Middle East Committee and Eastern Committee [‎2v] (4/42)

2
Discussion took place, upon the suggestion of Sir Mark Sykes,
that a new line of demarcation should be drawn between the theatres
of operations under General Allen by and Sir lleginald Wingate
respectively. . . ,
It was suggested that, as the more energetic portion ot the
Arab forces were now operating in co-operation with Genci<il
Allen by’s forces east of the Dead Sea, these Arab forces which were
based upon Akaba should be transferred from Sir Reginald Wingate
to General Allenby. Operations in the area south of Tebuk might
continue as heretofore under the control and guidance ot Sir
Reginald Wingate. _ .
In view of the above considerations, the Committee decided
That, after consultation with the Foreign Office, the War Office
should send telegrams to General Allenby and Sir Reginald
Wingate laying down clearly the importance of separating
political responsibility in Palestine from that in Egypt and
the Hejaz as the set policy of His Majesty’s Government.
That General Allenby and Sir Reginald Wingate should be
invited to reconsider the re-allocation of duties and areas
for which each was responsible in view of this policy.
The Committee also decided—
That the Foreign Office should instruct General Clayton direct
on all questions affecting policy in Palestine, and a telegram
concerning this should be despatched to him forthwith.
Zionist Commission. 2. The Committee were informed that for some weeks past
negotiations had been in progress between the Foreign Office and
the responsible leaders of the Zionist organisation in this country
with a view to sending out a Zionist Commission to Palestine. 1 he
need of such a Commission appeared urgent for the following
reasons :—
(1.) The important political results that had accrued from the
declaration of His Majesty’s Government to the Zionists
and tlie need for putting the assurance given in this
declaration into practice.
(2.) The inadequacy of existing Zionist representations m
Egypt and Palestine.
(3.) The necessity of bringing the British authorities in Egypt
and Palestine and the Arabs into contact with the
responsible leaders of the organisation in Enlc/dc
countries.
Sir Mark Sykes pointed out that it was apparent that con
siderable uneasiness existed in Palestine and Egypt regarding the
prooress of Zionism, and this was largely due to a misunderstanding
of Zionist aims and intentions. For instance, it was thought that
Zionism involved the expropriation of Arab proprietors and the
handing over to future Jewish tutelage of Christian and Moslem
sites. ^Both these objections had been clearly and emphatically
disavowed by the responsible leaders of Zionism, who were not at
present represented in Palestine. It was pointed out that the
functions and activities of the proposed Zionist Commission must be
cl earl v subject to military considerations and to the political authority
vested in the Commander-in-Chief. It would therefore be necessary
to entrust the Commission to a British officer who would act under
the orders of the Commander-in-Chief, i e., under General Clayton.
General Macdonogh state 1 that no communication had yet been
sent by the War Office to General Allenby regarding the proposed
Zionist Commission.