Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎8v] (16/544)

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Action in respect
to Bakhtiari.
Action in respect
to Colonel
Bicharakof.
3. The Committee considered Sir C. Marling’s reply (telegram
No. 269—E.C. 52) to the telegram (No. 175—E.C. 39) sent as a
result of the last meeting (Minute 4).
After a detailed examination of the proposals contained in this
reply, it appeared to the Committee that they were not in a position
to adjudicate on the distribution or adequacy of bribes to
individual Bakhtiari Khans. This could be best arranged by
allotting a lump sum to Sir C. Marling for bestowal at his discretion.
Mr. Dudley Ward, on behalf of the Treasury, expressed some
misgivings at the issue of a blank cheque for this purpose, and
asked for some assurance that this course would not lead to an
indefinite extension of expenditure.
It was pointed out that the Bakhtiari Khans were limited in
number, and that Sir C. Marling would find means of limiting
their demands, which he had expressed quite roughly and doubtless
at the maximum.
General Macdonogh questioned whether any advantage would
be gained by purchasing the Khans, unless they were asked to
accept, as a condition of payment, the raising of levies under
British officers and N.C.O.’s. In view, however, of the adverse
opinion expressed by Sir C. Marling and the Political Officer at
Bagdad (No. 3011—E.C. 67), it was concluded that no such
conditions would be opportune.
It was also observed that the money already spent on the
Bakhtiari had at least kept the bulk of them from joining our
enemies.
It was decided—
That the Foreign Office should send a telegram to Sir C. Marling
giving him leave to negotiate, but asking him to name a
figure beiore the allotment of a credit on this behalf. On
receipt of his reply a sum would be fixed in consultation
between the Foreign Office and the Treasury.
As to the suggested loan of two guns to the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. , it w^as
decided—
That Sir C. Marling’s advice should be followed, as this loan
might enable the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. to deal -with the Kuhgelu tribe
and restore the security of the Lynch Road.
4. The Committee had before them telegrams 262, 263, 271,
and 274 from Sir C. Marling (E.C. 40, E.C. 41, E.C. 54, and E.C. 55
respectively), also a memorandum by the General Staff (E.C. 64).
The General Staff memorandum on this subject was approved.
A draft telegram based on it was produced by Mr. Oliphant and
read by the chairman. This draft was agreed to and will be circulated.
It was pointed out that Sir C. Marling’s answer (telegram
No. 274—E.C. 55) to telegram No. 174 (E.C. 47) was very inadequate
and gave no explanation of the large sums the Treasury was still
called upon to disburse on behalf of Bussian troops (see Minute 5 of
the 1st Meeting).
If the Russian troops amounted to no more than the estimated
1,000 men under Colonel Bicharakof, the necessity of further
subsidies to him was not evident and the scale at which these
troops were remunerated was manifestly exorbitant.
It was decided—
To ask Sir C. Marling for further information on this point.
The Director of Military Intelligence stated that he had tele
graphed to Colonel Clutterbuck, of the Hamadan Board, for informa
tion as to the Russian troops for whom these credits were asked.
Lord Robert Cecil enquired whether details of this kind would
not be better left to the Russia Committee, as being part of the