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1. 'British interests in Arabia'
- Description:
- Abstract: This memorandum was written by Sir Frederic Arthur Hirtzel in January 1917. Its purpose is to explain 'why the exclusion of Italy from Western and Southern Arabia and the Red Sea littoral is important in British interests'. It notes the importance of Arabia lying as it does along two of the main approaches to India from Europe. Hirtzel's memorandum also notes the absence of an effective state in Arabia, and the concomitant influence of tribes and their chiefs.It reviews the strategic importance of Aden and its protectorate along with the significance of the Aden-Yemen frontier in the context of British relations with the Imam of Sanaa and Turkey (paragraphs 4-5). It notes that the Italian ambitions are mainly focused on the Yemen and that the Italo-Turkish war made Italy the most unpopular 'Christian power' in the Muslim world. It analyses the implications of any British consent to an Italian occupation of the Yemen.It concludes that the 'present war has shown the use that may be made against us of Islam' and contends that the success of H M Government in the Middle East 'depends to a large extent on the transfer of the Caliphate from Turkey to Arabia. This in turn depends on the possibility of making the ruler of the Hejaz sufficiently strong to be able to pose as an independent sovereign. This again depends upon keeping the Christian powers at a sufficient distance.' The memorandum finishes by noting that it was for these reasons Britain took the precaution of inserting in the Anglo-French convention [Sykes-Picot agreement] that the British and French Governments agree that they will not themselves acquire and will not consent to a third Power acquiring territorial possessions in the Arabian peninsula with a sphere of influence being seen as equivalent to territorial possession.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the first folio and terminates at the last folio; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Pagination: The booklet also has an original printed pagination sequence.
2. Papers on British policy and the Arab movement
- Description:
- Abstract: This file contains correspondence, memoranda, maps, manuscript notes, and other papers relating to the political and territorial settlement of parts of the Middle East following the First World War. Many of the papers were collected for the attention of the Middle East Committee (later named the Eastern Committee, following the mergence of the Foreign Office's Russia Committee and the interdepartmental Persia Committee) of the War Cabinet. Contributors include officials from the War Office, Foreign Office, Admiralty, and India Office, as well as indivduals such as Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence. Correspondence comes from representatives of the French and Italian governments as well as British officials in Cairo and other parts of the Middle East.The papers deal with plans for the region presuming and following an Allied victory in the First World War and take into consideration the imperial ambitions of the victorious European Powers (France, Italy, Russia, Britain, and the United States) and the multitudinous commitments made by the British to various groups. The plans are based on evolving agreements rooted in the Sykes-Picot, or Asia Minor, Agreement between the British and French of 1916. Regions under consideration include the Hejaz (sometimes written Hedjaz), Syria, Northern Iraq, Southern Iraq, Palestine, Armenia, Turkey, the Idrisi state, Yemen, Persia, and Afghanistan. Various matters are covered in the file, but particular focus is given to plans for the Sherifian family of the Hejaz, led by King Husein [Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī], which impacted upon policy in Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and the Arabian Peninsula. Other matters include the situation between Jews and Arabs in Palestine, wartime commitments to ruling shaikhs in the Persian Gulf, the French position in the region, and desiderata of the Government of India for any peace settlement.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front first page with 1, and terminates at the inside back last page with 187; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
3. Miscellaneous papers on the Near and Middle East
- Description:
- Abstract: The file contains correspondence, memoranda, notes, and a map concerning various aspects of the post-First World War settlement of the Near and Middle East. The file covers the discussion around the Sykes-Picot Agreement (also known as the Asia Minor Agreement; see folios 1-3) and the settlement of other Arab territories, the future of Constantinople, the need to protect the Trans-Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan) from the Bolshevik advance, the peace settlement with Turkey, and Persian claims at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919.Correspondence is between George Curzon and officials at the War Office, Foreign Office, League of Nations, and various political and diplomatic offices in the region concerned. The file also contains some pages of manuscript notes by Curzon himself.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 35, these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
4. War Cabinet Papers Relating to Syria and the Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916
- Description:
- Abstract: The file chiefly comprises correspondence, memoranda, and newspaper cuttings relating to the Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916 and British policy in former Ottoman territories following the end of the First World War. Many of the papers were printed and prepared for the War Cabinet (from March 1918, the Eastern Committee of the War Cabinet) and date from May 1915 to September 1919.The papers cover several matters, including:Negotiations leading up to the Sykes-Picot Agreement (ratified in May 1916) and concerning the future government of Syria (including Lebanon), Palestine, Mesopotamia [Iraq], and Asiatic Turkey, and the securing of British and French 'rights' in the regionOther wartime agreements involving Britain, France, Russia, Italy, and Roumania [Romania]Revision of the Sykes-Picot Agreement in 1918 following subsequent developments during the War, in particular the 'Arab Revolt' [uprising of Arab nationalists against the Ottoman Empire] and the conquest of Palestine and Syria by British and Arab forcesThe discussion of an Anglo-French declaration to be made to try and appease the inhabitants of the regionThe British Government's response to a memorial issued by seven Arab leaders resident in Egypt regarding their desires for self-determination in the region, particularly SyriaA statement made by Feisal [Fayṣal bin Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī] to the Chief of General Staff, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, 31 August 1919, regarding recent events in the region, promises made to the Arabs during the War, and Arab determination to achieve independence.The correspondence is principally between diplomats and politicians of the British, French, Russian and Italian governments, and officials at the Foreign Office and War Office.Folios 70-84 consist of related manuscript notes by Lord Curzon.The French language material consists of correspondence from French diplomats and politicians.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 85; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
5. Correspondence between Britain, France and Russia in regards to Arabia
- Description:
- Abstract: Correspondence, in English and French, between M Sazanof, Ministre des Affaires Étrangeres (Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs); Maurice Paléologue, Ambassadeur de France en Russie (French Ambassador to Russia); Paul Cambon (French Amabassador to the United Kingdom); and Sir Edward Gray, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.The correspondence relates to the agreement made by France and Great Britain for the constitution of a state or federation of Arab states which would include Syria, Cilicia and Mesopotamia, including details of the agreement itself and the signing of it by Sir Mark Sykes and Monsieur Francois Georges-Picot (British and French Diplomats who signed the Sykes-Picot agreement). Also included are discussions with the Russian Government over the treaty, and their willingness to accept it on the condition that Russia may be permitted to annex Erzeroum [Erzurum], Trébizonde [Trabzon], Van, and Bitlis;and that the regions of Kourdistan [Kurdistan] and Merga Var be ceded to them; and that in return the areas of Ala Dagh, Césarée [Kayseri], Ak-Dagh, Yildiz Dagh [Strandzha], Zara, Eghin and Kharpout [Harput] will be recognised as French.The correspondence includes the following letters:Mr Sazanof, Ministre des Affaires Étrangeres, Pétrograd to Maurice Paléologue, Ambassadeur de France en Russie,26 April 1916;Maurice Paléologue, Ambassadeur de France en Russie, Pétrograd, to M Sazanof, Ministre des Affaires Étrangeres, 26 April 1916;Paul Cambon, Ambassade de France (French Embassy), Londres [London] to Sir Edward Grey, 9 May 1916 (received 10 May 1916);Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Office (London) to Paul Cambon, 15 May 1916;Paul Cambon, Ambassade de France, Londres to Sir Edward Grey, 15 May 1916 (received 16 May 1916);Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Office (London) to Paul Cambon, 16 May 1916;Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Office (London) to Count Alexander Konstantinovich Benckendorff (Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom), 23 May 1916;Paul Cambon, Ambassade de France, Londres [London] to Sir Edward Grey, 25 August 1916 (received 26 August 1916);The Marquess of Crewe, Foreign Office (London) to Paul Cambon, 30 August 1916Count Alexander Konstantinovich Benckendorff, Ambassade Impériale de Russie (Imperial Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom), Londres [London] to Viscount Grey (Sir Edward Grey), 1 September 1916Viscount Grey, Foreign Office (London) to Count Alexander Konstantinovich Benckendorff, 23 October 1916.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation for this description commences at folio 133 and terminates at folio 142, as it is part of a larger physical volume; 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 between folios 6-153; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence.
6. Miscellaneous correspondence, reports, maps and other papers concerning the Middle East
- Description:
- Abstract: The file contains correspondence, memoranda, maps, and other papers relating to Middle Eastern affairs and a few other miscellaneous matters. The majority of the file concerns discussions of and proposals for the post-war settlement of Near Eastern territories, including Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, and the Arabian Peninsula. The basis of these discussions was the Sykes-Picot agreement of 1916.Other matters covered by the papers include events in Siam [Thailand] and Burmah [Myanmar] and the colonial rivalry in the region between France and Britain, the Baghdad Railway, and relations with Ibn Saud in Arabia, including a report on the 1917-18 mission to Najd by Harry St John Philby (folios 67-98).Folios 99-110 are six maps with accompanying notes that show the various proposed territorial settlements and spheres of influence in the Near East and one showing Britain's global colonial possessions.Memoranda and correspondence comes from officials at the Foreign Office and India Office. Other correspondents include French and Italian government officials.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front of the envelope with 1, and terminates at the inside back last page with 110, these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.