Papers on British policy and the Arab movement [‎54r] (111/380)

Copy.
No. 165801AA4.
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FOREIGN OFFICE,
August R9th, 1917.
Your Excellency:*
In continuation of my Note of June 7th last, I hare
the honour to ouhmit to Your Excellency, for the information
of the French Government, the following ohoervations on the
Arabian Question, to which the instructions given by Your
Excellency’s Government to lionoieur Cherohali on the occasion
of hin mission to the Hedja* form an important contribution.
These instructions relate indeed only to one aspect
of thin question - that which io concerned with the Hedja*
- and on thie Monsieur Cherchali has been informed that
France, in full agreement with Great Britain, desires to
maintain the independence of the Sherif and the integrity
of hie dominions, and further that the French Government
hold that no European Power should exercise a dominant or
even a preponderating influence in the Holy Places of Islam.
His Majesty’s Government are in entire sympathy
with the spirit which animates this declaration. They have,
indeed, no wish to interfere with the complete internal
independence of King Huesein and their desires in regard
to the Holy Places are confined to securing the uninter
rupted continuance and the safe conduct of the Pilgrimage.
The general position in the Arabian Peninsular has
been on more than one occasion fully recognised by Your
Excellency's Government* I would refer Your Excellency in
thie connexion to the assurance contained in the letter
which Monsieur Jules Cambon addressed to His Majesty’s
Ambassador in Paris on the 8th of December last, in which
it is expressly stated that "the French Government con
sider, as in the past, that it is for the British Govern
ment, whose intere3t in the affairs of Arabia is prepor*
derant, to furnish the necessary contingents &c."
More recently also, in the Note communicated by
Your Excellency’s Government to Lore Bertie on the 22nd
May, relative to the fathdrawal of the French Military
Mission from Mecca, it is stated that "the Government of
the Republic are ready to admit that the proximity of
Egypt and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. create in Arabia a peculiar
situation in favour of Great Britain", and that "France
is determined to abotain from any intervention in the
internal affairs of the Arabian Peninsula".
The reason for these declarations is to be found
in the geographical,. historical, and political position
of Arabia in relation to the British Empire, which la
quite different from that of any other Power. The Arabian
Peninsula is bounded on all oideo by British possessions
or British spheres of influence. For more than 100 years
Great Britain has been established upen the Arabian penin
sula, with responsibilities that extend along the coast’
Hi a Excellency
Monsieur Cambcn,
Ac., Ac., Ac*,