Page:Minutes of War Cabinet Meeting 2, 11 December 1916.djvu/6

Rh

Your telegram No. 1465 of yesterday.

What interpretation do you wish given to the expression "Northern Greece"?

Is it meant to include whole of continental Greece, and if not, what Part?

Are Epirus and southern Albania included?

The inclusion of Athens and neighbouring districts would, especially in view of recent events and of presented fear of a revolution, render acceptance of our demand very problematical.

Does demand imply that no Greek troops whatsoever are to be retained, even for maintenance of order?

Besides re-establishment of controls in place of those abolished (vide my telegram No. 1979 of to-day), should not mention be made of railway facilities which we shall require in connection with the establishment of an overland line of communication for supply of Salonica?

To meet wishes of Sherif. Storrs is being sent by McMahon to Jeddah, to remove misapprehensions existing in Sherif's mind owing to irresponsible statments by Faroki.

Sirdar thinks Turms mean business. Colnel Parker on return to Egypt from Rabegh reports Turks have seperated Faisal, based on Yenbo, from Emir Ali based on Rabegh. Turks' immediate object is to brush aside Faisal and occupy Yenbo, which must be evacuated and stores transferred by sea to Rabegh. A monitor has gone to Yenbo to assist. Arabs quite incapable of defending Rabegh even with naval assistance.

Lord Bertie reports that British should release from Egypt "une vertiable corps de batille" to prepare defensive position at Rabegh. French Moslem technical detachments would be attached as auxiliaries (e.g., eight machine-gun sections, one field battery, on mountain battery, &c.).

Sirdar instructed Major Jouce to make necessary preperations at Rabegh should a brigade be sent there.

Faisal asks Sherif to hold Ragbeh to enable him to act against Turkish communication. Yenbo reports that Faisal unsuccessfully egngaged strong Turkish patrol on the 8th insatant. Faisal with 1,500 Arabs now at Yenbo.