'Summary of Papers Dealing with the Transfer of the Control of the Operations in Mesopotamia from the India Office to the War Office' [‎2r] (3/18)

TRANSFER OF CONTROL OF THE OPERATIONS IN MESOPOTAMIA
FROM THE 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. TO THE WAR OFFICE.
In a private* telegram to His Excellency the Viceroy, dated the 3rd Feb- (Hb ^Exceiie'nry
ruary iqi 6, the Secretary of State for India intimated that the War Committee the viceroy's appro-
had had under their consideration the question of the control of operations in be!
Mesopotamia and that they proposed to approve of the following arrangements ing treated as oS-
subject to any remarks the Government of India might have to offer:
(1) The Commander-in-Chief in India to receive instructions with regard
to military operations in Mesopotamia and Persia from the Chief
of the Imperial General Staff under the authority of the Secretary
of State for War in exactly the same manner as the Commander-
in-Chief in other theatres ; these instructions being based on the
decisions of the War Committee.
(2) India to remain, as at present, the main base of the force in Meso
potamia which will continue to be administered by the Commander-
in-Chief such requirements of the force as India cannot meet
being supplied by the War Office from or her parts of the Empire
subject to the general policy at the time being decided upon by
the War Committee.
(3) All reports of operations, states, returns, recommendations as to
higher appointments and requests for additional units to be sent
by the General Ofucer Commanding in Mesopotamia to the Com
mander-in-Chief in India and repeated to the Chief of the Imperial
General Staff.
(4) Demands for drafts to mainta : n Indian units in Mesopotamia and for
such war mateiial as is being provided from India to continue to
be made on the Commander-in-Chitf in India.
(5) The Chief of the Imperial General Staff and the Commander-in-Chief
in India to correspond direct in regard to requirements of force
in Mesopotamia but all questions of principle or policy likely to
affect the military or internal security of India to continue to be
referred by the Commander-in-Chief in India to the Viceroy.
(6) Copies of all telegrams exchanged with India to be supplied by the
General Staff to the Secretary of State lor Indh.
(7) Arrangenments in regard to prisoners of war, our sick and wounded
and finances of campaign to remain as at present,
(8) AH press communiques to be issued through the War Office after
communication with the 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. and telegraphed to the Com
mander-in-Chief in India.
(9) Intelligence obtained in India which might affect operations to be
telegraphed to the Chief of the Imperial General Staff and repeated
. to the General Officer Commanding in Mesopotamia.
(10) The foregoing provisions to make no change in the control of the
troops in India as at present exercised.
The Secretary of State added that he, personally, welcomed these pro
posals, being convinced that they would lead to more efficient co-operation
and better support from home. Neither he nor the Government of India had
any reserves of troops at their disposal, while in the matter of military supplies
he was practically dependent on the War Office. The proposals would, more
over, have the advantage of uniting responsibility and power, which at present
were divided, in the Imperial General Staff subject to Cabinet control.
In a communicationf to H. E. the Viceroy dated the 8th February 1916, ^ Sefial No a
R E. the Commander-in-Chief in India expressed the opinion that the proposals
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