'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' [‎60r] (119/136)

tentatively to the new Department. But it is clear that the accuracy of any estimate
of numbers must depend upon the policy of His Majesty’s Government in the Arabian
sphere, and the measure of control that it is proposed to exercise from London over the
actions of the authorities on the spot. In any event we recommend that steps be taken
immediately to provide accommodation on an adequate scale in order to avoid the
dislocation that might otherwise be caused in the early days of the new organization.
While it is difficult to make any close estimate of the number of officers required,
we recommend that about twelve to fourteen rooms should he made available to
accommodate the staff of the new Department. The necessary steps are being taken
by the Office of Works in consultation with the Colonial Office.
57. Decisions of great consequence will have to be taken in the immediate future
by the Government on the recommendation of the Secretary of State for the Colonies
and it-is, in our opinion, essential that he should have at his disposal an adequate staff
directly the new responsibilities are transferred to him, if British expenditure in the
Middle East is to be reduced effectively.
58. We recommend that in the first instance the new Department should be
manned by officers loaned from parent Services and that no additional permanent
commitment should be incurred until the future of the new Department can be
gauged with greater precision.
59. We anticipate that ^he arrangements for securing the loan of the personnel
from their parent services, and for obtaining the accommodation required, should be
completed by the 1st March next.
We therefore recommend that the transfer of the new responsibilities to the
Colonial Office should become effective upon that date.
YL—SUMMABY OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
GO. Territorial sphere of the New Department (paragraphs 2-15).
. Subject to certain reservations the sphere of the new Department to include
all the territories south and east of the newly defined boundary between the French
mandated territories of Syria and the British mandated territories of Palestine ant
Mesopotamia (paragraph 6). . ^ ^
Reservations are made as regards Kurdistan (paragraph 8), the Persian Uuil
littoral (paragraphs 9-12) and the Iledjaz (paragraphs 13-15).
61. Scope of the New Department (paragraphs 16-i7).—The Colonial Office
to become the responsible British authority on all matters relating to .
(a.) Administration and policy in Mesopotamia, Palestine and Aden.
(b.) Policy in other Arab areas within the British sphere of influence.
\ C .) The delimitation of boundaries between British spheres and the territories of
independent Arab rulers.
(d.) All expenditure, whether civil or military, which may fall upon Imperial funds
as a result of British responsibility for and interest in the areas concerned.
62. Military arrangements (paragraphs 18-33). ,
Relations between the Colonial Office and the A\ ar Office and Air Ministry
(paragraphs 22-23). „
The financial arrangements proposed to take effect as fiom the 1st April, 1J^
(paragraph 27). . . . . „
The High Commissioner in Mesopotamia to have the titular rank of
Commander-in-Chief (paragraph 28). . , „ „ , T
The responsibility for the withdrawal of British forces from North-West
Persia to remain with the War Office until this force has been withdrawn within
the boundaries of Mesopotamia (paragraph 31). _ . ..
63. Civilian services. —The Palestinian service to remain distinct irom
other civilian services in the Middle East (paragraph 37). .
The administration of the Persian Gull littoral to remain under the control
of the Government of India (paragraph 39).