'Papers relating to transfer of Middle Eastern Affairs to the Colonial Office and creation of a new Department there, 1920-1921, with Cabinet notes of Milner, Montague, Churchill, self, and others' [‎58v] (116/136)

8
32. There would thus be three stages in the process by which the War Office will
divest itself of responsibility for military policy in the Middle East.
(1.) The withdrawal stage during which the War Office is to retain full
responsibility for the operations in Persia, until the withdrawal is complete.
(2.) The transitional period during which time the War Office and Air Ministry
will act as agents tor the Colonial Office in the manner indicated above.
(3.) The stage when the normal establishment has been reached. Ibis establishment
is to consist mainly of personnel under the direct control ot the Colonial
Office. The special forces of white constabulary and Indian (or possibly
African) units would be administeied and controlled by the Colonial Office.
Any regular Units required in addition in the early stages would be lent by
the War Office and Air Ministry as during the transitional period.
33. A similar arrangement as to the relations between the civil and military
authorities is already in force in Palestine. There is, however, this difference, that
the troops stationed in Egypt and Palestine are for certain purposes regarded as
one force, under the Command of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Egyptian
Expeditionary Force, who, of course, can transfer troops from Egypt to Palestine
or vice versa, but delegates such powers as he thinks suitable to the General Officers
Commanding in Egypt and Palestine. The High Commissioner for Palestine is
titular Commander-in-Chief, and is responsible for the general policy adopted in
Palestine, subject to the special limitation imposed by these circumstances.
IV.—CIVILIAN SERVICES.
34. We are asked to “ recommend in outline the steps to be taken to form a
Middle Eastern Service for the administration of British mandated territories in the
Middle East; and for the discharge of British responsibilities in regard to them.”
35. Administration of Palestine. —Arrangements for the formation of a
Palestinian service are already far advanced. We understand that staff has been
recruited by the High Commissioner on the basis of a provisional establishment,
and that negotiations are now proceeding between the Foreign Office and
Treasury as to the permanent grading to be adopted for the officials of the Palestine
administration. It has been agreed in principle that posts in this service are to be
pensionable, but the details of the pension scheme have not yet been settled. In the
circumstances, we do not consider it necessary to make detailed recommendations. The
final settlement of negotiations with the Treasury as to the details of the scheme would
be handed over to the Colonial Office by the Foreign Office.
36. We are of the opinion that having regard to the fact that His Majesty’s
Government, as the Mandatory for Palestine, have undertaken to give effect to the
proclaimed policy of establishing a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine,
and to the special international importance of the country, it would not in any case prove
feasible to combine into one service the administration of Palestine and of the other
areas within the sphere of the new Department.
37. We therefore recommend that the Palestinian Service should remain
distinct from whatever service it may be necessary to set up to fulfil British
responsibilities in other areas of the Middle East.
38. In dealing with the civilian staff required for thexother areas, we find it
necessary to distinguish two main categories : first, the technical services which are
necessary to carry on Governmeni services in the settled districts, e.g., irrigation
and postal services, railways, customs, &c. ; secondly, the officers who will be required
to act as advisers to the Arab authorities. It will be convenient to deal first with
the technical services.
39. — Technical services.— (1.) Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. littoral. —In paragraph 12 we
have already recommended that for administrative and purely local purposes the control
of the Government of India over the Arabian littoral of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. should be
maintained.