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Papers on British policy and the Arab movement [73r] (149/380)
The record is made up of 1 file (187 folios). It was created in 1 Jul 1916-7 Dec 1918. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
( THIS DOC IT MSKT 13 THE PIKOTi PTY OF HIS BP1TAKH XC BAjUSTY ’S GOVE RHI'ISHT f )
B. lv.
WAR CABIKST«
EASTISRR COlilCITT SB.
SECRET.
3.C. 1836.
EGYPT.
Decypher. General Clayton( Cairo) October 6 th, 1918 .
D, 2.50 a.m. October ?th, 19l8»
R. 8 a. m. October 8 th, 1918 .
No. 80.
V
I have just returned from Damascus. The main points of
situation are set forth in Commander-in-Chief’s telegrams Nos.
689 and 69 O to War Office. It will be seen that Arabs have
established in Damascus an Arab adrainistxation which was in being
when our troops actually entered the city. All
Pasha
An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
Ridi El
Rikabi was appointee Governor of occupied territory in areas A
and B and has been recognised by Commander-in-Chief as Military
Governor.
I proceeded to Damascus with Captain Coulondre on the
same train as Commander-in-Chief. Major Cornwallis has been
appointed British liaison officer with Arab Administration and
Captain Mercier French.liaison officer. I have consulted
Captain Coulondre and we agree that the two officers should work
entirely together and not separate their duties in .accordance
with the A and B zone as regards their dealings with the Arab
Administration. I have shown him my instructions to the British
liaison officer which include following points.
Begins. Firstly, Director of Military Operations to
maintain,close touch with his French Colleague and impress on the
Arab Administration the complete agreement existing between two
Governments, Secondly, all questions affecting the A area should
be referred to the French liaison officer and the policy should
be based on the principle that Arab Administration must look for
advice and assistance in the A area to the French Government.
Thirdly, immediate questions requiring consideration in above
oonnectiem are currency, relief of distress, public security and
restoration of normal conditions. In these and similar questions,
ho will work together with his French Colleague in order that the
latter may make representation to his own Government. Fourthly,
I have told him that he may inform the Arab Administration of the
general line of demarcation between the A and B and blue areas if
he finds it necessary to do so. Fifthly, he should remember that
while military (group undecypherable) continue all administration
is military and under supremo control of Commander-in-Chief•
Ends.
The establishment of exclusive Arab Administration is
greeted with universal acclamation but it is early yet to gauge
the rsal fooling of the population in so largo a city or to see
ttashinite influence. French influence
appears weak and the general tendency is to turn to the British
*91 everything. The policy which is being pursued
r ? f ° r thG Ara13 Adraini et rat ion to the French for all advice
wil1 necessary for French Government to
Atoini'str-.t^ 1 ?? 1 < icy a ? d to contribute generously to the Arab
the 1 sweathv n-f- ♦vDa ! 8 * 0 ” 11 ^ 1 ™ 3 that th °y can secure control and
ne sympathy of the Arab. They are evidently in br^ent need nf
three 8 1 unl^ r n?^ tatl ° n . ( ^ At present they"^"' Snly ° f
weighted La nnn ^ 8 f M - P i 00t wh0 d0 tl0t carry the necessary
gn ^ n r J rQ t unable to with authority. As resard*
the situation is difficult and is sot forth In Co^andlrlin-Chief * 8
telegram
About this item
- Content
This file contains correspondence, memoranda, maps, manuscript notes, and other papers relating to the political and territorial settlement of parts of the Middle East following the First World War. Many of the papers were collected for the attention of the Middle East Committee (later named the Eastern Committee, following the mergence of the Foreign Office's Russia Committee and the interdepartmental Persia Committee) of the War Cabinet. Contributors include officials from the War Office, Foreign Office, Admiralty, and India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , as well as indivduals such as Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence. Correspondence comes from representatives of the French and Italian governments as well as British officials in Cairo and other parts of the Middle East.
The papers deal with plans for the region presuming and following an Allied victory in the First World War and take into consideration the imperial ambitions of the victorious European Powers (France, Italy, Russia, Britain, and the United States) and the multitudinous commitments made by the British to various groups. The plans are based on evolving agreements rooted in the Sykes-Picot, or Asia Minor, Agreement between the British and French of 1916. Regions under consideration include the Hejaz (sometimes written Hedjaz), Syria, Northern Iraq, Southern Iraq, Palestine, Armenia, Turkey, the Idrisi state, Yemen, Persia, and Afghanistan. Various matters are covered in the file, but particular focus is given to plans for the Sherifian family of the Hejaz, led by King Husein [Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī], which impacted upon policy in Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and the Arabian Peninsula. Other matters include the situation between Jews and Arabs in Palestine, wartime commitments to ruling shaikhs in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , the French position in the region, and desiderata of the Government of India for any peace settlement.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (187 folios)
- Arrangement
The file is arranged in chronological order from the front to the back.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front first page with 1, and terminates at the inside back last page with 187; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Papers on British policy and the Arab movement [73r] (149/380), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F112/277, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100079857498.0x000096> [accessed 14 June 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- Mss Eur F112/277
- Title
- Papers on British policy and the Arab movement
- Pages
- 1ar:1av, 1r:14r, 14r:14v, 14v, 22r:59v, 62r:98r, 99v:120v, 125r:133v, 136r:165r, 166r:167r, 167av, 168r:173r, 175r:176v, 178r:187v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence