Minutes of the Mesopotamia Administration Committee [‎1r] (1/78)

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KSSOPOTALiIA JkJHiaiSTRATION COtMITTEE.
The THIRD Meeting of the liosopotonia Administration Com
mittee was held in the Lord President of the Council’s Room at
the House of Lords on Tuesday, May 12th, 1917 at 6 p,m.
The following nemhers were present
The Right Hon. The Earl Curzon of Kcdleston, K.O.,
Q.C.S.I., C.C.I.E. (in the Chair).
The Right Hon. The Viscount Milner, G.C.P., G.C.M.G. [Knight] Grand Cross of [the Order of] St Michael and St George (accolade).
(The Right Hon. The Lord Hcxdinge of penahurot, K.G.,
Foreign 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., I.S.C.
Office i|Sir Goorgo Clerk, K.C.M.G., C.B.
s.Sir R.W. Graham, K.C.M.G., C.B.
i The Right Hon. Austen Chamhorlain, M.P.
Sir T.W. Holderness, G.C.B., K.C.S.I.
Lt.-Gen. Sir H.V. Oox, K.C.M.G. C.B., C.S.I.
Mr. J.E. Shuckhurgh#
Sir Henry McMahon, G.C.V.O., G.C.M.G. [Knight] Grand Cross of [the Order of] St Michael and St George (accolade). , K.C.I.E., C.S.I.
Major L. Storr, Acting Secretary.
THE CHAIRMAN said that he had aseembled the Committee to con
sider further the question of the Administration in Mesopotamia and
the difficulties that had arisen between General Maude and Sir Percy
Cox, and, further, the position of Sir Percy Sykce - in ether words,
he invited their consideration that afternoon of two main questions;
(a) Sir Percy Cox’s position vie-A-vis the military authorities,
(b) The question of river transport and navigation.
Sir Percy Cox was in difficulty owing to his relations with
the military. The Committee agreed v/ith him that Cox was an
excellent official of wide and unique experience of that part of
the world and of the conditions obtaining there, but, owing to ths
difficulties that had lately arisen, he had contemplated sending
in his resignation. It had been suggested that he should go to
India to see the Viceroy. The objection to this was that he was
bound to be absent for some weeks, and, while he was away, his
duties would be performed by a subordinate who would not be able
to take an equally streng line, when necessary, and to stand up
against General Maude, and that Cox would find on his return that
his position and status had suffered.
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It was for the Committee to deoide which side they should
take in this difference of opinion - whether to stand by Cox, or
whether they should give way to General kaude. Lord Curzon was
sure that the Coranittee were most anxious to avoid any friction
with the General Commanding the troops in Mesopotamia, but this
was & question of policy,
MR. CHAMBERLAIN thewght that Sir Percy Cox’s reasons for
not going to India were convincing and conclusive. For some time
past he had heard from many sources that Sir Percy Cox and General
Maude were not working in entire harmony, but he did not think
that the Ccnmittee clearly apprehended the actual point of differ^
ence. General Maude was conducting affairs as a soldier, and it
was possible that certain actions of his might excite the enmity
•f the Arabs, which was most undesirable in view of the establish
ment in the future of an Arab State. It was net to be expected
that General Maude would invariably exercise the earn# tact as one
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