Papers on British policy and the Arab movement [‎159r] (321/380)

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bS
admitted thereby that the clause applies retrospectively to the earlier Agreement
between her and Great Britain (No. 11).
5. In the two Agreements with Italy the following contingencies were provided
for:—
sii Total or Partial Partition of Turkey.
“ In a general way France, Great Britain (and Russia) recognise that Italy is
interested in the balance of power in the Mediterranean, and that, in case of the
total or partial partition of Asiatic Turkey, she ought to obtain an equitable share
in the Mediterranean region adjoining the province of Adalia, where Italy has
already acquired rights and interests which have been dealt with in an Anglo-
Italian Convention. The zone which will eventually be attributed to Italv will be
delimited, when the time comes, with consideration for the existing interests of
France and Great Britain.” (No. 7, Article 9.)
This article came into operation with the conclusion of the Anglo-French
Agreement (No. 11), and was duly carried out in a second Agreement with
Italy (No. 12).
(b.) The incomplete realisation of arrangements provided for in the several Agree^
ments concerning Turkey.
i£ The interests of Italy have equally to be taken into consideration in case
modifications are made in the zones of interest of the Powers.” (No. 7,
Article 9.)
This was duly taken into account in the second Agreement:—
“It is understood that, if at the conclusion of peace the advantages
contemplated in the agreements made between the Allied Powers regarding the
attribution to each of them of a part of the Ottoman Empire cannot be secured
in their entirety to one or more of the said Powers, then in any alteration or
arrangement of the provinces of the Ottoman Empire which takes place at
the conclusion of the war, the maintenance of the balance of power in the
Mediterranean shall receive equitable consideration in conformity with Article 9
of the Agreement of London, dated the 26th April, 1915.” (No. 12, Article 8.)
(c.) Maintenance of the territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire.
“ The interests of* Italy shall equally be taken into consideration in case
the territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire is maintained.” (No. 7,
Article 9.)
6. Of these three contingencies (c) (the. maintenance of Turkish integrity) is
already ruled out, and (a) (the total or partial partition of the Ottoman Empire
among the Allied Powers) is an anachronism.
The falling out of Russia, the intervention of America, and the general
development of the international situation have made the principles of nationality
and democracy and the right of self-determination, in which these principles are
translated into action, not merely one element among others in the aims of the
Allies, but the essential aim and expression of their cause.
1 his general development has profoundly affected the local situation in the Middle
East, and the native peoples themselves—Arabs, Armenians, Jewish colonists,
Nestorians, and latterly also the Greeks—who in the earlier stages of the war, and
during the greater part of the period during which the Agreements were made, were
contributing comparatively little towards their own liberation—have taken a constantly
greater part, while the Allied Powers, with the single exception of Great Britain, have
shouldered less and less of the burden of war against Turkey. (Russia has fallen out
altogether, France has contributed practically nothing since the Dardanelles, Italy
nothing at all at any stage.) Under these circumstances the only conceivable satisfac
tory settlement of the countries formerly subjected to Turkey lies along the lines of the
joint declaration recently made by the French Government and His Majesty’s
Government. The liberated peoples of Turkey are bound to have “ national
Governments and administrations, deriving their authority from the initiative and free
choice of the native populations.” Outside Powers cannot impose specific institutions
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