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File 3372/1916 Pt 2 'Arabia: French and Italian policy' [‎195r] (398/498)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (243 folios). It was created in 30 May 1917-11 Dec 1918. It was written in English, French and Italian. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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5
in all other matters they recognised the Hedjaz as a sphere
of solely British influence.
It appears to me that it is not too late to effect
this - and I am fortified in my belief by a conversation
which I had recently with M, Picot.
M. Picot informed me that he was very anxious to know
whether I was satisfied personally with the agreements and
whether I considered that they would work well in practise.
I replied that I could only speak for myself, though I was
confident that the views I held represented pretty faithfully
the attitude of others more responsible .than I was. If he
wished for my views I should give them very frankly and say
all that was in my mind, for I considered that some of the
/
minor difficulties which we had recently experienced were
probably due to lack of complete understanding of one
another*s point of view.
I viewed the acquisition by Prance of Pyria and
Alexandretta with complacency under certain conditions. I
4
could not disguise from myself that they had obtained an
area of iianense strategical importance, which not only
introduced a new and powerful Baval factor into the Eastern
Mediterranean, but went far to nullify the value of Cyprus
to us. It was equally clear to me, from such studies as I
had made of the economic position in these areas, that Prance
might be able to shift the watershed of Mediterranean as
against Indian trade from Diahekir to the doors of Baghdad
and possibly to the detriment of our economic position.
But as Indian strategic questions were the main
decisive factors that influenced us in the politics of these
areas, and as I understood that these agreements virtually

defined all areas south of a line drawn from Hebron to
Khoi Sanjak

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Content

The volume contains papers largely relating to French policy in the Hedjaz [Hejaz] and Arabia, and Anglo-French relations concerning the region. It includes papers relating to the following:

  • The French mission being sent to the Hedjaz under Mustapha Cherchali.
  • The French Military Mission in the Hedjaz.
  • The British desire for French recognition of British predominance in the region.
  • The Sykes-Picot Mission.
  • The recommendations of HM High Commissioner, Egypt, on future British policy in Arabia.
  • The desire of the French government to send the equivalent in gold of 975,000 francs to the King of the Hedjaz.
  • The question of a revised agreement between Britain and France regarding Arabia and the Hedjaz.
  • The activities of a French agent at Mecca, Mahomet Bin Sasi.

The volume also includes papers relating to the policy to be adopted by Britain towards Italian ‘pretentions’ in Arabia.

The papers mostly consist of: correspondence between the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. and the Foreign Office, with enclosures including correspondence between the Foreign Office and the French Ambassador to the United Kingdom; copy correspondence between the Foreign Office and Sir Reginald Wingate, HM High Commissioner, Egypt, sent to the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. by the Foreign Office; India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Minute Papers; and other correspondence and papers. Some of the papers are in French, and there is also a copy of a newspaper cutting in Italian.

The file 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.

Extent and format
1 volume (243 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

The subject 3372 (Pt 1 Arab Revolt, and Pt 2 Arabia) consists of two volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/615-616. The volumes are divided into two parts, with part 1 comprising one volume, and part 2 comprising the second volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 243; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.

A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English, French and Italian in Latin script
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File 3372/1916 Pt 2 'Arabia: French and Italian policy' [‎195r] (398/498), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/616, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100046208598.0x0000c7> [accessed 3 October 2024]

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