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'Expenditure on Malleson Mission and troops in East Persia, 1918 to 1921' [‎14r] (27/34)

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The record is made up of 1 file (17 folios). It was created in 1921. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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23 .—Telegram from Secretary of Stair for India to Viceroy. Army Departmeut,
dated 9th, February 1919.
(1) His Majesty's Government liave had before them Milne’s report on Transcaspian situation
and considered opinion on it by General Staff. It is quite dear that after prolonged trial and much
financial and military assistance from us the local Government is as helpless as ever, while the military
situation has become less favourable to them and us by the fall of Orenburg. This last will shortly open
direct rail communication between Moscow and Tashkent, which will not onlv permit of Bolshevik
reinforcement, but will capture the trade by which alone Government had any hope of revenue.
(2) His Majesty’s Government are not prepared to sanction the military reinforcements necessary
to keep Malleson’s force where it is or to admit of advance to line of Oxus. They consider present
situation impossible, especially as since coup d’etat Malleson appears to be virtually in charge of
Government, a position which it is most undesirable to prolong.
(3) His Majesty’s Government have therefore decided that unless vou see grave reasons against it.
War Office shall direct Milne to order commencement withdrawal as soon as possible.
(4) They consider this withdrawal must be conducted deliberately in order to afford anv of our
friends who would find it dangerous to remain, ample opportunity to get away.
(5) They are of opinion that withdrawal should be to Meshed, from which place Malleson’s force
can protect North-East Persia from Bolshevik incursion, ft is suggested that a detachment at Bujnurd
or Kuchan might assist in this.
(tij Malleson and his force will come under you for supply and all other purposes on arrival
Meshed.
(7) His Majesty’s Government have decided that it is necessary to pay the railway establishment
till withdrawal from rail is complete, including arrears. Method of effecting payment is under
consideration.
(8) His Majesty’s Government approve Milne’s suggestion as to handing over arms and ammunition
to friendly Turkomans.
(9) Instructions to Milne await your reply, which please send earliest possible moment.
24.— Telegram from Viceroy, Army Department, to Secretary of State for India, dated 17/A September 1919.
12655. Reference to our 11762 dated 28th August. To enable us to make the necessary arrangement:*
for winter in matters of accommodation, clothing, supplies, &c., we should be glad of as earlv decision as
possible as to future policy in East Persia.
25.— Telegram from Viceroy. Army Department, to Secretary of State for India, dated 13/A October 1919.
13891. Our telegram of 28th August, 11762, and our telegram of the 16th ultimo, 12,655. Total
estimated cost of hutting under construction in East and the North-East Persia is 56 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees , of which
19 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees had been expended by 1st August. Programme provides for accommodation for six squadrons
and five battalions at and between railhead and Meshed, together with necessarv hospitals, offices,
workshops, Ac. If any reduction in garrison is contemplated in near future, it is most desirable that we
should receive early intimation to enable us to avoid expenditure on unnecessary hutting.
26.— Telegram from Secretary of State for India to 1 'iccroy, Army Department,
dated 20/A October 1919.
4118. Your telegrams of 28th August, 11762, of 10th September, 12358. and of 17th September,
12655. Role of Malleson’s force is correctly described by you in third paragraph of vour telegram.
Although touch with events in Central Asia could possibly be adequately kept by small intelligence
organisation, it is certain that new Persian force cannot be ready for several months to perform
duties of protecting Persia against Pan-lslamic and Bolshevik influence and affording support to
Transcaspians. Withdrawal of Mallesou’s force from Meshed would leave North-East Persia at mercy of
Bolsheviks next spring and might render pressure on Afghanistan more feasible. The difficulty and
expense of expelling Bolsheviks from these regions would be infinitely greater than of pivventing their
ingress.
I consider measures should now be taken by you to enable Malleson’s force to be increased to one
regiment cavalry, one battery artillery, and two battalions infantry. Above striking force to be
mobile and irrespective of lines of communication formations.
Arrangements for winter for accommodation, clothing supplies, should be made accordinglv.
In addition aeroplanes will be necessary. The Duzdap-Meshed road would have to be kept fit foi
continuous light motor traffic.
I agree that there is no necessity for Malleson to visit Teheran.
27 -—Telegram from Secretary <f State for India to Viceroy, Army Department,
dated 10/A February 1920.
My telegram of 4th February, 428. Eastern Military Policy. Cabinet have had under consideration
the military position in South and East Persia. They are of opinion that all troops in these areas should
be recalled. This would involve total withdrawal of Malleson not merely to Birjand but altogether, and
also of all troops on his lines of communication in Persia.
Grounds of Cabinet view are that cost is altogether too excessive, see your telegram, Finance 1801
C.W.C. of 30th December,* in view of the fact that Malleson would be quite unable to resist any serious
attack in force. Have you any observations ? If you consider the retention of a force anv where in
Eastern Persia essential in view of the Afghan situation or other Indian political interests, pie ’se make
recommendations, but you must understand that if troops are retained on any such grounds, qm stion will
be treated as purely an Indian one, and the whole cost probably thrown on India.
*
3136
No. 27 a.
E

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Content

This previously secret file, compiled 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. , contains various papers relating to expenditure on the Malleson Mission and troops in East Persia between 1918 and 1921.

The file opens with a note about the contents of the file, and is followed by an 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. Political Department Memorandum and a memorandum by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Correspondence regarding expenditure is then included which dates from after the Chancellor's memorandum (November 1919) until January 1921.

There are two appendices. Appendix I contains correspondence on the subject which was exchanged prior to the Chancellor's memorandum. Appendix II provides copies of the main military and political telegrams which are referred to in the memoranda and the later correspondence regarding expenditure. At the end of the file is a copy of a separate telegram from the Viceroy, Army Department, to the Secretary of State for India dated August 1919 (folios 16-17).

The main correspondents throughout the file are 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. , the Treasury, the War Office (including the Secretary of State for War, Winston Churchill), the Secretary of State for India (Edwin Samuel Montagu), and the Viceroy, Army Department.

Extent and format
1 file (17 folios)
Arrangement

The content of the main file is arranged in chronological order from the front to the rear of the file. The content of the appendices is also arranged in chronological order within each appendix.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 17; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Pagination: the volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

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English in Latin script
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'Expenditure on Malleson Mission and troops in East Persia, 1918 to 1921' [‎14r] (27/34), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/15/36, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100035604843.0x00001c> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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