![Coll 6/43 'Pan Arab Congress 1933. Attitude of H.M.G. to a Pan Arab Movement' [‎222r] (444/1144)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000288/IOR_L_PS_12_2110_00448.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "Coll 6/43 'Pan Arab Congress 1933. Attitude of H.M.G. to a Pan Arab Movement' [‎222r] (444/1144)")
Coll 6/43 'Pan Arab Congress 1933. Attitude of H.M.G. to a Pan Arab Movement' [222r] (444/1144)
The record is made up of 1 file (570 folios). It was created in 21 Dec 1932-5 Mar 1948. 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
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
Scheme III. A federal scheme applying only to oynia,
the Lebanon, Palestine and
Transjordan
Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan
,
The essence of this scheme is that 4 £? der ^ + .^_ 1
machinery should he established to deal with po > ieS ^
as well as economic, matters affecting the fo -federal
The greater the powers which could he given to the- federal
machinery, the greater chance there would he that the^
scheme might assist towards a solution of th F
problem.
All Middle Eastern experts are agreed that if
Arab federation is to he brought about, Syria, he
Lebanon and Palestine are by far the most suitable
territories, and a start might well be made there.
’•Greater Syria” was a single unit in the past, nmer
Turkish rule. Its separation into Syria, tde L ^^ ti
and Palestine was (as the High Commissioner for Pal
has pointed out) a defiance of history^ and has eon
responsible for much trouble. There is infact an
underlying unity between the three territories. ™e
present boundaries between them are unnatural and indeed
indefensible by any accepted principles.
The difficulties are, however, very great.
(a) The French have always objected strongly to Arab
federation. The Free French will^certainly oppose any
far-reaching scheme for closer political union between
Syria and the Lebanon on the one hand and Palestine and
Transjordan
Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan
on the other. From the French point of
view this might be regarded as a manoeuvre for increasing
British influence in the
Levant
A geographical area corresponding to the region around the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
at the expense of French
influence.
y v(b) As regards Palestine, it-4rfi"-ttirrfTcult to
^ 7 how Palestine, while still a mandated State, could federate
with Syria and the Lebanon. If and when-Palestine acquires
vu . independence she will be free to^d^Pate with Syria and
the Lebanon if she so dost-nes. It is therefore arguable
that a solution of-th^rp'alestine question is an_ essential
preliminary 1 a>' dny scheme of Arab federation which is
intended to include Palestine.
(c) As regards
Transjordan
Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan
, it would be difficult
to leave
Transjordan
Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan
out of any scheme which included
Palestine, Syria and the Lebanon, but it would be equally
difficult W fit the Emir Abdullah into any such scheme.
We should have to show somehow or other that we recognised
the Emir Abdullah’s loyal services to us for the past
twenty years. Any proposals, however, that the ,Emir Abdullah
should become King of the whole area would be strongly
resisted by Ibn Saud.
For these three reasons, viz. French suspicions, the
necessity for a solution of the Palestine problem, and
the Emir Abdullah’s position, it is considered essential
to confine our proposals, at all events at first, to the
economic sphere (see Scheme V below).
About this item
- Content
This file concerns the British Government's response to the Pan-Arab movement during the 1930s and 1940s. Much of the correspondence refers to the prospect of an Arab federation, although the use of the word 'federation' is noted in some of the correspondence as being a mistranslation of the original Arabic expression, which would be more accurately represented by the words 'unification' or 'unity'.
Significant subjects of discussion include:
- Arab party politics in Palestine.
- Iraqi-Egyptian relations.
- Italian propaganda in the Middle East.
- The future of Palestine.
- Britain's post-war policy in the Middle East.
- Whether the Arab states should be induced to make a wartime declaration in favour of the democracies (i.e. the Allies).
- The formation of the Arab League (also referred to as the Arab Federation in the correspondence).
- Details of the Pact (also referred to as Covenant) of the Arab League, signed in Cairo on 22 March 1945.
- Whether representatives of the Arab League should be present at the Palestine Conference in London, in 1947, in addition to representatives of Arab states.
Notable correspondents include the following: the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; the High Commissioner for Iraq; His Majesty's Ambassador in Baghdad; the High Commissioner for Egypt; His Majesty's Ambassador in Cairo; the High Commissioner for Palestine; His Majesty's Minister at Jedda; the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; the Minister of State in the Middle East; officials of the Foreign Office, the Colonial Office, 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. , the Commonwealth Relations Office, and the Indian Political Service The branch of the British Government of India with responsibility for managing political relations between British-ruled India and its surrounding states, and by extension the Gulf, during the period 1937-47. 's External Affairs Department; Noury Said [Nūrī al-Sa‘īd], Prime Minister of Iraq; George Antonius, Lebanese-Egyptian author and diplomat.
Also included with the correspondence are the following:
- Extracts from Palestine police summaries dating from 1933 to 1936, produced by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Jerusalem.
- A printed copy of a paper on Arab federation by the Foreign Research and Press Service, dated 20 June 1941.
- Copies of documents produced by the War Cabinet's Standing Official Sub-Committee for Questions Concerning the Middle East (also referred to as the Middle East (Official) Committee), including minutes of meetings (1941-1942) and a copy of a report on Arab Federation, dated January 1942.
- A copy (in French) of the Protocol of the Preparatory Committee for the Arab Congress, dated 7 October 1944.
- Copies of the Pact/Covenant of the recently formed Arab League (consisting of a printed copy in French, distributed by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and an English translation of the full Arabic text, which includes a passage that was omitted from the French version).
The French material consists of the aforementioned Protocol and Arab League Pact, plus one item of correspondence and a copy of a newspaper extract.
The file includes two dividers which give a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. These are placed at the back of the correspondence (folios 2-3).
- Extent and format
- 1 file (570 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 571; 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. Two previous foliation sequences, which are also circled, have been superseded and therefore crossed out.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
Coll 6/43 'Pan Arab Congress 1933. Attitude of H.M.G. to a Pan Arab Movement' [222r] (444/1144), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2110, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100047229911.0x00002f> [accessed 15 July 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100047229911.0x00002f
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100047229911.0x00002f">Coll 6/43 'Pan Arab Congress 1933. Attitude of H.M.G. to a Pan Arab Movement' [‎222r] (444/1144)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100047229911.0x00002f"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000288/IOR_L_PS_12_2110_00448.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000288/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2110
- Title
- Coll 6/43 'Pan Arab Congress 1933. Attitude of H.M.G. to a Pan Arab Movement'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:6v, 9r:24v, 27r:59v, 61r:62v, 73r:78v, 82r:93v, 95r:103v, 105r:106v, 111r:111v, 113r:115v, 118r:120v, 122r:132v, 134r:152v, 158r:199v, 201r:265v, 273r:354v, 356r:381v, 384r:394v, 398r:407v, 410r:516v, 518r:565v, 567r:571v, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence