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Coll 6/81 'Syria: Status of Alexandretta and Antioch.' [‎240r] (480/576)

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The record is made up of 1 file (286 folios). It was created in 17 Sep 1936-31 Aug 1939. It was written in English. 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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[This Docnment is the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Government, and should be
returned to the for officiai use.]
Decypher. British Delegation (Geneva).
December 14th 1953.
December 15th 1956.
D. 9.45 a.m.
No.16b.
R. 11. 5 a. m.
Following from Lord Cranborne:-
j
I had a talk this morning with the Tarnish Minister for
Foreign Affairs on question of Ale^sndretta. I found his at.oi cuae less
satisfactory than indications from French side had led me to
hone.
2. He indicated that there were two aspects of the problem
which had to be dealt with - fundamental problem which he agreed
must be left until the January Council and temporary measures for
the maintenance of law and order and the prevention of trouble
which it would be necessary to deal with now. Ee had had an
interview with Monsieur Vienot at which he had discussed both
these aspects.
5. So far as temporary measures were concerned he had reached
agreement with him on all but one point. Monsieur Vienot he said
had agreed that there should be a small international commission
on both sides of Turko-Syrian frontier to avoid any possibility
of incidents. Monsieur Vienot had also agreed to the setting up
of an international committee of enquiry to examine recent
incidents in the Sandjak and to be ready to deal with any future
ones.
4. There Y/as one point alone on which they had failed to
reach agreement. Turkish Minister for Foreign affairs had asked
that a very small international force should be sent to the Candjak
until

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This file documents the British response to developments regarding the status of the Sanjak [administrative district, referred to in Arabic as Liwa] of Alexandretta, including the cities of Alexandretta [İskenderun, Turkey] and Antioch [Antakya, Turkey].

The file features the following principal correspondents: His Majesty's Ambassador, Istanbul (Sir Percy Loraine, succeeded by Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen); His Majesty's Ambassador, Bagdad [Baghdad] (Sir Archibald Clark Kerr, succeeded by Sir Maurice Drummond Peterson); His Majesty's Ambassador, Paris (Sir George Russell Clerk, succeeded by Sir Eric Phipps); the British Consul, Aleppo (Archibald William Davis); the British Consul, Damascus (Gilbert MacKereth); His Majesty's Minister at Jedda (Sir Reader William Bullard); the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Anthony Eden); officials of the Foreign Office.

The correspondence includes discussion of the following:

  • The demography of the Sanjak of Alexandretta.
  • Turkey's claim for the Sanjak to be given autonomy.
  • The progression of Franco-Turkish negotiations, brokered by the League of Nations and resulting in the Sanjak's new autonomous status (in its internal affairs only), as granted in a League of Nations statute, concluded in January 1937 and brought into force on 29 November 1937.
  • Reports of both Arab and Turkish demonstrations in Alexandretta and Antioch during January 1937 (as well as Arab demonstrations in Aleppo).
  • Pressure from Syria and Iraq for the Sanjak to be partitioned between Syria and Turkey.
  • The reported registration of non-Turkish electors in the Sanjak as Turks.
  • Reported divisions in the Syrian Nationalist Government.
  • The conclusion of a treaty of friendship between France and Turkey in July 1938.
  • The announcement in September 1938 that the Sanjak of Alexandretta will in future be known as the Republic of Hatay, with Antioch as its capital.
  • The Franco-Turkish agreement regarding the change of status of Hatay to that of a Turkish province, concluded in June 1939.

The French language material in the file consists of several items of correspondence, plus copies of the aforementioned Franco-Turkish agreement (dated 23 June 1939) and the Turco-French treaty (dated 4 July 1938).

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 (286 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 (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 287; 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.

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English in Latin script
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Coll 6/81 'Syria: Status of Alexandretta and Antioch.' [‎240r] (480/576), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2154, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100049233826.0x000053> [accessed 24 April 2024]

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