Miscellaneous correspondence, reports, maps and other papers concerning the Middle East [‎26r] (52/220)

which French interests are recognised as predominant, any existing British concessions,
rights of navigation or development, and the rights and privileges of any British
religions, scholastic, or medical institutions will be maintained.
His Majesty’s Government are, of course, ready to give a reciprocal assurance in
regard to the British area.
I have, &c.
E. GREY.
[92559] No. 4.
M. Gambon to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received May 16.)
Ambassade de France, Londres,
M. le Secretaire d’etat, le lb mai, 1916.
PAR sa communication de ce jour votre Excellence m’a exprime le desir, avant
de repondre a ma lettre en date du 9 de ce mois relative a la creation d’un Etat arabe,
de recevoir I’assurance que dans les regions qui deviendront fraugaises ou dans cedes
oil les interets frangais seraient predominants, les concessions et droits de navigation,
ainsi que les droits et privileges de tons les etablissements religieux, scolaires et
medicaux britanniques, seraient maintenus. II serait entendu, par centre, que les
memes droits seraient recomms a la France par le Gouvernement du Roi dans la
sphere devolue a 1’Angieterre.
J’ai 1’honneur de faire connaitre a votre Excellence que le Gouvernement frangais
est pret a sanction ner les diverses concessions britanniques ayant date certaine
anterieure a la guerre dans les regions qui lui seraient attribuees ou qui releveraient
de son action. Quant aux etablissements medicaux, scolaires ou religieux, ils
continueraient a fonctionner comme par le passe, etant entendu toutefois qu’une
telle reserve ne comporte pas le maintien des droits de juridiction et des capitulations
dans ces territoires.
Veuillez, &c.
PAUL GAMBON.
[87247] No. 5.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir G. Buchanan.
(No. 1010.)
(Telegraphic.) Foreign Office, May 15, 1916.
YOUR Excellency’s telegram No. 603 of 28th April.
French Embassy have communicated to me text of agreement respecting Syria,
Arabia, Cilicia, &c., concluded between France and Russia, and 1 am on point of
concluding formal agreement with France, on terms with which your Excellency is
already acquainted, respecting Syria and Arabia.
To complete arrangement, it will be necessary for Russian Government and
His Majesty’s Government to conclude a formal agreement on similar lines to that
between France and Russia, and I will submit a draft to Russian Ambassador here as
soon as I learn that Russian Government share this view.
[87247] No. 6.
Sir Edward Grey to M. Gambon.
(Secret.)
Your Excellency, Foreign Office, May 16, 1916.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency’s note of the
9th instant, stating that the French Government accept the limits of a future Arab
State, or Confederation of States, and of those parts of Syria where French interests
predominate, together with certain conditions attached thereto, such as they result
from recent discussions in London and Petrograd on the subject.
I have the honour to inform your Excellency in reply that the acceptance of the
whole project, as it now stands, will involve the abdication of considerable British
interests, but, since His Majesty’s Government recognise the advantage to the general
cause of the Allies entailed in producing a more favourable internal political situation
in Turkey, they are ready io accept the arrangement now arrived at, provided that the
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