Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎211r] (421/544)

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1916, the principle of self-determination should be made as far as possible the basis
of settlement of the Syrian question. In no case should the French be allowed to
utilise their political predominance in order to fortify any of the ports mentioned.”
LORD CURZON: Let us say: “It is accordingly expressly understood that
the enjoyment of a special political position does not carry with it the right to
fortify any of the Syrian ports concerned.”
(No. 7 was then omitted, and No. 8 was accepted with a slight alteration.)
PALESTINE RESOLUTIONS.
LORD CURZON: So much for Syria. Can we now run through the resolu
tions with regard to Palestine ? No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4.
MR. BALFOUR: May I say upon that that, of course, the Zionists are
vehement upon it. I cannot prevent them always running their show personally,
and I know the Prime Minister is strong upon it. I do not feel nearly so certain
that it is right. It will be said at once, “ This means you are going to control
Palestine, and largely—not indeed for pecuniary, but for strategical reasons—you
will regard Palestine as a gate to Egypt, and you will want to have control there,
and you will have to add that to the things Britain is going to get out of the general
division of enemy territojry.” I think that, is an argument that may be used
unpleasantly against us.
GENERAL SMUTS: We should not claim it in any case.
LORD ROBERT CECIL: My own feeling was that it was stated rather too
moderately.
LORD CURZON: The matter will be settled by the principle of self-
determination. You have spoken about the strong pressure exercised by the Zionists.
An equally strong pressure will be exercised by the Arabs. In a telegram I saw a
day or two ago it was stated that we should bear in mind, when considering the
claims the Zionists put forward, that their total proportion is 66,000, or something
to that effect, while the Arabs number 673,000.
GENERAL SMUTS: Between 500,000 and 600,000.
LORD ROBERT CECIL. What I feel is that it is perfectly fantastic for us to
be in all the rest of Arabia as the mandatory Power and not in Palestine. If the
Americans are put into Palestine they will get into the most awful contusion.
GENERAL SMUTS: I do not think we should claim this ourselves.
MR. MONTAGU: Is it worth while putting in at the top of these clauses a
general resolution that it is understood that Turkey has nothing to do with the&3
countries any more than a titular interest ?
MR. BALFOUR: Yes. Anything you say against Turkey has my hearty
assent.
LORD CURZON: I assumed that. We did not put it in in the case of Meso
potamia, but I am ready to do so. You wanted something about the Italians in
Syria, Mr. Balfour, did you not ?
MR . BALFOUR: May I ask if you think you are safe in regard to No. 6 ?
No. 6 says you must readjust the boundaries of Palestine. I think it ought to be
done, but are you allowed to do it by the Sykes-Picot Agreement ?
LORD CURZON: It has been understood by the French as well as ourselves
that the boundary drawn between Palestine and Syria is untenable. It does not
give to Palestine the Old Palestine.
(The Resolutions were then passed with the addition of one about the claims of
Italy.)
ARABIA.
LORD CURZON: Are we prepared to embark now upon the Arabian question,
which is an important one? It consists of two main parts. There is, firstly, what
is to be our attitude towards Hussein, the relations that we are to endeavour to