Papers of the Interdepartmental Conference on Middle Eastern Affairs [‎16r] (31/290)

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Russian State Bank in order to restart work and generally stabilise the situation at
-Baku. He appears, however, to have done this with certain misgivings, as he has on
several occasions asked for a financial commission to be sent to Baku to study the
position there. General Milne has also asked for a similar mission to examine the
finance of Trans-Caucasia, as difficulties appear to be arising from the variety of
currency in the different republics.'^'
The Treasury and the Foreign Office have been referred to on this matter, and as
yet no steps have been taken.
4. Economic.
Owing to the British occupation of Baku and the railway, Batoum is now open,
and sufficient oil has been freed for the partial working of the railway.!
As regards supplies, the Turkish advance which drove out the Armenians from
the Erivan District, followed by their withdrawal, which was accompanied by looting
and wanton destruction of grain stores, has resulted in a great shortage of corn.
General Milne has asked for relief in the matter of foodstuffs.J
. 5. Policy.
Our policy in the Caucasus, pending the decision of the Peace Conference, was
communicated to General Milne in the C.LG.S. telegram No. 72436 of the 11th
December,§ in which it was stated that—
(a.) We should ensure that the Turks evacuate Trans-Caucasia.
(b.) We should ensure that the railway and pipe-line between the Black Sea and
the Caspian should come under Allied control, and be placed at the
disposal of the Allied authorities.
(c.) We desire to see strong and independent States in Georgia, Daghestan, and
Russian Azerbaijan, but should take no action which would involve us in
any continued obligations to the inhabitants.
(a) and (b) above may practically be considered as accomplished.
As regards (c) the application of the policy has been very difficult, but the
Commanders concerned have so far kept within the limits laid down, except that
Petrovsk has been occupied by General Thomson at the request of the Navy, in order
to assist their operations against the Bolshevik flotilla in the Caspian. General
Milne was given discretion in this matter. ||
It is true that General Thomson, in a report sent to the War Office, advocated
what amounts to the assumption of a temporary protectorate over the whole of Trans-
Caucasia south of the Vladikavkaz-Petrovsk Railway, but no steps have been taken to
carry out this policy, and General Milne is abiding by his instructions (General
Thomson’s report ).^[
6. Conclusions.
Generally speaking, the situation at the present time may be summed up as
follows :—
The military objects for which the expedition to the Caucasus was despatched
have been to all intents and purposes attained, that is to say, the evacuation of the
Turkish and German troops is nearly complete, and the Batoum-Baku railway is firmly
’Telegrams from Constantinople: 2 B 5626 of 1.2.19; 2 B 4321 oi 7.1.19; 2 B 5210 of 24 1 19*
2 B 5335 of 28.1.19.
Telegrams from G.O.C., Mesopotamia: X 3960 of 20.11.18; X 3971 of 21.11.18; X 4383 of 10.12 18*
X 4430 of 13.12.18; X 4516 of 18.12.18.
t Telegram from Constantinople : No. I 4664 of 31.1.19.
} Telegrams from G.O.C., Mesopotamia: X 3896 of 18.11.18 ; X 4050 of 25.11.18 ; X 4402 of 11.12 18 *
X 4483 of 16.12.18; X 4581 of 21.12.18.
To Admiral Webb: 63 of 2.12.18.
To Admiral Calthorpe : 201 of 21.12.18.
From Constantinople: I 4206 of 29.12.18; I 4245 of 2.1.19; 2 A 5646 of 1.2.19 ; 2 A 5093 of 22.1.19.
To Constantinople: 75017 of 6.2.19. C
§ Telegram to Salonika : 72436 of 11.2.18.
| Telegram to Constantinople : 73552 of 7.1.19 ; 74441 of 24.1.19.
From Constantinople : S.C. 33 of 31.1.19 ; Letter from D.N.I., No. N.I.D./OL 341 dated 7.2.19.
5 General Thomson’s report on General Situation in the Caucasus.