Miscellaneous papers on the Near and Middle East [‎2r] (3/70)

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty s Govemment.]
SECRET.
ON the hypothesis that France and Great Britain are desirous of assisting in the
creation of an Arab State or Confederation of Arab States, the following proposals are
submitted for the consideration of the British and French Governments, after
conversations with M. Georges Picot and after consultations between the competent
departments of His Majesty’s Government.
It is understood that the putting into effect of these proposals is contingent on the
successful assistance of the Arabs and their leaders in the establishment of an Arab
State or Confederation of Arab States under the protection of France and Great
Britain ; and on their active co-operation with the Allies.
It is further understood that if the negotiations with the Arabs lead to a
satisfactory result, the proposals respecting the special interests and desiderata of
France and Great Britain respectively in the portions marked in blue and red on the
accompanying map are contingent on the consent of the Russian Government, which
Great Britain and France will endeavour to obtain, and dependent on the arrangements
which may be made in the peace negotiations respecting the future of the Ottoman
Empire.
1. That France and Great Britain are prepared to recognise and protect an
independent Arab State or a Confederation of Arab States in the areas (a) and (h)
marked on the annexed map, under the suzerainty of an Arab chief. That in area (a)
France, and in area (b) Great Britain, shall have priority of right of enterprise and
local loans. That in area (a) France, and in area (b) Great Britain, shall alone supply
advisers or foreign functionaries at the request of the Arab State or Confederation of
Arab States.
2. That in the Blue area France, and in the Red area Great Britain, shall be
allowed to establish such direct or indirect administration or control as they desire
and as they may think lit to arrange with the Arab State or Confederation of Arab
States.
3. That in the Brown area there shall be established an international administra
tion, the form of which is to be decided upon after consultation with Russia, and
subsequently in consultation with the other Allies, and the representatives of the
Shereef of Mecca. •
4. That Great Britain be accorded (1) the ports of Haifa and Acre, (2) guarantee
of a given supply of water from the Tigris and Euphrates in area (a) for area (b).
His Majesty’s Government on their part undertake that they will at no time enter into
negotiations for the cession of Cyprus to any third Power without the previous
consent of the French Government.
5. That Alexandretta shall be a free port as regards the trade of the British
Empire, and that there shall be no discrimination in port charges or facilities as
regards British shipping and British goods ; that there shall be freedom of transit for
British goods through Alexandretta and by railway through the Blue area, whether
those goods are intended for or originate in the Red area, or (B) area, or area (A);
and there shall be no discrimination, direct or indirect, against British goods on any
railway or against British goods or ships at any port serving the areas mentioned.
That Haifa shall be a free port as regards the trade of France, her dominions
and protectorates, and there shall be no discrimination in port charges or
facilities as regards French shipping and French goods. There shall be freedom of
transit for French goods through Haifa and by the British railway through the Brown
area, whether those goods are intended for or originate in the Blue area, area (a), or
area (b), and there shall be no discrimination, direct or indirect, against French
goods on any railway, or against French goods or ships at any port serving the areas
mentioned.
6. That in area (A) the Bagdad Railway shall not be extended southwards beyond
Mosul, and in area (B) northwards beyond Samarra, until a railway connecting Bagdad
with Aleppo via the Euphrates Valley has been completed, and then only with the
concurrence of the two Governments.
[232-1]