The Peace to End All Peace

The Dreamland of the Armistice Wilson January 1918 (14 points): – …the other nationalities which are now under Turkish rule should be assured an undoubted security of life and an absolutely unmolested opportunity of autonomous development Wilson July 1918 (4 ends): – The settlement of every question, whether of territory, of sovereignty, of economic arrangement, or of political relationship, upon the basis of the free acceptance of that settlement by the people immediately concerned, and not upon the basis of the material interest or advantage of any other nation or people which may desire a different settlement for the sake of its own exterior influence or mastery. – What we seek is the reign of law, based upon the consent of the governed and sustained by the organized opinion of mankind.

Arab aspirations Arab Revolt reached Damascus in October 1918 Amir Faysal established Arab government Amir Faysal went to Paris in January 1919: “ the aim of the Arab nationalist movements… is to unite the Arabs eventually into one nation ” International commission to be sent to Syria

Prince Faysal in Paris

Wilson’s new ideas What type of rule should be imposed on the territories “liberated” after WWI? Wilson opposed annexation of land  mandate system; territories to be developed to the point of being able to self-govern under tutelage of mandatory powers GB and France accepted  their control of desired territories legitimized However: the wishes of the communities concerned must be known  commission France and Britain backed out  King-Crane Commission

Syrian General Congress Convened to present views to the ‘international commission’ (King-Crane) 69 representatives from Syria (Arab), Lebanon (French), Palestine (British) met in Damascus in July 1919 Resolution: – Full and absolute independence for a united Syria – Constitutional monarchy with Faisal as king – Protest against Article 22 of LoN covenant (mandate article); acceptance of ‘assistance’ from US (or Britain) – Zionist claims rejected, opposed to Jewish immigration – Annulment of Sykes-Picot Agreement and Balfour Declaration

King & Crane’s recommendations One Arab state of Greater Syria should be created Constitutional monarchy with Faysal as king USA should be its mandatory power for a limited period Drastic curtailment of the Zionist program The report was shelved by the Peace Conference secretariat and not consulted

Rejection King-Crane Commission report not published due to Anglo-French resistance Wilson preoccupied with election campaign and ill health The wishes of the Arab people conveniently forgotten

The Syrian Kingdom Fall 1919: Britain declared its intention to withdraw its troops from Syria and Lebanon  authority to be transferred to the French military Syrian declaration of independence in March 1920  not recognized by Britain and France Battle at Maysalun between Arab and French forces in July 1920  Arabs defeated “To the Arabs, this small battle represented the betrayal of Britain’s wartime promises, the bankruptcy of U.S. president Woodrow Wilson’s vision of national self- determination, and the triumph of British and French colonial self-interest over the hopes and aspirations of millions of Arabs. Maysalun was equated with original sin, when the Europeans imposed their state system on the Middle East, dividing a people who apired to unity and placing them under foreign rule against their will. The new Arab states and boundaries of the postwar settlement proved remarkably enduring. So too did the problems they engendered” (Rogan 163)

Britain and France; continuation of Eastern Question British forces occupied Palestine, Syria and Iraq Dec 1, 1918: Clemenceau and Lloyd George met in London – made a private and oral deal about the Middle East (modification of Sykes-Picot) Zionist memorandum had been submitted to the British before conference asking for Palestine to be designated as a Jewish National Home under protection of Britain

British dilemma in 1919 Self-determination approved in principle Faysal’s Arab state supported on the basis of self- determination (  French claims blocked) Jewish self-determination in Palestine supported, but Arab self-determination in Palestine rejected Balfour: Our justification … is that we regard Palestine as being absolutely exceptional; that we consider the question of the Jews outside Palestine as one of world importance and that we conceive the Jews to have an historic claim to a home in their ancient land; provided that home can be given to them without either dispossessing or oppressing the present inhabitants. (Smith, 85)

Final decisions Syria had to be given to the French because of Sykes-Picot Agreement Palestine to become “Jewish homeland”; Zionism, be it right or wrong, good or bad, is rooted in age-long traditions, in present needs, in future hopes, of far profounder import than the desires and prejudices of the Arabs who now inhabit that ancient land.” (Balfour) San Remo Conference, 1920  Syria and Lebanon given to France, Palestine and Iraq to Britain Balfour Declaration included in Palestine mandate (1922) Agreements incorporated in the Treaty of Sevres, signed by the Ottoman government in August 1920 Ratified by League of Nations, July 1920

End of Syrian Kingdom March 1920 the Syrian Congress proclaimed Syria independent with Faysal as its king April 1920; San Remo Conference  honeymoon over… July 1920; French forces defeated Faysal’s army, occupied Damascus and sent the king into exile

Kingmakers Cairo Conference, March 1921; the British had to find a way to maintain presence in region while cutting administrative costs Area east of Jordan separated from the Palestine mandate – exempt from Balfour Declaration  Abdallah made king of Transjordan 1920: Rebellion in Iraq  British searched for alternative governing model  Faysal installed as king of Iraq

Treaty of Sevres Settlement for the Middle East not reached in Paris – San Remo conference  Treaty of Sevres – Ottoman government signed on August 10, 1920 WHO WERE THE “PLAYERS AT THE TABLE”? WHO SIGNED THIS TREATY ON WHOSE BEHALF? - The Arab provinces were detached from Ottoman authority and divided between Britain and France

Self-determination From Wilson’s 14 points: XII. The turkish portion of the present Ottoman Empire should be assured a secure sovereignty, but the other nationalities which are now under Turkish rule should be assured an undoubted security of life and an absolutely unmolested opportunity of autonomous development, and the Dardanelles should be permanently opened as a free passage to the ships and commerce of all nations under international guarantees. Could the mandate system make this happen? Why? Why not?

Britain’s moment in the Middle East What were the British intentions in the Middle East? Did these intentions change? Were they consistent? Read McMahon’s second note to Sharif Husayn; what did he write about Arab independence and British involvement?

The Jewish Question Which principle did the British government support in the Balfour Declaration? Why do you think the author remarks that “no Palestinian Arab” was consulted about the Faysal-Weizmann Agreement?

The Syrian Kingdom What was a mandate? Summarize the desires of the Syrian Kingdom.

Sources Husayn-McMahon Correspondence Sykes-Picot Agreement Balfour Declaration Wilson’s 14 points Faysal-Weizmann Agreement Resolutions of the Syrian General Congress Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations