File 11/34 II 'Defence and War Subsidy' [‎37r] (84/340)

Copy of a nott by thf '■Jhief of th® General 'tail ii.
India on the subject of the Defence sche»ea prepared by the
Air Officer Gommanding* Iraq, for the ^rab Gulf states#
Ihe General Dtaff have the following caminents to
offer *-
la) That the potential military commitment mi ht be
lessened if the dilers concerned could be induced to
tighten up all possible le^l and executive measures to
deal with individual agitators within their borders,
and to improve the standard of their local forces,
increasing their strength, when practicable, on the
outbreak of war*
(b) That any reinforcement to the <*ilf area from l.iaU* wust
be found from within the troops that have, in consulta
tion with the war Office, heen allocated to External
Defence* In view of the commitments which are at
present envisaged for these troops, it appears
that the acceptance of this additional liability would
necessitate an increase in the strength “ f
In accordance with the recosmiendatious of the Jhatfieid
Committee this would require the consent ot both His
Majesty 9 s Government and the Government 01 ludia*
(c) That while we are at present prepared to accept isatyect
to certain reservations which will be mentioned here
after) the strength suggested for reinforcement, to be
sent from India, we must insure againat the possibility
of having to rescue, in emergency, snail i.adequate
detachments. It will, therefore, be neoesaarym, as soon
as His Majesty's Ooverueent have decided the reoomme na
tion. they propose to accept, for a further reconasis-
sance to be carried out both to guard against tills
and to prepare the necessary administrative plans*
the size of the force recommeiided for despatch to
the SHAKJAH FORT -DIBAI area requires further eonsider**
tlon* A platoon for the static defence o.. the ort
itself may be adequate, but it is thought that such a
^aU force aightV Insufficient to afford the necessary
proteotion, in the event of serious trouble, to the
landing ground, Similarly the isolated and somewhat
exposed Ssition of DIHA! may need for its Protection
forces somewhat stronger than are now recommended.
( a \ That the task in KUWAIT does not seem suitable for^
infantry who oould do little more than assist in tttl
defence of the Town and/or its water supply. *
essential requirements here seem tobsearlite lig-
enoe and the power to take the initiative against
raiders* This is a task for aircraft and mooile
forces, and it is suggested that an armoured cavalry
regiment could be used with advantage provided it is
noasible to get its vehicles ashore.