Papers written by Curzon on the Near and Middle East [‎17v] (34/348)

Constantinople should be settled amicably by authoritative conference and consultation.
Proposals have already been submitted to this effect.
3. The military and naval forces at Constantinople and in the occupied regions
should be maintained at full strength, and any steps or military precautions recpln-
mended by the authorities should be taken.
4. Presuming that the Italians have already accepted the mandate for the
Caucasus (though I am not aware of any existing authority for offering it to them), l
know not u hat to suggest, except that, even at the last moment, they should be asked
to desist from an act of such deplorable levity, for which no justification can be
found on any plea of local self-determination, of public or private interest, of morality,
or even of expediency.
5. If it is not too late, I would urge that the partitioning or mandatory policy be
not pursued in Asia Minor beyond the geographical limits which were the inevitable
consequences of the war. I am unable to find in the pronouncements of any of the
Allies at any stage of the war any announcement which compels us not merely to
decapitate the Turk, but to cut up and appropriate his corpse. It is more than likely
that the body will decline to be treated as a corpse at all.
6. If it is not too late, I would urge even now the abandonment of the Eastern
Commission (even though our representatives upon it are the most admirable whom it
is possible to appoint), seeing that it is equally distrusted and disliked by French and
British, and that it is more likely to aggravate than to allay the difficulties of a
situation already sufficiently threatening.
7. As a consequence of this, again, if it is not too late, and if beisal has not
already retired from Paris in a state of huff, I would endeavour to make an arrange
ment between the French, Feisal, and ourselves as ro the boundaries of the French
Syria of the future and the political status and frontiers of the Damascus State.
8. If the Commission cannot be abandoned, I would try to withdraw Palestine and
Mesopotamia from its purview, arid I would urge the coming to a decision that will
enable the contemplated administration of these countries to be provisionally, at any
rate, proceeded with. The same arguments apply to Armenia.
9. Presuming that America is to undertake the custody of Armenia, I would urge
the conclusion of an understanding between Great Britain, France, and the United
States as to the future of Cilicia.
10. I would not hesitate, if challenged, to present to the Conference our schemes
for the future administration ot Mesopotamia, and to secure their provisional agreement
to them without delay. In this way we might be able to escape in part the difficulties
and the heavy expense of another six months of military occupation.
11. Lastly, 1 would press the Peace Conference with all the insistence in my power,
as I have no doubt the British Delegation has already done, for an early recognition of
the British Protectorate of Egypt.
CURZON OF KEDLESTON.
Foreign Office, April 18, 1919.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
Review of the Situation in the Middle East, with Special Reference to the Danger of
Delag in Reaching a General Settlement.
I .—Districts more particularly affected hg the decision of the Peace Conference to send
a Commission to investigate on the spot, and to ascertain the wishes of the various
populations as to their future status.
Smyrna and, the Aidin vilayet. —For some months past we have been receiving
warnings of the danger of a serious outbreak in the Aidin vilayet. The danger here is
particularly acute, for the normal difficulty between the Ottoman Greeks and the
Moslems is complicated by cross-currents of friction and intrigue between Italians,
French, and Hellenes. The Italians are alleged to be intriguing with the Turks, giving
protection certificates to Austrian subjects, and sending them up country to make
mischief in collusion with the agents of the Committee of Union and Progress.
In Smyrna itself the French and Italians are at loggerheads, and there have been
unpleasant incidents in connection with their respective flags.