'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [‎436r] (882/1386)

From Secretary of State, to Viceroy,^!th August 1914.
Private. My official telegram of to-day. British Officers. I am sure
y°u w iP understand supreme importance of adequate number to train great
number of recruits to be embodiexl here. Clearly we must do nothing to
impair your defence or endanger your internal tranquillity, but we have to
i un some lisks in all parts ot the world, and I am sure that your military
advisers will not place obstacles in the way of helping our War Office to
utmost extent, even if some temporary depletion of your establishment is
involved. You should make every effort to utilise retired or volunteer
officers ior suitable work. It is sound maxim that main theatre of war must
be first consideration.
From Viceroy, 8th August 1914.
Private. Officers.
Your official telegram number 370 and your private telegram, both
received this morning.
I quite agree that every other consideration is, for moment, of minor
importance, and only yesterday evening I agreed to give two more officers
from each British battalion and each British Cavalry regiment in India,
making 122 in all, and also to agree to War Office retaining the 15 Staff
College officers of the Indian Army whom they asked for.
From Viceroy, 12th August 1914.
. Private Personal. You will remember that the Government of India
agreed that they could supply two divisions and a cavalry brigade for active
service abroad and a third division m ease of emergency.
Since then we have been asked not only to keep the third division intact
but without being consulted have been told to supply troops for German
Past Africa, which our military authorities estimate could not be less than
itwo brigades in all. Upon this point we shall probably address you officially
alter discussion in Council on Friday.
Today you iaformed tiT in youf official telegram Xo. 42t>, that you had
detained no less than 2 /1 officers., nearly all of Indian Army, without our
concurrence being even asked, thus making 560 officers from India in all
We are indeed most anxious to do all in our power to help, of which I
think we have already gjven ample proof. But we as a Goverment have a
very serious responsibility for the maintenance of order in India and upon
the 4 rentier, and although we are ready to run some risk and to do all we
can to meet your wishes and the .requirements of the War Office I do think
we ought to be consulted before steps of the kind enumerated above are
taken. I am sure you will understand peremptory action of this kind
creates dissatisfaction and tends to undermine the goodwill that undoubtedlv
exist The Commander-in-Chief complains that he is absolutely crippled by
this last measure relating to officers. ‘ *
From Secretary of State to Viceroy, 12>th August 1914.
Private. T our private telegram of yesterday. Troops from India The
heavy drafts on your army especially in matter of officers have been Jem
concern to me, but the raising of a new armv here nml ;J , ^ 1
created a special -emergency Which taxes resources of Empire*™ Ttmost 5
Ve know you realise this and Kitchener expresses himse ( w^ih V
gratitude to you and Duff. As regards keenino- im'.r't J ,- g f ? 4
was really designed in your interests partlf in order not to denude'
officers, partly because we thought you could more easilv meet ur“ent Fast
African demand with troops less important for your schemes of extern i f
Jocal defence./ There is no probability of any demand bein^ nf Wf ! S“- d
third division so far as we can see into future, but it would be'well uheeo
it mobilised in case of emergencies possibly affecting your interests ?