File 94/1915 Pt 4 ‘German War; Turkey; Baghdad prisoners &c.’ [‎238r] (484/490)

Telegram P. ; dated the 12th (received 13th) October 1915.
From—His Majesty's Secretary of State for India, London,
T° His Excellency the Viceroy (Foreign and Political Department), Simla.
(Repeated to Sir P. Z. Cox.)
Please refer to my telegram dated August 31st*. Boy sunder fifteen years
♦Serial No ( 15 ). and women at Baghdad will be liberated
by the Turkish Government in exchange
for twenty-five officials at Amara. Kindly let me know by wire whether you
ittirfiWi tiirirr follow the arrangement proposed in
^ ^ the Note of the 12( . h June f ^ Amer ._
can Ambassador, a copy of which was sent to you on the 18th June, or what
your proposal is.
The Turkish Government also offer to release all boys under fifteen and
English women in Turkey in exchange for four Consular officers of whom Basri
**,..<* Bey is the only one in India, vide vour
telegram of th( f mh Deceinbe ; t and y the
, remaining twenty-five officials at Amara.
Kindly send a reply with the least possible delay.
20
Telegram P., No. I.G.-1393, dated the 14th (received 15tb) October 1915.
From—The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D ", Basrah,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment.
Reference Secretary of State’s telegram of October 12th§. Sudden change
§SermiNo. 19 . of attitude of Ottoman Government just
as we are approaching Baghdad can only
be regarded as suspicious as they must be well aware that over 100 Amara officials
are now in India. Turks probably hope that arrangements regarding details
of exchange ?(delayed) owing to Amara officials not being here on the spot
and that our advance may be delayed thereby pending arrival of reinforce
ments ; while they will repudiate responsibility for safety of ladies if we refuse
to delay advance. Of course their offer might conceivably be prompted by
simple fact that they are unable to get ladies away and think that we shall
take them over ourselves in a few days now that we are approaching Baghdad
and so while exchange is still open they are anxious to get their officials handed
over. But this explanation seems the less likely of the two. In reply I') A
would suggest that the offer of the Turkish Government be acknowledged
in suitable terms and that they should be asked to direct the commander
of Turkish forces in Mesopotamia, to hand over the British women
and children who are detained in Baghdad, to the commander of the
British troops which are now in contact with the Ottoman forces on the
Tigris as soon as possible ; and that the Turkish Government should be
requested to inform us where 25 Turkish Amara officials who are now in
India should be repatriated. j
The transaction cannot for military reasons be regarded as in any way
fettering or suspending the action of the British forces in Mesopotamia as this
exchange is a secondary consideration and this fact should be made clear to the
Porte.
(Repeated to His Majesty's Secretary of State for India and Chief of the
General Staff, Simla.)
Kcseived on 6 J AH i 9 I 6 with
INDIA FOREIGN SECRETARY’S
Letter. No. ^ ^ M