Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎228r] (455/544)

Resolution 2.— To add, the words “ if any such are found neces
sary," at the end of the Resolution.
Resolution 3 .—To excise the passage “ While it is . . . to
“ Ilejaz” and to substitute “ any European ” for “ single. ’
Resolution 4.— To substitute the word “ desirable ” for “ prefer
able,^ and to eliminate the words “ or concessions or
commercial advantages ” .... “ nor to support their
subjects in seeking suchT
Resolution 5.— To excise the last sentence, and to substitute the
following: “ equally the King of the Hejaz should not be
allowed to be represented by agents at Foreign Courts.”
Resolution G.— In line 1, to substitute the words “ Arab countries ”
for the word “ Arabs,” and at the end of the second sentence
the words *' not to be settle/1 by us ” for the words “ be left to
him to settle with the other Arab chiefs."
Resolution 7 should read as follows :—“ It is not desirable
that the King of the Hejaz should continue after the war
to be directly subsidised either by Great Britain or any other
Christian Power. The subvention formerly paid to him by
the Turks should be replaced, as far as possible, by annual
subventions from the Arab State of Syria, and possibly from,
the Arab States of Mesopotamia. These subventions might
be paid to him as Keeper of the Holy Places. There would,
however, be no objection to the payment to him of a joint
subsidy by Great Britain, France, and Italy, as Powers
ruling large Moslem populations, for protecting the interests
of their pilgrims. In any case, the King should not suffer
pecuniarily from the change in his political position.”
Resolution 8.— To insert the word “Ottoman” before the words
“ Public Debt."
Resolution 0 .—To eliminate the whole of the Resolution from
the words “ European Advisory Power” to the end, and to
substitute after “ Power,” “ but in view of its peculiar
position some .special provisions would have to be made in
thecasc of the Hejaz, meanwhile steps should be taken to pre
vent the extensive importation of arms into that country.”
Resolution 10. —To excise this Resolution.
Resolution 11 .—To adopt this Resolution, which now becomes
Resolution 10.
The Resolutions as finally adopted by the Committee were as
follows :—
Resolutions as to the Hejaz and Arabia.
1. It is desirable that the special position of Great Britain in
Arabia should be recognised by the Powers, as it has already been
by the French Government in the correspondence and negotiations of
1916 and 1917.
2. His Majesty s Government are already pledged to secure that
the Holy Places shall remain in possession of an independent
sovereign Moslem Power. It is desirable, therefore, from the point
of view more especially of Moslem sentiment, that the restrictions on
the independence and sovereignty of the King of the Hejaz should be
as few as possible, if any such are found necessary.
3. It is not desirable that the King's foreign relations should be
controlled by any European Power, and no such claim should be
made by His Majesty's Government.
4. It is desirable that the Powers should formally recognise in
a treaty the peculiar position of the Hejaz and bind themselves not
to interfere in its internal affairs, nor to seek political influence for
themselves or their subjects.
5. It would follow, and should be stipulated, that any agent
kept by the Powers in Ihe Hejaz should have no diplomatic status or
functions, but should be confined to purposes connected with the