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Papers of the Mesopotamian Administration (later Middle East) Committee [20r] (39/80)
The record is made up of 1 file (39 folios). It was created in 19 Mar 1917-12 Jan 1918. 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.
THE CHAIRMAN reminded the Conimittee that flir Percy
Byl;ee had on his Staff, two experts, on Military matters
in the person of a General Staff Officer and an expert
on financial questions.
LORD HARDINGE thought that General Maude wanted to
ignore the Indian Government and to he entirely independent
of it.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN said that it had teen arranged that Sir
Charles Marling should, as a last resource have the power of
veto. The South Persia Rifles were to he utilised for
military operations and he thought there was much to he said
for the point of view that the man who was responsible for
the conduct of the campaign should have charge and control
of all the Forces operating under his orders.
LORD HARDINGF tuiferred to the disastrous effect of His
Majesty’s Government sending the Central Indian Horse to
Ispahan against the advice of his Government rt hen he was
Viceroy of India.
THE CHAIRMAN was of opinion that the recent instructions
of the Committee had not been expressed with sufficient
clarity. He thought that they should request the Indian
Government to undertake what the Foreign Office had asked
in the Secretary of State for India’s telegram of 7th May,1917*
LORD HARDIHGE cited the Cossack Brigade and said that he
thought that its administration was conducted on sound lines.
LORD MILKER was of the opinion that they should not go
hack on their previous decision.
Tliil CHAIRMAN agreed and thought that something further was
necessary and that some supplementary instructions were
required.
So far as Sir Percy Sykes was concerned, Lord Curzon thought
that recently he had consolidated his position.
MR.CHAMBERLAIN suggested that he should discuss the whole
question with the Foreign Office and obtain from them a clear
understanding of their wishes. Subject to the Committee’s
approval he proposed, in concert with the Foreign Office, to
drait a telegram which might meet the case. The position
taken up by the Government of India was "we are being saddled
witn responsibility, but we are not allowed to have afy say in
he matter . The Indian Government evidently objected to be
over—ruled by Sir Charles Marling.
About this item
- Content
This file mostly consists of minutes of meetings of the War Cabinet's Mesopotamian Administration Committee (later renamed the Middle East Committee), chaired by George Curzon.
The papers are chiefly concerned with current and future British policy in Mesopotamia, which during the period covered was under British military occupation. However, the minutes also discuss matters relating to the wider Middle Eastern region, as reflected in the change of name to Middle East Committee in August 1917.
In addition to minutes, the file includes the following: a draft report by the committee, dated March 1917, containing recommendations regarding future British policy in Mesopotamia and the wider region (ff 1-2); a letter to George Curzon from Lieutenant-Colonel Mark Sykes, dated 2 July 1917, recommending that the committee be renamed, in order to define its scope and work (ff 24-25).
- Extent and format
- 1 file (39 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 39; 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 Mesopotamian Administration (later Middle East) Committee [20r] (39/80), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F112/272, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100070535784.0x000028> [accessed 12 July 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- Mss Eur F112/272
- Title
- Papers of the Mesopotamian Administration (later Middle East) Committee
- Pages
- 1r:22v, 23ar:23av, 23r:39v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence