Middle East Committee and Eastern Committee [‎2r] (3/42)

[195-1]
Lord Curzcn-
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Government.]
'Printed for the War Cabinet. January 1918.
SECRET.
M.E.C. 1st Meeting.
(New Series.)
WAR CABINET.
MIDDLE EAST COMMITTEE.
Draft Minutes of a Meeting of the Middle East Committee held in the Secretary of
State’s lioom at the Foreign Office at 11’30 a.m. on Saturday, January 19, 19)6.
Present:
The Right Hon. The Earl Curzon of Kedleston, K.G., G.O.S.I., G.C.T.E.
(in the Chair).
Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, O.M., M.P.
Right Hon. Lord Hardinge of Penshurst, K.G., P.C., G.C.B., G.C.S.I.*
° G.C.M.G. [Knight] Grand Cross of [the Order of] St Michael and St George (accolade). , G.C.I.E., G.C.V.O., LS.O.
Sir Mark Sykes, Bart., M.P.
Major-General Sir G. M. W. Macdonogh, K.C.M G., C.B.
Right Lion. Lord Islington, G.C.M.G. [Knight] Grand Cross of [the Order of] St Michael and St George (accolade). , D.S.O.
Mr. Shuckburgh.
Captain Hon. W. Ormsby-Gore, M.P. (Secretary).
Palestine : 1. THE Committee considered telegram No. 97, dated the 15th
Position of General January, from Sir Reginald Wingate, which formed a reply to the
Clayton. Foreign Office telegram No. 59 to Sir Reginald Wingate. From
this telegram it appeared that both Sir Reginald V\ ingate and
General Allenby were satisfied with the status quo in regard to the
position occupied by General Clayton and the line oi denial cation
between operations under their respective commands. It vvas
pointed out to the Committee—
(1.) That at present General Clayton had to serve two masters,
viz., in Palestine he was under General Allenby, whereas
as head of the Arab Bureau and Brigadier-General,
General Staff, for operations in the blejaz, he was under
Sir Reginald Wingate.
(2.) It was desirable from a political and diplomatic point of
view that a clear line of demarcation should be diaw n
between Palestine and Egypt.
It was further pointed out that it was desirable to draw a
distinction between the function of Chief Political Officer and
Supreme Political Adviser in Palestine on the one hand and the
function of Director of Military Administration in the occupied
territories on the other.
It was suggested that, while General Clayton should fulfil die
former function, the latter should be entrusted to another officer.
It was suggested that a new and separate branch of tlr Arab
Bureau should be established in Palestine under General Clayton,
who would be an independent Political Adviser to the Commander-
in-Chief in Palestine, while the Cairo branch of the Arab Bureau
should remain at Cairo under Sir Reginald Wingate, and another
officer appointed as its head.