'Expenditure on Malleson Mission and troops in East Persia, 1918 to 1921' [‎6v] (12/34)

1'J
Transcaspia in April 1919. The general consent of Parliament to the expenditure
of Indian revenues during the war on military operations outside India was
obtained by the Resolutions of 1914, but Indian liability was limited to the so-called
“normal cost.’ We accordingly maintain—and I think it is incontrovertible—that
the Government of India is debarred by Statute from bearing any part of the cost
of Malleson’s military force beyond the “ normal cost ; the political expenditure
we are prepared to halve. Aon may like to refer in this connection 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.
letter F. 3044, dated 27th July 1916, to the Tr easury (copy enclosed).’
The Government of India’s recommendation, in which I hope that you, on
further consideration, will concur, is as follows :—
Hie retention of the Consular escort, one and a half cavalry squadrons at Meshed
and half squadron at Seistan, some light armoured cars at Meshed and possibly Ford
van transport. Persia to take over Khorasan levies in present strength and Seistan
levies in reduced strength, both under British officers ; small regular mobile detach
ment at Duzdap ; reduced garrison at Khwas and maintenance of present tribal
and levy payments in Sarhad. Of foregoing, cost of Consular escort at Meshed and
Seistau,^ including all contingent charges, will be borne half and half by His
Majesty’s Government and India, cost of Khorasan and Seistan levies with their
officers by Persia. Conditionally on these arrangements we are prepared to meet
the cost of Duzdap and Khwas detachments, and payments for this redistribution of
cost might have effect when withdrawal of the forces is complete.
The cost of the enlarged Consular escorts, being political, will be equally shared
with the Joreign Office; that of the Khorasan and Seistan levies (which is at present
being entirely borne by British revenues, except as regards the “normal cost ” of
the Indian personnel) will be taken over by the Persian Government. I am doubtful
whether the cost of the detachments at Duzdap and Khwas can be brought within
the spirit of the Resolutions. If I am able, on further enquiry, to satisfy myself
that 1 can, I am willing to ask my Council to bear it.
Yours sincerely,
E. S. Montagu.
The Right Hon. the Earl Curzon of Kedlefslov, K.G\, G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E.,
to the Right Hon. E. S. Montagu, M.P.
Foreign Office,
Dear Montagu, 15th April 1920.
As 1 am leaving England in a few hours, I cannot refer to a Cabinet, as I should
otherwise certainly do, the question that you have raised about Khorasan.
The decision of the Cabinet to which you refer was recorded by the Prime
Minister after I had left the room and did not represent the facts as I had heard them.
I was not present on the second occasion. If you order the withdrawal of the force
from Khorasan you must accept the full responsibility for any consequences that may
occur in that quarter. I can accept none.
When I alluded to military expenditure in Persia before the war I was not
referring to Shiraz but to the cost of frontier levies. Nor can I admit that
Malleson’s men are now -engaged in military operations. Since they retired from
Transcaspia they have not fired a shot.
If India disinterests herself in East Persia (to which she and not we insisted on
despatching Malleson’s Mission) the Foreign Office will feel no disposition to
recognise, as they have hitherto done, the predominant interest of India in these
regions.
Yours sincerely,
Curzon.
9. —Extract from Minutes of a Cabinet Meeting at 10, Downing Street,
on 5th May 1920.
With reference to Cabinet 10 (20), conclusion 1, the Cabinet had before them the
following documents relating to the withdrawal of British troops from Persia :—
A Memorandum by the Secretary of State for War (Paper C.P. 1101).
A Memorandum by the Secretary of State for India (Paper C.P. 1200), covering a
series of telegrams 2 exchanged between the Secretary of State and the Indian
Government.
1 Not printed.
- See Appendix II., Nos. 27-30.