1.2 ​The Three Contradictory Agreements

​The Three Contradictory Agreements

• ​​McMahon-Hussein Correspondence (1915)​​

  • They agreed to help the British defeat the Ottomans (who were allies of Germany) in return for support for Arab independence after the war.

• Sykes-Picot Agreement (1916)​​

  • Secret deal between Britain and France to divide the Ottoman Empire's Arab territories after WWI, Arab hopes of independence were ignored.

  • ​France​ gained control over Syria and Lebanon.

  • ​Britain​ gained control over Iraq and Jordan.

  • ​Palestine​ would fall under international control.

• ​The Balfour Declaration (November 2nd, 1917):​​ A public statement by British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour expressing British government support for "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people." as long as this did not harm the existing Arabs.

Balfour’s motives

• He was sympathetic to Zionist ideas, He knew Lord Rothschild, Herbert Samuel (a Zionist political colleague) and Chaim Weizmann (leader of the world Zionist movement).

• ​American Support:​​ he hoped that American Zionists would put pressure on their government to send more troops to help the western front.

• ​Strategic Interests:​​ Britain sought to secure the control Suez Canal, which is crucial for British trade with India.

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