other
frontier divisions, and also whether you are prepared for internal order
practically to rely on the loyalty of the Native army, which is what it comes
Fo On these points I do not profess to hold an opinion woith considei ing,
as f am prepared to run considerable risks, but cannot estimate the