![Papers of the Interdepartmental Conference on Middle Eastern Affairs [‎36v] (72/290)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001491.0x0002a9/Mss Eur F112_275_0072.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "Papers of the Interdepartmental Conference on Middle Eastern Affairs [‎36v] (72/290)")
Papers of the Interdepartmental Conference on Middle Eastern Affairs [36v] (72/290)
The record is made up of 1 file (145 folios). It was created in 7 Jan 1919-7 Dec 1920. 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.
I
2‘2
Russian.
Ship.
Gunboats—
Kars
Ardagan ...
Astrabad...
Armed Merchant Ships—
Lieutenant Smidt ...
Centro Caspia
Goektepe...
Orolonak ...
Jupiter ...
Despatch vessel—
Aracks v ...
Remarks.
S.L. and W/T, 14 knots.
S.L.. 14 knots.
W/T, 12 „
W/T, 12 „
W/T, 12 „
The 4-in. guns may not be properly mounted; are long and reported to be modern.
Bolshevist.
Ship.
Armament.
Armed Merchant Ships—
•
Kolomna
2—4-in.
Kaspy
2—4-in.
2—3-in.
Makaroff
2—4-in.
Vega
Nansen ...
2—4-in.
Communist
Volodovski
2—3-in.
Bombek ...
Three or four others
Horosan ...
1—3-in.
4 Torpedo boats
Sokol type
4 Submarines
...
4 Destroyers
Remarks.
Icebreakers.
Carries seaplanes and hydro
planes.
Being converted from coal
to oil burners.
t Some are reported to be armed with 5—5-in. guns. There are some fast wooden motor-boats at
Astrakhan. The defences of Astrakhan have 6-in. guns. There are a large quantity of mines at Astrakhan,
and approaches to submarine repair and construction yard at Mogiluy (near mouth of Volga) reported mined.
Haval port organised at Nijny Novgorod and some T.B.’s reported to have arrived there. Ammunition is
plentiful. Provisions are scarce. Large numbers of naval ratings, ex-Baltic Fleet, reported at Astrakhan.
3 . Present Disposition of Naval Forces.
These forces are believed to be at present disposed as follows:—
(a.) Naval Forces: Four ships off Baku watching force (B). Other four
.ships at Petrovsk at short notice. Air Force.
(b.) At Baku.
(c.) At Astrakhan.
4 . Relations between Naval Forces.
Between Forces (A) and (B).
Our relations with the Caspian Fleet have from the first been of a most unsatis-
tory nature. The best we have got out of them is that, while they would not act
with us, they would not oppose us. The potential danger to our Naval forces from this
semi-independent squadron was early recognised by the Admiralty, and orders were
About this item
- Content
This file is composed of papers produced by the Foreign Office's Interdepartmental Conference on Middle Eastern Affairs. It consists entirely of printed minutes of meetings of the conference, most of which are chaired by George Curzon.
Those attending include senior representatives of the Foreign Office, the 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. (most notably the Secretary of State for India), the War Office, the Admiralty, the Air Ministry, and the Treasury (including the Chancellor of the Exchequer). Other notable figures attending include Harry St John Bridger Philby and Gertrude Margaret Lowthian Bell.
The meetings concern British policy in the Middle East, and mainly cover the following geographical areas: Mesopotamia, Kurdistan, Trans-Caspia, Trans-Caucasia, the Caspian Sea, Palestine, Persia, Hejaz, and Afghanistan. Some of the meetings also touch on matters beyond the Middle East (e.g. wireless telegraphy in Tibet, ff 79-80).
Recurring topics of discussion include railways (chiefly in relation to Mesopotamia), Bolshevik influence in the Middle East (particularly in Persia and Trans-Caspia), and relations between King Hussein [Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī] and Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd].
Several sets of minutes also contain related memoranda as appendices.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (145 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 145, 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
Use and share this item
- Share this item
Papers of the Interdepartmental Conference on Middle Eastern Affairs [36v] (72/290), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F112/275, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100070539234.0x000049> [accessed 6 June 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100070539234.0x000049
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100070539234.0x000049">Papers of the Interdepartmental Conference on Middle Eastern Affairs [‎36v] (72/290)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100070539234.0x000049"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001491.0x0002a9/Mss Eur F112_275_0072.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000001491.0x0002a9/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- Mss Eur F112/275
- Title
- Papers of the Interdepartmental Conference on Middle Eastern Affairs
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:144v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence