The Cotton Spies

by Simon Glyndwr John

CHAPTER 5

  ‘The Foreign Secretary is here Prime Minister.’

  Rhys Pugh gratefully pushed aside a mound of papers on his desk. ‘Good morning Arthur, thank you for calling in so promptly.’ The Prime Minister before Arthur Ballard could sit said quickly, ‘I thought we should discuss a few things before we go off to this Eastern Committee meeting. Can you bring me up to date with the American view on Russia and describe exactly where we are on that score?’

  Ballard sat back in his chair and after thinking for a few moments he began. ‘Well as you know Prime Minister, President Hickson’s public and private personas are very different when it comes to these Bolsheviks. The major Allied powers France, America and ourselves have agreed a strategy as to how we are perceived throughout the world. France and Britain are playing the imperialistic villains whilst America is playing the ‘holier than thou’ champion of peace and democracy both inside and outside America.’

  ‘The advantage of this policy being that it merely reflects what all other countries think about us anyway?’

  ‘Precisely, Prime Minister, but the Americans are extremely worried about these Bolsheviks rescinding payment of their war debt.’

  ‘Their big bank barons won’t like that, nor will ours,’ Pugh muttered.

  ‘Well unbeknown to anyone including his own Secretary of State, Mr Lewin, President Hickson is channelling funds through France and us to the opponents of the Bolshevik Russian Government.’

  ‘How successful is that appearing to be?’ The Prime Minister stared at the Foreign Secretary.

  ‘We are having difficulties transferring funds to the Russian Banks that we have just bought. We are hoping to resolve those difficulties soon. Another part of our problem is, knowing who is on the Bolsheviks side and who is on the anti-Bolshevik side. If we don’t know that, whom do we pay? Some bad news on that topic - we have just heard that the leader of the southern anti-Bolsheviks, General Kornilov, is dead!’

  ‘How?’

  ‘Apparently he has killed himself as a result of the completely shambolic situation in Southern Russia where the anti-Bolsheviks are as much at loggerheads with each other as with the Bolsheviks!’

  ‘Seems to be the way in Civil Wars,’ Rhys Pugh sighed.

  ‘Still at least none of our Allies want these Bolsheviks in power any longer than is feasibly possible.’

  ‘Absolutely not,’ barked Pugh, ‘we are already beginning to have problems with workers fuelled by Bolshevik ideas here. We can’t have that in the middle of a damn war. What about the French and their sphere of influence in Russia what do our sources tell us?’

  ‘They are bogged down in the Ukraine and the Crimea and they are quite unable to stop the Germans advancing south towards the Black Sea.’

  ‘That is worrying, Arthur. We are lucky the French agreement let us have responsibility for the Caucasus and Asiatic Russia. The Germans and Turks are miles away from both areas at the moment which gives us time to sort out our defences for Persia and India.’

  ‘Well, I am hoping the war will be decided in the west well before the Germans or Turks get close to our responsibilities,’ responded Arthur Ballard sounding positive but not feeling so.

  ‘I’m still convinced Arthur that we can and should win the war other than on the Western Front but let us not get into that now.’

  ‘No, Prime Minister, that is a red rag to our military bull,’ Ballard replied thankfully. ‘Back to President Hickson, for a moment, because I have heard that he is now likely to support Allied intervention in Northern Russia.’

  ‘That is the best news I have had today,’ beamed the Prime Minister, ‘tell me more.’

  ‘The reason President Hickson is likely to approve of intervention in North Russia is because the military stores the Allies sent to Russia in 1917 have never been used and remain at the port of Murmansk. Those stores are in danger of being seized by German troops who are currently advancing northwards into that part of Russia and the Bolshevik government is too weak to stop them. The Allies discussion about the best way to stop the Germans is to send our own troops to protect those stores. Unfortunately the landing on Russian soil of allied troops without Bolshevik permission, currently unforthcoming, would be a breach of Russian sovereignty.’

  ‘Such a breach could drive the Bolsheviks into the arms of Germany. We don’t want that, Foreign Secretary.’

  ‘No, Prime Minister. I think though the president might not be bothered about breaching sovereignty in that case. On the other hand President Hickson will not support a Siberian intervention because he is worried that although the Americans would invade it for altruistic purposes the Japanese would join them for selfish reasons – Japan needs Siberia’s natural resources. We feel that the Japanese will only move into Siberia if America does the same, so nothing happening there for the moment.’

  ‘Competition, Arthur, it is all about competition. America I am sure is the coming power in the Pacific particularly with China so weak. The Japanese with one of the largest armies in the world will be America’s only opponents for region domination. I feel the Japanese, although our allies for the moment will be a threat to our Asiatic interests in the future. We shall have to try and persuade the President to change his mind about Siberia which may be easier now he is gung-ho over Murmansk. Anything else?’

  ‘Just the Russian Baltic navy. The Admiralty is still worried that if the Germans seize those ships the naval balance tilts to the Germans.’

  ‘They got a bloody nose at Jutland so I doubt that they will come out from their harbours again. If for no other reason that they haven’t much oil and as they haven’t been to sea for two years they must be out of practice.’ Rhys Pugh glanced up at the clock as it struck the hour. ‘Well come on then, Arthur, let us go and see what the Eastern Committee has to say.’

  The British Government managed its war efforts by a series of committees many of them overlapped and had the same attendees. General Rixon had had to contend with so many committees when he was getting his Muncerforce idea adopted, in January 1918, that he proposed the setting up of an Eastern Committee. The Eastern Committee was to co-ordinate strategy for the Eastern Fronts, Persia and the Caucuses and it was intended to remove inter-departmental wrangling.

  The Eastern Committee’s chairman was George Merson, one time Viceroy of India and acknowledged, particularly by himself, as an expert in all affairs east of the Mediterranean. Merson felt that he above all others understood Britain’s relationship with the Moslems. Amongst other senior government official members of the committee: were Arthur Ballard - Foreign Secretary , Ballard’s deputy – Robert Charles, Lord Surridge - Secretary of State for India, General Rixon- Secretary of State for War, and Colonel Baxter - the War Cabinet secretary who also acted as secretary to this Committee. Rhys Pugh, the Prime Minister, was not a Committee member but this day he was attending because the War Office had a proposal they were presenting to the Committee. As the proposal related to the complexity of Britain’s policy to Persia, Russia and the state of Russian affairs particularly in Asiatic Russia the Prime Minister’s input was seen as vital.

  The meeting began promptly and after the minutes of the previous meeting had been read and agreed Ballard moved to the next item on the agenda. ‘Trans-Caucasia, gentlemen. I will ask Colonel Baxter to read a summary of our latest intelligence from our sources in the region.’

  All eyes moved to Baxter who read the following report.

  The Trans-Caucasian Republic under pressure from the advancing Turks and Germans has abolished itself and has been divided into the separate republics of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia.

  The Bolsheviks have assumed control of Baku with the help of the Armenians. Reports of fighting between the Russian and Armenian Christians against the Azerbaijani Muslims over control of Baku have been confirmed. We understand that the Muslims are defeated and the town remains under the control of the Baku Soviet. The result of this is, we believe, the Bolshevik position has bee
n strengthened. The Azerbaijanis and other Muslims are looking to the advancing Ottoman troops to rectify the situation. Currently the Ottoman army is moving east but is between two and three hundred miles from Baku and since Brest-Litovsk no Russian troops are opposing them.

  We have additional reports that the Georgians are so unhappy at the prospect of a Turkish presence in the Caucasus area that they are talking to the Germans about protection. The Bolsheviks are blocking any help that we could offer to them or the Armenians from North Persia; they will not allow any of our forces into the area.

  The British force known as Muncerforce and commanded by Brigadier Muncerville that has been sent to help support the protection of Baku still remains bogged down in North Persia by Jangali Tribesmen. It is hoped that Muncerforce will reach the borders of Trans-Caspia soon and that local Bolshevik approval will be obtained to enable Muncerforce to move to the Caspian Sea and subsequently be allowed to cross to Baku when shipping is available.

  Baxter put the piece of paper back down on the desk and looked at Ballard who gave an almost imperceptible nod of the head.

  ‘Obviously this is serious. Yes, Lord Surridge,’ Ballard saw Lord Surridge raise a finger.

  ‘I assume that it was made known that Government of India agents are working diligently to get permission from these Bolos for Muncerforce to move across the Caspian to Baku?’ Surridge had to make sure that India’s role was acknowledged as being paramount round the Caspian. India could not afford to lose control to the Foreign Office.

  Ballard moved forward in his seat and caught Merson’s eye. ‘May I reply to that?’ Merson waved a hand for Ballard to continue, ‘yes, India’s role was acknowledged. Just for those who would like to know what is happening elsewhere in Russia? German officers are being seen everywhere in Petrograd. One bank only is currently permitted to trade in Moscow - a German one. We believe that there is a real danger that Germany will come to exercise political control of Russia in the near term, but for how long?’ Ballard looked into the distance and sucked in his breath as he thought for a moment and replied to his own question. ‘Probably not long, but maybe long enough to influence the fighting on the Western Front. We know the Germans and the Turks want Baku oil. We think that the Germans and the Turks could,’ he thought again for a moment, ‘possibly come to blows or at least fall out over this oil.’ Ballard sat back in his chair took out his matches and lit his pipe.

  Silence reigned for a moments before Merson spoke, ‘thank you, Arthur. We need more information on that whole subject and I suggest we review the Muncerforce situation next week if he has not got or he is not in the actual process of getting over to Baku.’

  ‘Muncerforce’s delay we expect to be short-lived. We are in the process of finding him more soldiers, not an easy task, to enable Muncerville to force his way through to Enzeli,’ Rixon said.

  ‘Foreign Secretary,’ Surridge interrupted, ‘India has been denuded of soldiers in those areas where we have responsibility for fighting the Turk. Many of our best troops have been transferred to the Western Front. Can we not have some of them back for situations like General Rixon has just indicated?’

  The Prime Minister who had sat quietly till now thrust himself eagerly forward, ‘I wish we could transfer them back Lord Surridge from that meat grinder called the Western Front. As you know I am convinced that if we knocked first Turkey then Austro-Hungary out of the war, Germany would fall too. Unfortunately my military advisors,’ at this he looked at Rixon who grimaced and looked deliberately heavenwards. ‘My military advisors,’ Pugh said again with emphasis, ‘have forced the government to concentrate all our efforts in the west.’

  ‘We have our Allies to think of and support,’ put in Rixon icily. ‘The French are at the end of their tether. This German attack we are undergoing is serious.’

  ‘Only thanks to the military incompetence of the French generals,’ Rhys Pugh spat. He had conveniently forgotten his support for the French General, Nivelle, whose methods had brought about the mutiny of the French army in 1917. ‘You reliably informed me that our lines would hold the Germans. It seems touch and go whether they will do so.’

  General Rixon opened his mouth but took several seconds to form the words, ‘the German attack will be held. As has been said before, Prime Minister, that if the men available here in England had been sent to France as the War Office asked them to be this German advance would not have occurred.’

  Rhys Pugh eyes narrowed as around the table papers were shuffled in embarrassment. ‘As I told General Haig the nation, through me, will not go on needlessly putting our citizens through the meat grinder of the Western Front with nothing to show for it.'

  Merson looked at Pugh and Rixon exchanging glares, ‘perhaps that discussion belongs elsewhere, Prime Minister and General Rixon,’ quickly he looked at his agenda. ‘Gentlemen, let us move on to the next item, which is a proposal by the War Office that General Rixon will introduce. Because this is such an important subject and relates to Russia and its role in the east it was thought wise to have the Prime Minister attend the meeting. General Rixon if you please.’

  General Rixon cleared his throat then wiped his mouth with a spotlessly clean handkerchief. Not a hair on his head was out of place whilst the crease in his trousers was so sharp that there were those in the War Office, not generally his admirers, who felt that they could be used for cutting the German barbed wire in front of the trenches. ‘The Russian position in Asia is as worrying as is its position in Europe. These Bolsheviks seem to be a threat to the very foundations of all we stand for in the British Empire but they are not opposing either the German or Turkish invasion of Russia. Therefore a major concern I have is the threat of a German or possibly a Turkish invasion of India. Both German troops, currently in the Ukraine, and Turkish troops, in Azerbaijan, are thrusting towards the Caspian and the town of Baku. We see both sets of troops as the vanguard of an invasion force. The Russian railway line that runs along the Persian border in Turkestan will be vital to both our enemies for transporting troops and supplies towards India.’

  Rixon paused and allowed his gaze to traverse the table, ‘German and Austrian soldiers currently in Asia as prisoners of war could also be used by these armies or even the Bolsheviks for an invasion of India. Our information is that the Bolos are recruiting all and sundry into their ranks. I think we all suspect that the Bolos are German agents hence my reference to them joining an invasion of India.’ He paused again to emphasise his next phrase, ‘possibly or even probably the Afghans would help anybody in an invasion of India. If an invasion threat becomes a reality then I believe we will be unable to cope given the shortage of men. We mentioned the Western Front, but we have shortages on all the other fronts - in Italy, in Salonika, in Palestine and in Mesopotamia. As we do not have the men to combat an invasion of India then we must have some other way of diverting an attack. I have two proposals that will try and stop any invasion attempts before they have a chance to get off the ground.’ Rixon stopped and looked round the room; he had everyone’s attention.

  ‘We cannot afford to lose India, it is too economically important to us,’ snapped Rhys Pugh.

  ‘I think it is even more than that, Prime Minister. It is not only the very jewel in our crown but our chance to enlighten a noble though backward people. I’ve been saying for twenty years or more that the Russians were our enemies in the East and a threat to India. Our alliance with them was merely a temporary aberration,’ Merson sermonized.

  ‘Quite right, George, I think over the last twenty years we have got to know your views,’ snapped the Prime Minister.

  ‘Been boring us to death with it,’ muttered Lord Surridge to no one in particular. As a member, like Ballard, of the Conservative Party he had been hearing the same thing from Merson’s rubbery lips for what had the Prime Minister said - twenty years? It felt more like forty years.

  ‘Albert, you had something to say?’ said Rhys Pugh to Lord Surridge knowing what the an
swer would be.

  ‘No, no Prime Minister just agreeing with you,’ Surridge replied trying not to show how offended he was that the Prime Minister had used his Christian name or his embarrassment that his previous comment had been heard.

  Rhys Pugh stared at Surridge till the latter looked away, ‘we must get on as I am going to see His Majesty the King soon after this meeting – I must not be late for that.’

  Rixon picked up a document from the table and read from it slowly and deliberately. ‘Our first proposal is gentlemen that we close the possible Indian invasion route through Northeast Persia - with a military mission. This mission is needed to replace the Russian soldiers who were the peacekeepers or gatekeepers in the area, but have now recently returned home.’ Rixon looked at Surridge expecting him to say something but the man sat motionless. ‘The mission’s role will come into play as soon as possible and its importance will become paramount if and when our enemies cross the Caspian. We believe that the mission will have a political role as well as a military one although we see the former as secondary.’

  ‘Can you explain what you mean by the political role, General Rixon?’ asked Rhys Pugh.

  ‘Turkish and Bolshevik agents have already appeared in this region of Persia and are spreading rumours of British atrocities in Mesopotamia and that Britain has an anti-Islamic policy. The mission’s political task we believe will counteract all anti-British activity whether by agents or by propaganda. We think the mission should produce news-sheets showing the true state of the war just as we do elsewhere in Persia. In addition Moslems - from both Mesopotamia and Arabia - should be brought into Persia to demonstrate how Britain is supportive of Islam.’

  ‘Who is going to pay for these people to travel to Persia?’ Surridge interrupted.

  ‘India!’ interjected Charles who thought he ought to say something at the meeting.

  Surridge let out his breath noisily, ‘The India Office and the Government of India are not bottomless pits of money and you in the Foreign Office should know that, Charles.’

  ‘Well the Home Government is not either, Lord Surridge,’ Rhys Pugh drummed his fingers on the table as he spoke. ‘I think the General’s point is well made. Our backs are to the wall at this moment in Europe and the least India can do is take on as much responsibility as she can.’

  ‘That is unfair, Prime Minister,’ expounded Surridge, ‘India is playing a very full part in the war. Those are our troops in Mesopotamia. Troops I might add that we could need on the Northwest frontier if the tribesman decided to go on the war path.’

  ‘Quite,’ uttered Merson.

  Ballard took the pipe out of his mouth in order to speak, 'where are you suggesting this mission is to be based, general?’

  ‘Meshed, Foreign Secretary.’

  ‘Ah Meshed I know it well.’ Merson smiled knowingly, ‘Prime Minister, Meshed is one of the most revered Moslem holy cities in Persia and receives many pilgrims from all parts of Persia.’

  I was going to say all that, George but of course you had to interrupt and show off your knowledge, thought Rixon but he smiled and said, ‘thank you, my lord.’ Rixon allowed his gaze to traverse the room as he continued, ‘having Moslems who support our cause in Meshed we hope will have a positive impact on these pilgrims. Then when the pilgrims return home they will the spread the true picture of our intentions amongst their fellows. I appreciate money is in short supply but with troops in an even shorter supply taking some Moslems to Meshed may be the cheaper of two evils and may prevent Persia tribesmen going on the warpath against us.’

  ‘Sounds a good idea,’ interjected Rhys Pugh though he realised as soon as he said it Rixon had not finished. ‘Am I right in that, my lord?’ He looked at Surridge whilst Ballard bit his tongue.

  ‘I’ll accept they are cheaper Prime Minister.’ Surridge said thinking that another battle was to occur that was more important to win.

  The Prime Minister should really address the meeting through me, Merson, the Committee Chairman thought, but there was no point getting upset, ‘general, will you continue?’

  ‘We know there is this Bolshevik chap, Bravin, in Persia with the intention of causing Britain and India trouble. It seems these Bolsheviks have moved Russia from being allies to either being our enemies or, at least supporting our enemies. So we need to do something about that. Therefore, the other proposal the War Office should like to make is,’ Rixon paused for dramatic effect, ‘that we send a delegation from the Hejaz to Central Asia for the purpose of raising a jihad, holy war, call it what you will against the Bolsheviks and their supporters. The War Office has already informed the India Office of our proposal.’ Rixon sat back in his chair and studied the ceiling.

  The silence, which greeted Rixon’s statement, was overpowering. Surridge’s face already glum turned white then flushed to a soft pink. Ballard’s mouth actually opened in astonishment depositing his pipe into his lap whereupon he stood and brushed the ash off his trousers before sitting down again. Rhys Pugh looked at Ballard and Surridge and on seeing their reaction shook his head as though he hadn’t quite believed what he had heard or the reaction he was seeing.

  Rixon despite the reaction went on imperturbably. ‘The thinking is this. Hussein, the Emir of Mecca is leading the Arabs in the overthrow of the Turks and freeing Hejaz from centuries of Ottoman tyranny. He is the Emir of the holy city of Mecca and that makes him the leader of the Moslem world. So, who better to foment a holy war in Muslim Asia against our enemies – Germans, Turks, Russian? If we raise the Moslems tribes of Central Asia in a holy war this will not cost us anything in material or men - only gold.’

  ‘How much gold, General Rixon?’

  ‘That detail has not been worked out Prime Minister.’ Rixon suddenly felt uncomfortable as he had no idea.

  ‘To borrow Lord Surridge’s phrase from earlier we are not a bottomless pit General Rixon, in fact I would say the bottom can be seen clearly through very shallow water at this moment in time.’

  ‘Yes, Prime Minister,’ replied Rixon.

  ‘You forgot to mention the Emir is a direct descendent of the prophet. To a Moslem that is very important to them,’ said Sir Arthur Ballard as he filled his pipe before he stabbed it at the general, ‘and it aids your suggestion greatly.’ The meeting watched him light the pipe.

  Good point Arthur thought Rixon annoyed that he had not thought of it himself. ‘Yes, and without your support Foreign Secretary I am sure that the Emir would not have moved so far down the road to freedom,’ he forged a smile at Ballard.

  ‘So I take it, Sir Arthur, you approve of this because the Emir’s the Foreign Office’s man in Arabia?’ Rhys Pugh asked.

  ‘He’s his own man, Prime Minister,’ said Ballard after taking his pipe out of his mouth.

  ‘Excuse me if I’m wrong’ said Surridge getting angrier by the minute as he listened to the foregoing conversation, ‘but if I remember correctly the Emir vacillated between the Turks and us for two or three years! In fact I recall he only started to do something active when we had already started to push the Turkish army back from the Suez Canal. I also seemed to remember that there was a long and protracted correspondence with the Emir as we, and I stress we, tried to persuade him to raise the Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire. That is hardly the action of someone who is their own man.’

  Ballard slumped back in his chair in despair. ‘My dear Lord Surridge as you know well the Emir could not throw his hat into the ring on our side until he was sure not only of our support but those of his fellow countrymen.’

  ‘Arthur, as we have said in the India Office many times to you before. Your precious Emir is only one of the potential leaders of the Arabs. We still feel at India that Ibn-Saud, who controls much of Arabia, is the man that His Majesty’s Government should be fully supporting. I would also challenge you as to whether the all Arabs currently under the yoke of Ottoman tyranny see themselves as fellow countrymen or merely as a confederation of tribes. Our contentio
n is the latter, particularly as we and the French intend to share out the Arab lands.’ said Surridge as if lecturing a small boy.

  ‘Hussein is the more malleable than Ibn-Saud, and that suits our purposes in the region admirably.’ said Ballard fully aware that this contradicted his earlier view that the Emir Hussein was his own man.

  Rhys Pugh broke in abruptly,’ Gentlemen now is not the time to discuss the merits of the men in question. I have a more immediate concern. I have to admit I am confused with regards to our position in Russia. We seem to be supporting every faction under the sun and there are goodness knows how many of them. Now we are suggesting that we support something new again. Why? Arthur you are privy to all matters of state so why do you support it, don’t you think we are spreading ourselves too wide?’

  Arthur Ballard reflected for a moment, ‘I don’t think so Prime Minister. It depends upon what our aims are both tactically and strategically. Let us move away from the Arabian Peninsula for the moment and go back to Europe. One of our strategic aims must be to maintain the blockade to stop vital resources getting into Germany. I think what little we know about what is happening in Germany shows the blockade to be working. The Germans advance into Ukraine gives them access to wheat; that advance then brings them to the Black Sea and potentially onwards to the Caucuses and its oil. The Germans therefore are threatening the success of our blockade. Then we learn that there is another vital resource, cotton, available in Turkestan and that this cotton could be brought directly to Germany by rail. There is no way that we can do anything to stop that means of transport; the Royal Navy apparently has no ships that can cruise on rails.’

  ‘So if our blockade is or, will be, completely undermined and that,’ Rhys Pugh looked round the table, ‘could mean the war going into 1919 or even 1920. Something I think we would all dread.’

  Murmurs of agreement sounded round the table.

  ‘You are assuming, Prime Minister, that either the Bolsheviks will allow the Germans to have the cotton and use their railway to transport it back to Germany.’

  ‘Yes, Lord Surridge but we all suspect that the Germans are virtually running Russia anyway,’ Rhys Pugh replied gloomily.

  ‘Even if the Germans are not running Russia we know the Bolsheviks will not honour Russian commitments agreed in 1914 because they signed this peace treaty with Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey and forgot about the Treaty of London they signed with us and the French in 1914 not to make a separate peace.’ Surridge tapped angrily on the table with his fingers to emphasise his annoyance.’

  ‘I agree, with you on that point,’ said Rhys Pugh and the others round the table again murmured their agreement.

  ‘The problem is that we do know enough about these revolutionaries running Russia. This Lenin and this Trotsky do not seem to be aware of the niceties of diplomacy. They seem too fly by half, Prime Minister,’ admitted Ballard. ‘The Foreign Office has been looking at ways to find someone who will return the Russians to their commitments to the Entente. Kerensky we feel was, and still is that man. But getting him into power again?’ Ballard let out a sigh of exasperation, sat back and studied his pipe as if that held the answer before he continued, ‘that is very unlikely. Bringing the Central Asian tribes into conflict with Russia would keep her occupied and stop any chance that she might join the war against us. A Moslem holy war might check those Central Powers Prisoners-Of-War, currently still out in Russian Turkestan, from returning to fight in the west or invading India.’

  ‘Fly is a mild way to describe those two scallywags, Foreign Secretary. There are various problems arising from what you have just said about a jihad. A jihad, or holy war, did not work for the Germans when they tried it to raise it in India or Persia from 1914 to 1916. There is little reason why it should work for us. Then there is something else,’ said Surridge looking intently first at the Prime Minister and then at the Foreign Minister, Ballard, ‘we think these Bolo people may be a threat to India because of their ideas of revolution. Remember we mentioned Mr Bravin earlier and the fact that he is out to cause us trouble in Persia.’

  ‘Lord Surridge,’ said Rixon calmly, ‘we are not talking about Persia or a threat to India from Persia but the threat from Central Asia to India.’

  ‘The trouble with the military is that they are too myopic. We, politicians, have to see the big picture.’

  ‘Yes, and may I remind you we in the Imperial General Staff also do precisely that,’ snapped Rixon looking daggers at Surridge.

  ‘Gentlemen, gentlemen,’ Merson interjected because he had not said anything for a while as much as performing his chairman’s role, ‘whilst it is true, General Rixon that we are not talking about Persia, Lord Surridge was making a relevant point about these Bolsheviks, and their threat of revolutionary ideas spreading throughout our Empire and its adjoining countries.’

  ‘Thank you George, as I was going to add,’ Surridge kept his temper, ‘there are still many misguided people in India who would welcome external support against us. Perhaps, Prime Minister, we should deal only with some of these other groups in Russia and not the Bolsheviks at all.’

  The Prime Minister leaned forward with an intense look on his face. ‘Whilst I don’t like these Bolsheviks and all they stand for at all, Lord Surridge, they are currently the government of Russia and we have to deal with them whether we like it or not. If the Bolshevik Government was made up of circus dwarfs we would have to deal with them, we must remember that. The fact that these Bolos seized power by force means that we can only deal with them unofficially and it will be up to the Foreign Secretary,’ he looked pointedly at Ballard, ‘to ensure they stay out of Indian affairs.’

  ‘That may be difficult to do because for example these Bolos are already spreading their nonsensical ideas here,’ replied Ballard.

  ‘We are not Russia and we treat our people rather better than the Russians have ever done. We are a democracy. The Russians were, under the Tsar, a dictatorship though I’m not sure what they are now,’ retorted Rhys Pugh. ‘I repeat it is the Foreign Office’s duty to ensure these Bolos keep their ideas remain firmly within Russia.

  ‘The price of democracy is eternal vigilance,’ said Ballard quietly.

  ‘Yes, thank you Arthur for that truism. Let us get back to the War Office’s original suggestion of the possibly starting a jihad in Russia. One of my worries is if a jihad was started is what would happen to the Czechs?’

  Czechs wanted an independent state from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Allies had committed themselves to setting up such a state once the Central Powers were defeated. As a result of this promise Czech POWs held in Russia, now freed following the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, had promised to fight against the Central Powers. The Czechs had managed whilst in captivity to keep their military discipline and formation. They were already being assembled to be transported from their POW camps to Allied lines in Europe where they would help overcome the Allies shortages of men.

  ‘I’m sorry, Prime Minister, I don’t quite follow.’ A frown crossed General Rixon’s face.

  ‘Currently at least one of the Czech army brigades is already moving east from its POW camps in European Russia on its long journey to join our troops fighting on the Western Front. We know the brigade cannot come out through European Russia because the Germans are between them and us. So it has a roundabout journey that sees it going to Vladivostok and then via America to the Western Front. The journey to Vladivostok is by rail and the Russian Government controls that. So, two things come to mind. First, we must try not to give the Russian Government any reason to stop the movement of the Czech troops because we need them. Second, and rather different, the Czechs are Slavs like the Russians. The Czechs are fighting for an independent country and freedom from Austria-Hungary, which naturally we are supporting. Because the Czechs are Slavs they could play a role in swaying the Russians back onto our side.’

  Surridge and Ballard both looked puzzled and spoke in unison. ‘You think that pos
sible, Prime Minister?’

  Rhys Pugh gave a theatrical gesture of surprise. ‘Russia actually entered this war to protect its fellow Slavs, the Serbs, from being bullied by the Austrians. There is a good chance that when it is seen both by the Russian Government and by the Russian people that, the Czechs are going straight from captivity to fight for an independent country which might just push the Russians back to our side.’

  ‘Bit of a long shot, Prime Minister.’ Ballard said re-lighting his pipe.

  ‘Hope springs eternal, Arthur. The Czech brigade must go through the Moslem territories of the Russian Empire namely the old Khanates of Bokhara, Kiva, and,’ he waved his arms about. He could never remember the name of the other Khanate. Ballard and Surridge who undoubtedly knew its name, which was Kokand, offered no help. ‘Correct?’

  ‘Not really, Prime Minister, the railway line the Czechs are on lies far to the north of those territories. Quite a long way north, actually,’ said Rixon. 'You are thinking about the railway line that runs along the Persian border and up to Tashkent.’

  ‘I stand corrected. But tell me this, General Rixon do we tell these tribes, “stay within your borders,” and if we do will they obey us?’

  Rixon shifted uncomfortably in his seat and replied unsurely, ‘I’m sure we can, Prime Minister.’

  Rhys Pugh replied. ‘Say you are wrong and the tribes penetrate as far north as the railway line to Vladivostok. Will the Moslems only attack Germans or Russians? How will they know that the Czechs are on our side? How would they know the Czechs are Czech and not Russians?’ Rhys Pugh jabbed his finger at the general, ‘in a Holy War, a jihad, will not the Moslems attack all Christians? Will we be starting, as Lord Surridge said, a whirlwind we cannot control? They do after all call all Europeans, Franks.’

  ‘I hate the thought of people thinking and calling we Englishmen, French,’ snorted Surridge.

  ‘No worse than we Welshmen being lumped in with the English as we so often are,’ said Rhys Pugh with a twinkle. The knowing smiles round the table were a mixture of the genuine and the false.

  Rhys Pugh looked at Rixon who taking his cue said, ‘it is a possibility, Prime Minister, but I honestly believe the railway line the Czechs are using lies too far to the north of the Moslem territories for the tribes to reach it.’

  ‘Still seems a bit dubious to me,’ said the Prime Minister putting his chin in his hand and his little finger against his teeth and began to tap them with it. ‘Genghis Khan went places he was not supposed to and he was a tribesman from around there. Opening Pandora’s box is risky.’

  It was Surridge who broke the silence. ‘I agree, Prime Minister but there is something else. May I remind everyone that the Germans have attempted on no less than three occasions to start a holy war, the jihad, you mentioned General Rixon. On each occasion the Huns had the support of one of the most important men in Islam - the Sultan of Turkey. On each occasion they failed to start a war even though the Germans told the Muslims that the Kaiser had converted to Islam. Then, one of the world’s most eminent Moslem Kings, Emir Hazibullah of Afghanistan, whose country would normally rise up against us at a drop of a hat did not do so, even with blandishments and promises from the Kaiser. Also the Germans tried to get those namby pamby Persians to act, but apart from the efforts of that German blighters like Wasserstein they never really succeeded in a major way. If this is the case then why therefore does the general or the War Office think that we should succeed where the Germans failed?’

  Rixon shuffled the papers before him on the table till they were neatly stacked then spoke. ‘The British have a successful history of dealing with Muslim people whether they are kings, emirs or paupers. Do we not govern more Muslims through the Empire than there are Muslims outside of it?’ Rixon looked round the room rather than directly at Surridge.

  ‘I’m not sure they always like what we do,’ said Rhys Pugh ‘if they did we would not have so much unrest in India.’

  ‘All caused by outside agitators of whatever religion, Prime Minister; like the Sikhs who live in the USA; the Indian socialists or nationalists living in Germany and inspired by the Bolsheviks. This trouble is nothing that we in the India Office cannot handle,’ Surridge’s voice sounded authoritative.

  ‘I agree with General Rixon’s comments about our knowledge and experience of dealing with Muslims and I would add,’ Merson once Viceroy of India didn’t need anyone to upstage him on Indian issues. Also when Lord George Merson spoke on matters dealing with Muslims he believed everyone in the room must listen, ‘the Hun has never had the experience of managing Muslims. I know, I know Arthur,’ Merson flapped his hands at Ballard, ‘they bossed a few in parts of Africa, but they are small beer compared with our dealing with the Afghans, the Arabs and the Persians.’

  ‘Or, the Pathans on the North West Frontier,’ added Rixon.

  ‘Thank you, Henry,’ said Merson dismissively as he went on in a school masterly way, ‘we understand the Muslims and when we have to adapt a little to deal with them we adapt - but not too much.’ He shifted his chair and paused a second for effect before he continued, ‘the Germans are arrogant when they deal with natives because they so rarely understand local culture or local customs and end up treating everyone as an uneducated, backward peasant.’

  ‘Which is actually what they are’ retorted Arthur Ballard that generated smiles from the non-India hands round the table.

  ‘Yes, Arthur, but we don’t make it as obvious as the Hun. This is the difference we use this,’ Merson tapped his head. ‘If they’d used a bit more thought they would have done better in Persia and Afghanistan. The exception that proves the rule, look at Herr Wasserstein and his minor success with the nomads of South Persia compare his effectiveness with those of our Political Officers whether they are dealing with the Emir Hussein or Ibn-Saud. A holy war sponsored by us a Christian nation? I do not think so.’ Merson sat back in his chair pleased with his sermon.

  ‘So that is the German threat solved. You seem to have forgotten our Moslem foe.’ Surridge snapped.

  ‘Based on the figures we have,’ Rixon flicked through his papers knowing what he wanted was not there but it gave him thinking time, ‘we estimate the Turks won’t have the men to invade India alone. The alternative is that the Turks would need German military support for any Indian invasion. If a Turco-German army were successful in crossing the Caspian, then the Central Asian tribes might join them but more for plunder than I suspect for jihad. Not calling it a jihad also avoids any problems the jihadists might have with the presence of Christian Germans in such an army.’

  ‘Sounds like whoever starts a jihad starts a forest fire,’ suggested Pugh.

  Arthur Ballard studied his pipe and broke the silence, ‘but what about the prisoners in Turkestan, what about the cotton, what do we do about that?’

  ‘I am getting confused gentlemen,’ snapped the Prime Minister. ‘What are we dealing with here, the Germans? These prisoners? The Russians? The Central Asian Moslems? Persia? Cotton? A jihad? Something else entirely?’

  ‘Could be all or, any combination of what you’ve just mention, Prime Minister,’ said Surridge carefully.

  The Prime Minister exhaled loudly and before sitting theatrically back in his chair, ‘can we have India’s view on the POWs?’

  ‘Certainly, Prime Minister,’ Surridge replied feeling comfortable for the first time in the discussion. ‘We have no information as to the numbers or the physical state of the POWS. What India needs is information. It would seem to me with all due respect to the Foreign Secretary and the Chief of the Imperial General Staff that the Government of India and the India Office have responsibility for India, and it is our job alone, to find out exactly what is happening in Russia. We are thinking about how we will do this and we will have a suggestion,’ or at least Grimes will he thought, ‘by this committees’ next meeting.’

  There were murmurs of approval round the room which Surridge acknowledged with a nod of his head. ‘I
must say this. This holy war if we started it and it initially succeeds in doing what we want it to against Germans, Bolsheviks or Turks, can we then just put it out? I doubt it. If the jihad fails do we lose face - I think so. May I remind everyone that we have yet to recover our prestige from our defeat at Kut two years ago? Again I need remind no one here how important maintaining our prestige in the east is. I do not think that at this stage of the war we at India can support a jihad and certainly we could not agree to a jihad led by Hussein of the Hejaz.’

  Merson spoke after a long silence. ‘Gentlemen I think that your suggestion of the jihad has been discussed enough. Have any of you anything further to add? Do we return to this jihad topic at some other time?’

  Henry Rixon and Arthur Ballard looked at each other shook their heads hardly surprised their kite would not fly. Surridge and Merson looked relieved and then the former caught first the Prime Minister’s eye and then Ballard’s.

  ‘There are several other things I would like to say from India’s view of things. First, we need to know about the cotton. We do not know if the Germans are buying it? Indeed have they bought it already? Can they actually transport it back home? Can we somehow interfere with the transport of the cotton if we needed to? Should we be trying to buy the cotton if the Huns have not? Second, the Bolsheviks appear to be running Turkestan but are they under the control of the Moscow Government or are they an autonomous local Bolshevik government?’ He looked at Ballard and the Prime Minister but neither moved. ‘Whichever it is, do they control Tashkent only or, the whole of Turkestan? If Moscow doesn’t have control will the local tribesmen try and establish an independent state as it used to be fifty years ago? They have tried once last December and we know they failed but how big was their failure – has it for example ended any future plans they might have to win back their independence? We have many issues to resolve and I am convinced between the India Office and the Government of India that they will be resolved.’

  ’Rumours from Moscow say that the Bolsheviks are looking to grant autonomy to the Eastern Empire territories conquered by the Tsar,’ said Ballard

  ‘Rumours, Arthur, rumours.’

  ‘Anyway,’ went on Ballard ignoring Rhys Pugh’s interjection, ‘I thought your chaps, Albert, had someone up in Chinese Turkestan whose sole job was to listen to what was going on over the border in Russian. Isn’t it that chap, Robinson?’

  ‘Robbins actually,’ said Surridge. ‘Well it’s not his sole purpose, as you well know Arthur. All Robbins’ recent reports to us indicate that very little information about what is happening in Tashkent or, anywhere else in Turkestan is available. Trade appears to have withered to almost nothing. Robbins has to tread a very fine line because that is a very sensitive area. Sensitive because it’s on the border between China and Russia and we know the latter, in the past, have had an eye on expanding east and seizing Chinese Turkestan and then going on to Manchuria.’

