Papers on British policy and the Arab movement [‎155v] (314/380)

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(B.)—Part Two. Desiderata.
I .—General Desiderata,
(1.) Maintenance of pre-existing British rights, relations, facilities, and other British
interests, political and economic, in this region.
(2.) A settlement of the whole of this region (which as lying between Egypt and
India is of direct interest to the British Empire) on a stable and friendly basis.
“ Stability ” means the establishment of an effective Government, or Governments, acceptable to
the populations friendliness ” means the intention of such Governments neither to pursue a policy
hostile to the British Empire nor to serve the interests of a third Power pursuing such a policy. f
(3.) That in carrying out such a settlement no arrangements shall be entered
into that are likely to prejudice seriously the good relations of the British Empire with
the Moslem world, Jewry, the Roman Catholic Church, or any other international *
body legitimately interested in the future of this region or in shrines or holy cities
situated in it.
A fortiori, all new arrangements, however desirable in themselves, are subordinate
to the maintenance of good relations with our Allies, so long as our own vital interests
are preserved.
(4.) That, in view of the above considerations, the des.red settlement shall be
secured with the least possible increase of political and military liabilities for the British
Empire.
II.— Desiderata in Different Ai'eas,
(1.) In European Turkey and Anatolia Peninsula that forms most of modern-day Turkey. His Majesty’s Government have no
interest in preventing the maintenance of an independent Turkish National State,
and the substitution of some satisfactory alternative for the Capitulations in this area;
but some effective safeguard must be found for the non-Turkish elements in the
population, and especially for the Greeks in Smyrna and other important centres on the
west coast of Anatolia Peninsula that forms most of modern-day Turkey. .
With regard to the Black Sea Straits, it is indispensable that they should be under
effective international control; but His Majesty’s Government are prepared to discuss
the methods by which this control is to be established and have not committed them
selves to any particular solution in advance.
With regard to the future of Constantinople, the establishment of such control
over the Straits would satisfy British strategical and economic desiderata. But since
the prestige with which the Ottoman Sultan is invested by the possession of
Constantinople is one of his chief supports in the retention of the Caliphate, and since
the transference of the Caliphate from the Turks to the Arabs is distinctly desirable
from the British point of view (see below), the expulsion of Turkey from Constantinople
may perhaps be regarded as a British desideratum on political grounds. In view,
however, of ancient rivalries for the possession of Constantinople, there are considerable
and, it may be, convincing objections to this course.
(2.) As regards the Dodekannese group of islands, it is desirable that they should
be accorded to Greece by some friendly arrangement between the Greek and Italian
Governments, since they are purely Greek in population. And as regards Cyprus, it
would be well that His Majesty’s Government should recover freedom to offer it if they
desire, and if that is the desire of the inhabitants, to Greece.
(3.) In Armenia it is desirable to establish an independent State that would secure
equal justice for all religions and nationalities; this State eventually to be self-
governing, but to be reconstructed for a term of years by a third Power; this Power
to be friendly to Grteat Britain, and to be capable of building up Armenia into an
effective barrier against Pan-Turanianism, and also against the aggression of foreign
Powers in the direction of the Arab countries.
For the reconstruction of Armenia by an outside Power to be effective, Armenia would need a
coast-line on the Mediterranean from which access to the interior would be feasible. So long as
equality for all elements in the population is secured, it is desirable that Armenia should be given a
wide extension in the direction of Anatolia Peninsula that forms most of modern-day Turkey. , and frhat the frontiers of the latter country should be
confined to districts where the Turks undoubtedly constitute the bulk of the population.