Balfour Declaration - Mandates

When was the Balfour Declaration?

• 1917

What did British zionists do during WW1?

• Worked to win support of British gov for support of Jewish homeland

• Led by Charles Weizmann

What were the reasons for the Balfour Declaration?

• To please USA:

  • lots of Jews in USA who could influence the gov’s actions (high roles in US gov)

  • Britain keen to bring them into the war

• Britain would have support from Zionism if Zionist state was successful

• MAYBE:

• Protect Suez - didn’t want France in Palestine

• (Jewish colony in East of Suez = protect from rival powers who may threaten control)

• Justification for taking control of mandate

What did the Balfour Declaration promise?

• Written by Lord Balfour in a letter to Lord Rothschild

• Declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionists

• Promised British support for the ‘establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people’

What was the wording of the Balfour Declaration?

• Intentionally vague and ambiguous

• national home - not a state

• didn’t state how they would support them

What was the impact of the Balfour Declaration on Jews?

• They regarded declaration as a promise for British support to set up a state

• Encouraged immigration: 3rd aliyah (1919-1923, 40,000 Jews arrived in Palestine)

• Incentive to fight for state/legitimacy with international community

How did the Arabs respond to the Balfour Declaration?

• Seen as a massive betrayal: Britain supported Arab independence in McMahon-Hussein but now promising Zionist

• Both sides promised same land - both groups move to more extreme positions

What were most British people?

• Christians who believed Palestine was meant for Jews

Why did Britain promise both Arabs and Jews the same thing?

• Keep both of them happy - support

Who established the concept of Zionism?

• Theodor Herzl - founded by him

• Want a national home for Jews

When were Britain and France given mandates?

Details:

• 1919 by the League of Nations (Treaty of Versailles)

• Order to govern certain countries in the ME until the Arab people ready to govern for themselves

• Britain: Iraq, Transjordan and Palestine

• France: Syria and Lebanon

What was Woodrow Wilson’s principle?

• 1918: principle of self-determination

• ‘All people’s have the right to self determination’ - 14 points at the LoN

What were Britain’s aims during the mandate period?

• Exploit and access in areas

  • move oil across land bridge and link to mediterranean

• protecting Suez Canal (Palestine and Egypt)

• Build British system of government: Constitutional Monarchies (allies)

  • more supportive of sunni Arab population - worked with Hashemites

What were France’s aims during the mandate period (beginning)?

• Direct rule

• Promote and work with Maronite Christians (felt they had a connection)

What angered Arabs during this period?

• Betrayed promise of independence

• Jewish immigration to Palestine (

When did Syria declare independence and why?

• 1920: Feisal/Syria declares independence

  • 1919: establishes Syrian National Congress

  • Peace conference wrote ‘aim of Arab nationalist movements… is to unite Arabs eventually into one nation’

  • Sought full independence for a Greater Syria inc. Transjordan, Syria and Lebanon

Significance of Faisal declaring Syrian independence?

• First declaration of Pan Arab independent state

• self determination

When and what was the King Crane report?

• 1919

• Set out views of people in Syria/Palestine - conducted by USA

• Feisal Syrian National Congress - published demands

  • consti monarchy under Feisal

  • Independent Iraq

  • Opposition to Sykes-Picot and Balfour

Arab demands for independence, against foreign power (united)

What happened in Syria after the King Crane Report?

• 1921 Britain agreed to French forces invading Syria (despite Lawrence - establish feisal - liberated Damascus 1918)

  • Feisal - fought against France but inky group of 2,000 - easily defeated at Battle if Maysalun (divides also)

• Expelled Feisal from the throne

  • (betrayal to Arabs - represented B+F colonial interests over Arabs)

What did Britain establish in mandates with the Hashemites?

• Puppet states (anger Arabs - rulers seen as controlled by British)

• Hussien: King of Hejaz (not British mandate)

• Abdullah: Transjordan (Emir)

• Iraq: King Feisal

Why did Britain give Hashemites these roles?

• Give people the illusion of power

• Indirect rule

• Keep Arabs happy (Feisal after 1920 Iraqi revolt)

What was Arab nationalism characterised by?

• Unified language and culture

• Secular - identity of Arab over religion