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File 3579/1916 'Turkey: the future of Constantinople' [‎258v] (525/530)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (259 folios). It was created in 5 Sep 1916-27 Mar 1919. 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. .

Transcription

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De meme, et par necessite strategique, la partie (lu littoral asiatique comprise
entre le Bosphore, la riviere Sakharia et un point a fixer sur le golfe d’lsmid, les lies
de la mer de Marmara, les lies d’lmbros et de Tenedos devront etre incorporees a
1 ^TeT internets speciaux de la France et de la Grande-Bretagne dans la regioi|
ci-dessns designee seront scrupuleusement respectes. .
Le Gouvernement Imperial se plait a esperer que les considerations ci-dessns
seront accueillies avec sympathie par les denx Gouvernements allies. Lesdits
Gouvernements allies sont assures de rencontrer aupres du Gouvernement Imperial la
meme sympatliie pour la realisation des desseins qu’ils peuvent former en d’autres
regions de 1’Empire ottoman et ailleurs.
Retrograde, le 19 fevrier (4 mars), 1915.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
Aide-memoire communicated to M. Sazonof, March 12, 1915.
SUBJECT to the war being carried on and brought to a successful conclusion,
and to the desiderata of Great Britain and France in the Ottoman Empire and
elsewhere being realised as indicated in the Russian communication herein referred to,
His Majesty’s ^Government will agree to the Russian Government’s aide-memoire
relative to Constantinople and the Straits, the text of which was communicated to His
Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador by his Excellency M. Sazonof on the 19th February
(4th March), 1915.
Petrograd, February 27 (March 12), 1915.
Enclosure 3 in No. 1.
Memorandum.
HIS Majesty’s Ambassador has been instructed to make the following observa
tions with reference to the aide-memoire which this Embassy had the honour of
addressing to the Imperial Government on the 27th February (12th March), 1915.
The claim made by the Imperial Government in their aide-memoire of the
19th February (4th March), 1915, considerably exceeds the desiderata which were
foreshadowed by M. Sazonof as probable a few weeks ago. Before His Majesty’s
Government have had time to take into consideration what their own desiderata
elsewhere would be in the final terms of peace, Russia is asking for a definite promise
that her wishes shall be satisfied with regard to what is in fact the richest prize of the
entire war. Sir Edward Grey accordingly hopes that M. Sazonof will realise that it is
not in the power of His Majesty’s Government to give a greater proof of friendship
than that which is afforded by the terms of the above-mentioned aide-memoire. That
document involves a complete reversal of the traditional policy of His Majesty s
Government, and is in direct opposition to the opinions and sentiments at one time
universally held in England and which have still by no means died out. Sir Edward
Grey therefore trusts that the Imperial Government will recognise that the recent
general assurances given to M. Sazonof have been most loyally and amply fullilled.
In presenting the aide-memoire now, His Majesty’s Government believe and hope that
a lasting friendship between Russia and Great Britain will be assured as soon as the
proposed settlement is realised. . . ,
From the British aide-memoire it follows that the desiderata of His Majesty s
Government, however important they may be to British interests in other parts of the
world, will contain no condition which could impair Russia’s control over the
territories described in the Russian aide-memoire of the 19th February (4th March),
1915 - . . . . * r
In view of the fact that Constantinople will always remain a trade entrepot tor
South-Eastern Europe and Asia Minor, His Majesty’s Government will ask that
Russia shall, when she comes into possession of it, arrange for a free port for goods m
transit to and from non-Russian territory. His Majesty’s Government will also ask
that there shall be commercial freedom for merchant-ships passing through the
Straits, as M. Sazonof has already promised.

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Content

The volume contains papers regarding the future of Constantinople [Instanbul]. It includes: 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. minute papers; copies of correspondence between the Foreign Office and Sir George Buchanan, HM Ambassador at Petrograd [St Petersburg], and other British diplomats; draft telegrams from the Secretary of State for India addressed to the Viceroy of India; correspondence between the 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. and the Foreign Office; and other papers. Some of the correspondence is in French.

Issues discussed in the papers include: whether the Constantinople Agreement, concluded between the British, French and Russian governments in March 1915 (under the terms of which Constantinople and the Straits of the Dardanelles would be annexed to the Russian Empire), should be made public; the possible effect upon Muslims in India of the announcement of the agreement; and the question of the re-conversion of the St Sophia [Hagia Sophia] mosque in Constantinople into a Christian church.

The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 volume (259 folios)
Arrangement

The subject 3579 (Turkey: the future of Constantinople) consists of one volume, IOR/L/PS/10/623.

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 259; 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. The front and back covers, along with the two leading and two ending flyleaves have not been foliated.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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File 3579/1916 'Turkey: the future of Constantinople' [‎258v] (525/530), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/623, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100045683262.0x00007e> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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