World War I and Palestine: Britain’s Conflicting Promises IAFS/JWST 3650

Announcements Ronit Avni, “My Neighborhood” discussion and screening, Mon, 18 Feb, 3-3:50pm RSVP: (space is limited)

Outline British interests in West Asia Ottoman decline Orientalism and Lawrence of Arabia World War I Conflicting British promises

British Interests in the Middle East Access to India – initially, overland passage to India – post-1869, a quicker route via the Suez Canal

British Interests in the Middle East Protecting Suez Canal – 1882 occupation of Egypt Oil – 1908: oil discovered in Persia

Ottoman (Turkish) Empire Rising influence of Young Turks 1915: Ottoman genocide of Armenians Turkish alliance with Germany during World War I

Edward Said’s Theory of Orientalism An academic field A style of thought based on a distinction between the Oriental and “us” A Western style of rule over the Orient

Where is the “Orient”? In Orientalists’ heads Originally, India and the Middle East All of “Far East”—India, Japan, China, etc, and the “Muslim world”

What are “Orientals” like (according to Orientalists)? Orientals: –Childlike –Irrational –Dishonest –Gullible yet cunning –Lazy –Incapable of order –Depraved vs. Orientalists: –Mature –Rational –Full of clarity –Direct –Noble

Said on Orientalism Based on accepted scholarly understanding Has less to do with the Orient than with the West

Critiques of Said Overly focused on Western views, rather than “Oriental” agency Overgeneralizations

Quickthink In what ways is Said’s work on orientalism relevant today?

Significance We must understand our own biases We must think about the language we use

TE Lawrence: “Lawrence of Arabia” ( ) British intelligence agent during WWI Active in Arab Revolt ( ) Pushed for Arab indepen- dence King Faisal and advisors (Lawrence 3 rd from right)

TE Lawrence: “Lawrence of Arabia” ( ) Seen as a hero in Britain Fictionalized autobiographical accounts, e.g. Seven Pillars of Wisdom Arabists’ influence

World War I 1916: Sykes-Picot Agreement 1916: Arab Revolt 1920: Treaty of Sevres and end of Ottoman Empire Sykes-Picot Plan

World War I Britain’s other conflicting World War I promises: – 1915: McMahon-Hussein correspondence – 1917: Balfour Declaration

McMahon-Hussein Correspondence ( ) Henry McMahon, British High Commissioner to Egypt Sharif Hussein, protector of Mecca and Medina McMahon’s intentional vagueness

McMahon-Hussein Correspondence ( ) “The districts of Mersina and Alexandretta, and portions of Syria lying to the west of the districts of Damascus, Homs, Hama and Aleppo, cannot be said to be purely Arab, and must on that account be excepted from the proposed limits and boundaries.... Subject to the above modifications, Great Britain is prepared to recognize and support the independence of the Arabs within the territories in the limits and boundaries proposed by the Sherif of Mecca.” --McMahon to Hussein, 24 Oct. 1915

Ottoman Administrative Districts Based on maps in Cmd (1939) “portions of Syria lying to the west of the districts of Damascus, Homs, Hama and Aleppo [must] be excepted “

Balfour Declaration (1917) Nov 1917 Arthur Balfour, British Foreign Secretary Lord Rothschild, British Jewish leader

Balfour Declaration (1917)

British motivations – Short-term: Russian and US support during WWI – Long-term: stable hold on Palestine

Conclusions British decisions made with focus on European impact, not repercussions for West Asia Despite intentional vagueness of Balfour Declaration and McMahon-Hussein correspondence, British promises not compatible