Correspondence between Britain, France and Russia in regards to Arabia

IOR/L/PS/18/B259

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The record is made up of 10 folios. It was created in Apr 1917. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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Content

Correspondence, in English and French, between M Sazanof, Ministre des Affaires Étrangeres (Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs); Maurice Paléologue, Ambassadeur de France en Russie (French Ambassador to Russia); Paul Cambon (French Amabassador to the United Kingdom); and Sir Edward Gray, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

The correspondence relates to the agreement made by France and Great Britain for the constitution of a state or federation of Arab states which would include Syria, Cilicia and Mesopotamia, including details of the agreement itself and the signing of it by Sir Mark Sykes and Monsieur Francois Georges-Picot (British and French Diplomats who signed the Sykes-Picot agreement). Also included are discussions with the Russian Government over the treaty, and their willingness to accept it on the condition that Russia may be permitted to annex Erzeroum [Erzurum], Trébizonde [Trabzon], Van, and Bitlis;and that the regions of Kourdistan [Kurdistan] and Merga Var be ceded to them; and that in return the areas of Ala Dagh, Césarée [Kayseri], Ak-Dagh, Yildiz Dagh [Strandzha], Zara, Eghin and Kharpout [Harput] will be recognised as French.

The correspondence includes the following letters:

  • Mr Sazanof, Ministre des Affaires Étrangeres, Pétrograd to Maurice Paléologue, Ambassadeur de France en Russie,26 April 1916;
  • Maurice Paléologue, Ambassadeur de France en Russie, Pétrograd, to M Sazanof, Ministre des Affaires Étrangeres, 26 April 1916;
  • Paul Cambon, Ambassade de France (French Embassy), Londres [London] to Sir Edward Grey, 9 May 1916 (received 10 May 1916);
  • Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Office (London) to Paul Cambon, 15 May 1916;
  • Paul Cambon, Ambassade de France, Londres to Sir Edward Grey, 15 May 1916 (received 16 May 1916);
  • Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Office (London) to Paul Cambon, 16 May 1916;
  • Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Office (London) to Count Alexander Konstantinovich Benckendorff (Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom), 23 May 1916;
  • Paul Cambon, Ambassade de France, Londres [London] to Sir Edward Grey, 25 August 1916 (received 26 August 1916);
  • The Marquess of Crewe, Foreign Office (London) to Paul Cambon, 30 August 1916
  • Count Alexander Konstantinovich Benckendorff, Ambassade Impériale de Russie (Imperial Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom), Londres [London] to Viscount Grey (Sir Edward Grey), 1 September 1916
  • Viscount Grey, Foreign Office (London) to Count Alexander Konstantinovich Benckendorff, 23 October 1916.
Extent and format
10 folios
Physical characteristics

Foliation: The foliation for this description commences at folio 133 and terminates at folio 142, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present between folios 6-153; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
Type
Archival file

Archive information for this record

Access & Reference

Original held at
British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.
Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference
IOR/L/PS/18/B259

History of this record

Date(s)
Apr 1917 (CE, Gregorian)

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Correspondence between Britain, France and Russia in regards to Arabia, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/B259, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000833.0x000297> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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