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Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [123r] (245/544)
The record is made up of 1 file (272 folios). It was created in 13 Mar 1918-7 Jan 1919. 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
9
6
joint author of the Sykes-Picot Agreement, took part. Aa a
result of the interview he had drafted, for M. Gambon’s guidance,
a brief statement of policy. A record of the conversation and of
the statement had been cabled the same evening to our Ambassador
in Paris, and copies would be circulated to the Committee. The
following day, the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
had sent a note to the Director of Military Intelligence, saying
that he was directed by the Secretary of State to approach him
in regard to the international situation which would arise in Syria
in the event of the advance of British forces in the direction of
Damascus, and copies of this note would also be sent to members
at once. Mr. Balfour suggested that the further discussion of the
subject should be postponed until members were in possession of
these papers.
Lord Robert Cecil reminded the Committee that, at his
instigation, Sir Mark Sykes had made elaborate drafts of a pro
posed agreement with the French. These drafts had since been
amended, after being carefully examined by various experts. Our
view had been that it should be left to the French to make the
first move, and matters had consequently been hung up until
Allenby’s recent victories.
The Chairman said that he regarded the question as one of
the utmost importance. The Foreign Office appeared now to be
relying upon the Sykes-Picot Agreement, from w T hich the Com
mittee had hitherto been doing their best to escape.
The Committee decided to resume the discussion at the earliest
opportunity after the circulation of the above papers
(Initialled) C. of K.
2, Whitehall Gardens, S.W. 1,
September 26, 1918.
[365—32]
D
About this item
- Content
This file is composed of papers produced by the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee, which was chaired by George Curzon for most of its existence. The file contains a complete set of printed minutes, beginning with the committee's first meeting on 28 March 1918, and concluding with its final meeting on 7 January 1919 (ff 6-214 and ff 227-272).
The file begins with two copies of a memorandum by Curzon, dated 13 March 1918, proposing the formation of the Eastern Committee. This is followed by a memorandum by Arthur James Balfour, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, approving Curzon's proposal, and a copy of a procedure for the newly created committee, outlining arrangements for committee meetings and the dissemination of information to committee members.
Also included is a set of resolutions, passed by the committee in December 1918, in order to guide British representatives at the Paris Peace conference (ff 216-225). The resolutions cover the following: the Caucasus and Armenia; Syria; Palestine; Hejaz and Arabia; Mesopotamia, Mosul, Baghdad and Basra. They are preceded by a handwritten note written by Curzon 'some years later', which remarks on how they are a 'rather remarkable forecast of the bulk of the results since obtained.'
- Extent and format
- 1 file (272 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 272; 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.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [123r] (245/544), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F112/274, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/mirador/81055/vdc_100069672678.0x00002e> [accessed 28 June 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- Mss Eur F112/274
- Title
- Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee
- Pages
- 1r:214v, 216r:272v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence