مراسلات متنوعة، تقارير، خرائط وغيرها من الأوراق المتعلقة بالشرق الأوسط [و‎‎٥‎٩] (٢٢٠/١١٨)

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Armenian territories at that time assigned to Russia, the
Turkish Armenian territories which were to he left to
Turkey, and, above all, the Armenian territories hitherto
included in the Rib sian Empire, though in 1916 there was,
of course, no idea of Russia giving them up.
4. Thus the French are now attempting, on the princi
ple of self-determination, to secure priority of political
assistance for themselves in three large territories in
which they have no footing under the Agreement, while they
maintain that the Agreement is immutable in the cases of
Syria and Northern Mesopotamia, where the application of
self-determination would probably work out to their dis
advantage.
' 5. This claim is of course monstrous, and we shall be
on very strong ground if we take the line that they must
proceed consistently either on the one basis or the other.
6. We can point out that the three Armenian areas which
the French hope, on the principle of self-determination, to
bring within their sphere, are exceedingly rich in minerals;
that they contain valuable ports and railways already con
structed, and still more promising prospects of future
construction; and that the effect will be to carry French
influence to the Black Sea and establish it along an impor
tant section of its southern littoral.
7. If self-determination is to bring the French such
vast unexpected gains, they will have little to complain
of if in Syria and R.Mesopotamia it causes them certain
losses. But if they refuse to accept these losses, and
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