1. Memoranda Relating to Departmental Views on the Conduct of the War in the East and the Administration of Mesopotamia

Description:

Abstract: The file comprises typescript, printed and manuscript memoranda, dated 1918 and 1920 by: Edwin Samuel Montagu, Secretary of State for India; Arthur James Balfour, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (up to October 1919); Henry Wilson, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, War Office; and Foreign Office officials as instructed by Lord Curzon, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (from October 1919).The memoranda cover the different views expressed by the Foreign Office, India Office and War Office, on the conduct of the War in the East and British policy in the Middle East, in particular the following:The effectiveness of policy being conducted by the Eastern Committee of the War CabinetThe roles of the Government of India and the India Office, and the Foreign Office, in that region, notably in Arabia, Persia [Iran] and Mesopotamia [Iraq]Whether a separate department should be established by the Foreign Office and War Office to deal with Middle Eastern affairsCriticism by the Eastern Committee, and the Foreign Office and Lord Curzon, of the administration of Mesopotamia by Arnold Talbot Wilson, Acting Civil Commissioner, notably for being too 'militaristic', anti-democratic, insufficiently focused on civil administration, and antagonistic to Arab nationalism.Several of the memoranda written in 1918 are responses by the Foreign Office and the War Office to Montagu's memorandum entitled 'War Cabinet. Eastern Committee. The War in the East', 5 July 1918 (ff 10-11), in which Montagu expresses doubts about the Eastern Committee's conduct of war policy in the Middle East. The memoranda written in 1920 document the Foreign Office's views on the 'Wilsonian policy being pursued in Mesopotamia' (ff 24-36).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 60; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are located in the bottom right corner of the recto side of each folio and are not circled.

2. File 788/1919 Pt 3-4 ‘Mesopotamia: Disposal of Rivercraft (1920/21)’

Description:

Abstract: This volume contains material relating to the disposal of river craft in Mesopotamia from December 1919 to January 1921.The volume is separated into two parts:Part 3 ‘MESOPOTAMIA Disposal of River Craft’ (IOR/L/PS/10/805/1)Part 4 ‘MESOPOTAMIA DISPOSAL OF RIVERCRAFT’(IOR/L/PS/10/805/2).Each part includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 584; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. There are also multiple intermittent foliation and pagination sequences.