  ‘Apart from expansion for expansion’s sake any reason they would still want to do that?’

  ‘Yes, Prime Minister, there are religious and ethnic reasons for expansion into Chinese Turkestan. The tribes on both sides of the Sino-Russian border are mainly Turkic for example: Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Huis, Kyrgyz as well as Mongols. There are not many Han Chinese found in this part of China and that lack makes the Chinese authorities sensitive. As for Manchuria I think the Russians just wanted that for territorial aggrandisement and possibly stop the Japanese from taking it over.’

  ‘Rum lot the Chinese’ interrupted Merson ‘could never understand them myself so I suppose no one can.’

  ‘I am sure your right, George,’ said Rhys Pugh smirking in the direction of Ballard whose smile was rather broader. Rhys Pugh switched his gaze back to Surridge, ‘Lord Surridge what about the Chinese?’

  ‘Well Robbins has to be very careful that he does not take any action regarding Russia that Peking could take the slightest umbrage. If they were to feel we were doing something they didn’t like then they might close the Kashgar mission and bang goes our closest listening post to Asiatic Russia. We would be blinded.’

  ‘I think you mean deafened, Lord Surridge. So what can we do? Sorry George I’m usurping your authority.’ Rhys Pugh turned to Lord Merson with a look he hoped looked apologetic.

  ‘Perfectly all right, Prime Minister, ‘said Merson in a tone that could be interpreted to mean exactly the opposite. If Rhys Pugh noticed anything he did not show it.

  Surridge waited a moment and then said. ‘I think I have an idea of what we might do rather than start the jihad we mentioned earlier.’

  ‘We know we’ve already abandoned the idea of a jihad, Lord Surridge,’ Rhys Pugh sounded irritated, ‘what is this idea?’

  ‘Sorry Prime Minister, just recapping.’ Surridge was flustered for a moment. He knew he should not have mentioned the jihad but he could not help doing it as a means of gloating over the Foreign and the General Staff. The Prime Minister need not have been so sharp with him; he was after all a Minister of the Crown. ‘We send an official Indian Government mission to Russian Turkestan with a remit to find out the information we so obviously lack.’

  ‘Are we going back to the Great Game, Albert?’ asked Ballard frowning. ‘I’m not sure our Bolshevik friends in Moscow would take very kindly to this proposal at all.’

  ‘This Bolshevik Russian Government would surely take a mission like this as perfidious Albion at its worst. They would think that we would be stirring up the Moslem tribes against them - in other words a jihad in all but name? Then how does this proposal tie in with the probability that we will intervene with our allies in other parts of Russia to protect our joint interests?’

  ‘Ah, Prime Minister, the idea for a mission was not originally mine.’ Surridge paused for. ‘I had a visit this morning from the Right Honourable Member for Michelside this morning, one of your chaps.’

  ‘Tarbox? Probably he’s got shares in some Birmingham manufacturer which dumps second rate products on the Indian Market and he is worried that trade will be lost to the Russians,’ Ballard said before the Prime Minister could reply.

  ‘The Russian threat to India has never gone away. It has merely been hibernating for the last fifteen years. Bears hibernate you know Arthur,’ George Merson said with pursed lips.

  ‘Yes, George. But, I was never a believer in the Great Game unlike you. I just do not think a Russian invasion of India is a practicality at this moment in time. These Bolos may only last as long as Kerensky did.’ Ballard replied dryly and then went on, ‘I thought we were dealing with the threat of a German or Turkish invasion rather than Russian.’

  Surridge began a stabbing motion with the forefinger of his right hand as he went on forcefully. ‘This Turkestan issue is not a War Office issue - the India Office is already drafting a proposal.’ Surridge looked at Rixon as he added, ‘it will not be a proposal to have a jihad.’

  Rhys Pugh looked exasperated. ‘I thought the discussion on jihad was dead and buried. We are wasting time and I have to go.’

  ‘Just re-iterating a point Prime Minister,’ Surridge said testily and exchanged glares with the Prime Minister.

  ‘Thank you, Albert,’ Merson said quickly before Rhys Pugh could counter the last statement. ‘Any other business?’ He beamed at Surridge before he looked round the room and was pleased to see everyone shake their heads. ‘Have you anything you need for clarification, Cabinet Secretary?’

  ‘No Lord Merson,’ replied Sir John Baxter looking up from his notes. ‘I’ll have the minutes for you all by this evening. Any items for the agenda for the next meeting please get them to me 24 hours beforehand. Thank you.’

  ‘Then I declare this meeting closed and we’ll see you all next week. Thank you, Prime Minister for attending and if I may have a word now with you in your office Prime Minister?’

  Rhys Pugh pulled out his watch. ‘Time is tight, George. I can give you five minutes in my office if you are quick!’ The two men exited the roo
m with Rhys Pugh listening to a tirade of issues pouring from Merson’s mouth.

  Surridge wanted to be back in the India Office as soon as possible so he could see what Grimes had done. A jihad in Central Asia what a load of nonsense and even more nonsensical suggesting an Arab lead it. All this from the Imperial General Staff which should be dealing only with military matters, no wonder we hadn’t won the war yet, Surridge thought shaking his head in bemusement as he stepped out into Downing Street. Surridge got into his car and was whisked the few hundred yards back to the India Office where as soon as he was back at his desk he sent for Grimes.

  The following morning after Grimes and Surridge had met again a telegram was despatched from the India Office in London to Simla, the Indian Army Headquarters. The telegram requested that the viability of an intelligence mission to Tashkent in Turkestan be evaluated.