McMahon letters

Submitted by Avinoam Ben Dor (Israel), May 10, 2016 at 02:13

May I disagree with you on the issue of McMahon's promises as stated in your article. Please see this reference:

The letter from McMahon to Hussein dated 24 October 1915 is key. It stated on behalf of the Government of Great Britain that: *

The districts of Mersin 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 delimitation. Subject to that modification, and without prejudice to the treaties concluded between us and certain Arab Chiefs, we accept that delimitation. As for the regions lying within the proposed frontiers, in which Great Britain is free to act without detriment to interests of her ally France, I am authorized to give you the following pledges on behalf of the Government of Great Britain, and to reply as follows to your note: That subject to the modifications stated above, Great Britain is prepared to recognize and uphold the independence of the Arabs in all the regions lying within the frontiers proposed by the Sharif of Mecca.

Sincerely

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