'Expenditure on Malleson Mission and troops in East Persia, 1918 to 1921' [‎10v] (20/34)

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My Lords note that in view of the urgency of ilie situation the Indian Government have authorised
General Malleson to giant to the Transcaspia Government such financial assistance as is absolutely
necessary.
In view of the fact that, as Mr. Secretary Montagu is aware, His Majesty's Government has decided
to place a limit of 100,000/, upon the expenditure to lie incurred in connection with this expedition, My
Lords presume that the financial assistance referred to is covered by this amount, and 1 am to point out
that Their Lordships have not undertaken to be responsible for any excess beyond this sum. I am,
therefore, to suggest that General Malleson should be asked to furnish by telegraph an exact statement
of his expenditure under all heads up to the date on which General Milne assumed command of the
expedition.
I am, tfcc.,
The Under Secretary of State
John Bradbury.
for Jndia.
5.-~Telegram from Secretory of State for Indio to Viceroy, Army 1 department, dated
29th January 1919.
434. Please obtain from Malleson approximate statement of expenditure incurred by him under all
heads from the date instructions contained in my telegram dated 7th December, 3330, were received up
to the date when Milne assumed command.
6 .—Indio Office to Treasury.
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. ,
Sir, 20th February 1919.
In reply to Sir T. Heath's letter of the 14th November, 31709 18, 1 am directed to inform you
that the Secretary of State for India in Council regrets that he is unable to accept the view of the Lords
Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasury that expenditure on the Military Mission at Meshed should be
divided between Imperial and Indian funds.*
It was no part of the Mission’s aim to influence or organise the population of Persia. It was
designed to establish an intelligence centre for watching events in Russian Central Asia with the
ultimate object of intervention in that region if circumstances required or permitted. It definitely
assumed after a time the form of a military mission, but, throughout, its object was to counteract
Germano-Bolshevik developments in Central Asia.
In the light of the explanation now furnished of the object of the Mission, Mr. Montagu trusts that
the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasury will accept as a charge upon Imperial revenues all
•expenditure on the Mission other than ordinary charges of officers or men of the Indian Army employed
on it, which would be chargeable to India under the terms of the Parliamentary Resolution.
'I'he Government of India are being asked to furnish an account of expenditure on the Mission. In
. ™ j i t this connection I am to enclose a cony of a letter 1 received
from the W ar Office.
Copies of this letter are being communicated to the Foreign Office and ‘War Office.
I have, &c.,
J. H. Skahrookk,
The Secretary, Treasury. Joint Secretary, Military Department.
7 -—Foreign Office to Treasury.
Foreign Office,
Sir, 4th March 1919.
1 am directed by Earl Curzon of Kedleston to refer to the letter addressed by 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
your Department on 20th February, relating to the incidence of the expenditure on the Mission
of Meshed.
2. Lord Curzon regrets that he is unable to agree with the account of the objects of the expenditure
contained in the letter under reference. In His Lordship’s opinion the Mission was Indian both in its
inception and in its composition. It was, moreover, intended in the main to serve Indian ends, viz., to
prevent enemy agents from penetrating into Central Asia and causing trouble in Afghanistan.
3. In these circumstances Lord Curzon considers that the expenditui’e incurred on the Expedition
should not fall upon this Office.
4. A copy of this letter is being sent to 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 the War Office.
I am, Ac .
The Secretary,*Treasury. G. S. Spicer.
8. — 'Telegram from Viceroy, Army Department, to Secretary of State for India, dated loth March 1919.
3667. Your telegram of the 19th ultimo, 785. Estimated cost of Meshed Mission during 1918-19
is 70.000Z., made up of (1) 15,000/. for pay charges; (2) 50,000/. for secret service expenditure, of which
37,000/. represents payment to Turkestan Union in July ; and (3) 5,000/. for other charges. Figures do
not include (ai) charges of military forces employed with Mission ; (/>) expenditure on roadmaking
amounting to 9,000/. ; and (c) expenditure referred to in succeeding paragraph.
2. Your telegram No 434, dated 28th January. Expenditure incurred by Malleson at Askabad up
to 15th February is as follows, in thousands of roubles:—(1) Payment to Askabad Government on
account of rations supplied, 5,000; (2) subsidy in December, 5,000; (3) keeping railway going in
January, 4,000; (4) payment to Askabad Government in December, 880 ; total, 14,880. As regards°the
first item, Malleson has reported it will not be possible to get detailed accounts, but that the value of the
supplies is considered to be fully equal to 5.000.000 roubles. We are asking Malleson for further details,
about last item of 880,000 roubles, and will inform you when we get his reply.