Miscellaneous correspondence, reports, maps and other papers concerning the Middle East [‎41r] (82/220)

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty s Government ]
EASTERN.
[October 1.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
Section 1.
[164945]
No. 1.
Foreign Office Memorandum.
A CONFERENCE took place at the Foreign Office to-day, at which were
present:—
Lord Robert Cecil (Chairman).
Sir Eyre Crowe.
Major-General Thwaites (D.M.I.).
Sir Mark Sykes.
Lieutenant-Colonel Gribbon.
The French Ambassador
M. de Fleuriau.
M. Georges Picot.
I. On the proposition of Lord Robert Cecil the following statement was agreed
upon, subject to the confirmation of the British and French Governments:—
In the areas of special French interest, as described in the Anglo-French
Agreement of 1916, which are or may be occupied by the Allied forces of the
Egyptian expeditionary force, the Commander-in-chief will recognise the representative
of the French Government as his Chief Political Adviser. The functions of the Chief
Political Adviser will be as follows :—
1. Subject to the supreme authority of the Commander-in-chief, the Chief Political
Adviser will act as sole intermediary on political and administrative questions between
the Commander-iu-chief and any Arab Government or Governments, permanent or
provisional, which may be set up in aiea “A,” and recognised under the terms of
clause 1 of the Agreement of 1916 :
Provided that nothing in this clause shall be construed as denying to any person
the right of direct access to the Commander-in-chief, nor as giving the Chief Political
Adviser the right to attend military conferences or act as intermediary on military
questions between the Commander-in-chief or his staff and commander of Allied Arab
military forces.
At the same time it shall be understood that the Commander-in-chief shall
subsequently communicate to the Chief Political Adviser the substance of any official
conversation on non-military matters which may have passed directly between himself
and any person who would be entitled to approach him through the Chief Political
Adviser.
2. At the request of the Commander-in-chief, and subject to his supreme
authority, the Chief Political Adviser will be charged by the Commander-in-chief
with the establishment of such provisional civil administration in the towns of the
Syrian littoral situated in the blue area, and in the blue area in general, as may be
necessary for the maintenance of order and the facilitating of military operations.
3. Subject to the approval of the Commander-in-chief, the Chief Political Adviser
will provide:—
(a.) Staff, in order to enable him to perform his functions as intermediary, as
described in clause 1 of this paper.
(6.) Such European advisory staff and assistants as the Arab Government or
Governments set up in area “A” may require under clause 1 of the Anglo-French
Agreement of 1916.
(c.) Such personnel as may be necessary for civil duties in the littoral towns or
other parts of the blue area :
Provided that these officers will hold their posts under the supreme authority of
the Commander-in-chief, who is empowered to require the Chief Political Adviser to-
replace any advisory, administrative, or liaison officer on grounds of competence,
conduct, or discipline.
4. The Chief Political Adviser will be responsible to the Commander-in-chief for
political relations in area “ A ” and for political relations and provisional civil adminis
tration in the blue area.
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