The mcmahonhussein correspondence, or the husseinmcmahon correspondence, was a protracted exchange of letters 14 july 1915 to 30 january 1916 during world war i, between the sharif of mecca, husayn bin ali, and sir henry mcmahon, british high commissioner in egypt, concerning the future political status of the lands under the ottoman empire. Moreover, we the sherifs family will consider ourselves free in work and deed from the bonds of our previous declaration which we made through ali effendi. Mcmahon, in his letter to hussein of 24 october 1915, named the wilayahs of damascus, homs, hama, and aleppo as being the ottoman territories in, and to the east of which, but not to the. The mcmahonhussein correspondence concessions to france that did not extend to the four towns that alfaruqi had named. The mcmahon hussein correspondence 14 july 1915 10 march 1916 mcmahon was british high commissioner in egypt and ali ibn husain was the sherif of mecca during the first world war. Sir henry mcmahon 18621949, british high commissioner in cairo, negotiated in 191516 with husain ibn ali, the sherif of mecca. The mcmahonhussein correspondence edit main article. The mcmahonhussein correspondence began in july 1915, when sherif hussein in mecca approached the british in cairo seeking help in his resistance to the ottomans. The ottoman turks, allied with germany during the first world war, were. Husayn mcmahon correspondence 24 october 1915 mcmahon his majestys high commissioner in egypt. Mideastweb, mcmahon hussein correspondence, 19151916.
The mcmahonhussein agreement of october 1915 was accepted by palestinians as a promise by the british that after world war one, land previously held by the turks would be returned to the arab nationals who lived in that land. The mcmahon promise to hussein the balfour project. The mcmahonhussein agreement was to greatly complicate middle east history and seemed to directly clash with the balfour. Moreover, we the sherifs family will consider ourselves free in work and deed. With great cheerfulness and delight i received your letter dated the 19th shawal, 33 the 30th august, 1915, and have given it great consideration and regard, in spite of the impression i received from it of ambiguity and its tone of coldness and hesitation with regard to. Mcmahon was british high commissioner in egypt and ali ibn husain was the. To his excellency the eminent, energetic and magnanimous minister. Mcmahon, in his letter to hussein of 24 october 1915, named. Letters between hussein ibn ali and sir henry mcmahon world. The mcmahonhussein correspondence and the question of palestine show all authors.
Below is the letter sir henry mcmahon wrote to sharif hussein in october 2015. Mcmahon s promise to hussein, roger spooner summarises the effective sweeping under the imperial carpet of any mention of the mcmahon hussein correspondence. Pdf mcmahonhussein correspondence, 19151916 sir henry mcmahon to sharif hussein, 24 october 1915 the entire correspondence was published in english first by george antonius, the arab awakening london, 1938, and next in a british white paper, cmd. Mcmahonhussein correspondence in 1915 the british high commissioner to egypt, henry mcmahon, had exchanged letters with hussein bin ali, sharif of mecca, in which he had promised hussein control of arab lands with the exception of portions of syria lying to the west of the. Husseinmcmahon correspondence by alex keresztes on prezi. The mcmahonhussein correspondence, or the husseinmcmahon correspondence, was an exchange of letters 14 july 1915 to 30 january 19161 during world war i, between the sharif of mecca, husayn bin ali, and sir henry mcmahon, british high commissioner in egypt, concerning the political status of lands under the ottoman empire. Lieutenant colonel sir arthur henry mcmahon gcmg gcvo kcie csi kstj, was a british indian army officer and diplomat who served as the high commissioner in egypt from 1915 to 1917. Aug 06, 2016 lieutenant colonel sir arthur henry mcmahon gcmg gcvo kcie csi kstj, was a british indian army officer and diplomat who served as the high commissioner in egypt from 1915 to 1917. The husseinmcmahon correspondence 1916 exchange of correspondence between sharif husayn of mecca and sir henry mcmahon, his majestys high commissioner at cairo, 1916. The mcmahonhusayn correspondence and its interpretations, 19141939. Husayn mcmahon correspondence 24 october 1915 mcmahon his majestys high commissioner in egyptand the sharif of mecca in 1915 and 1916, march 16, 1939, cmd 5974.
Translation of a letter from sharif husayn of mecca to sir henry mcmahon, his. Sign in here to access free tools such as favourites and alerts, or to access personal subscriptions. Access to society journal content varies across our titles. If you have access to a journal via a society or association membership, please browse to your society journal, select an article to view, and follow the instructions in this box. As for the region lying within those frontiers wherein great britain is free to act without. Mcmahonhussein correspondence wikisource, the free. The mcmahonhussein correspondence 14 july 1915 10 march. July 14, 1915 march 10, 1916 exchange of correspondence between sharif hussein of mecca and sir henry mcmahon, british high commissioner in cairo. May 26, 2015 the confusion arose from one small phrase in the correspondence between mcmahon and hussein.
It aroused great controversy, particularly over palestine. Archived on 10 january 2015 correspondence was published in english first by george antonius, the arab awakening london, 1938, and next in a british white paper, cmd. The mcmahonhussein correspondence and the question of. As for those regions lying within those frontiers wherein great britain is free to act without detriment to the interests of her ally, france. In general terms, the correspondence effectively traded british support of an independent arab state in exchange for arab assistance in opposing the ottoman empire. Throughout the correspondence, sir henry mcmahon is at pains to explain to the sharif that the only portions of syria which great britain wished to exclude from the area of arab independence were those portions in which great britain felt that she was not free to act without detriment to the interests of her ally, france. Macmahons correspondence with sharif husayn 1915 in a letter dated the 24th of october, 1915, sir henry mcmahon, then his majestys high commissioner in egypt, promises the sharif of mecca, husayn ibn ali, to recognise and support the independence of the arabs within the territories proposed by him. Balfour declaration, statement on november 2, 1917, of british support for the establishment in palestine of a national home for jewish people.
King husseins whole life was spent in foreign affairs, and his story becomes the story of the middle east over half a century. The promises were not honoured, as they directly contradicted the promises made to the jews through the balfour declaration and between the. If you have ever taken a course on the modern middle east or the arabisraeli conflict you will have had to study the husseinmcmahon correspondence if you studied in britain you may know it as the mcmahonhussein correspondence. The mcmahonhussein correspondence 14 july 1915 10 march 1916 mcmahon was british high commissioner in egypt and ali ibn husain was the sherif of mecca during the first world war. As for the region lying within those frontiers wherein great britain is free to act without detriment to.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Shlaims blowbyblow account of husseins career reads as a somberly addictive saga. Sep 10, 2017 mcmahonhussein correspondence july 14, 1915 march 10, 1916. These territories included the arabian peninsula, syria including. A contribution to the study of fdrs wartime policy towards the ussr. It was made in a letter from the british foreign secretary to a leader of the anglojewish community and was later included in the british mandate over palestine. Mcmahon hussein correspondence july 14, 1915 march 10, 1916. Most of the controversy arises from an october 24, 1915 letter in which sir henry spelled out the exceptions britain was. Historiography of the hussein mcmahon correspondence the. The hussein mcmahon correspondence conspicuously fails to mention palestine. The following excerpt is from a letter from october. The area promised to the arabs in mcmahons letter of oct 1915 excluded. Throughout these discussions, mcmahon promised an independent arab state between iran and egypt to hussein in return for an arab revolt against the ottomans. The mcmahonhussein correspondence and the question of palestine.
Translation of a letter from mcmahon to husayn, august 30, 1915. The mcmahonhussein correspondence, or the husseinmcmahon correspondence, was an exchange of letters 14 july 1915 to 30 january 1916 1 during world war i, between the sharif of mecca, husayn bin ali, and sir henry mcmahon, british high commissioner in egypt, concerning the political status of lands under the ottoman empire. Jan 26, 2015 his majestys government are committed by sir henry mcmahons letter to the sherif on october 24, 1915, to its inclusion in the boundaries of arab independence. The mcmahon hussein correspondence concessions to france that did not extend to the four towns that alfaruqi had named. Letters between hussein ibn ali and sir henry mcmahon.
A letter from british high commissioner sir henry mcmahon. The mcmahon agreement refers to the hussein mcmahon correspondence, i. The agreement born of these discussions is the sykes pico. The mcmahonhussein correspondence, or the husseinmcmahon correspondence, was a protracted exchange of letters july 14, 1915 to january 30, 1916 1 during world war i, between the sharif of mecca, husayn bin ali, and sir henry mcmahon, british high commissioner in egypt, concerning the future political status of the lands under the ottoman empire. Husaynmcmahon correspondence international encyclopedia of. Arab nationalism had started to develop in the years immediately before world war i. Origins of the middle east conflict the mcmahonhussein. Archived on 10 january 2015 archived on 10 january 2015 correspondence was published in english first by george antonius, the arab awakening london, 1938, and next in a british white paper, cmd. The mcmahon letter from the israelarab reader, 3rd ed. From promising hussein support for an arab state in 1915 to exile to. His majestys government are committed by sir henry mcmahons letter to the sherif on october 24, 1915, to its inclusion in the boundaries of arab independence.
In the name of god, the merciful, the compassionate. Media in category mcmahonhussein correspondence the following 6 files are in this category, out of 6 total. The mcmahonhusayn correspondence has been at the heart of angloarab relations since world war i. Husseinmcmahon correspondence aftermath independent kingdom of syria march 1920august 1920 league of nations mandates lawrences post war advocacy the damascus protocol may 1915 the document which faisal bin hussein son of hussein bin ali is presented with independence from.
The mcmahon hussein correspondence chiefs, is as yet inconceivable to arab mind. The mcmahonhussein correspondence 14 july 1915 10 march 1916. Land that cannot be said to be purely arab was excluded from the agreement as far as the british were concerned. The husaynmcmahon correspondence mapped out with studied.
His majestys government are committed by sir henry mcmahon s letter to the sherif on october 24, 1915, to its inclusion in the boundaries of arab independence. Mcmahonhusain correspondence report of arabuk committee. The central figure in the arab nationalist movement at the time of world war i was hussein ibn ali, who was appointed by the turkish committee of union and progress to the position of sharif of mecca in 1908. In a series of ten letters from 1915 to 1916 mcmahon tried to attract arab support against the ottoman empire. The mcmahon hussein correspondence is a series of letters that were exchanged during world war i in which the united kingdom government agreed to recognize arab independence after the war in exchange for the sharif of mecca launching the arab revolt against the ottoman empire. Historiography of the hussein mcmahon correspondence. Before that are several articles expanding on britains duplicity over ww1 and after. Several months after the last contacts between hussein and kitchener, on july 14, 1915, the former wrote to the new high commissioner in egypt, h. Moreover, we the sherifs family will consider ourselves free in work and. Letter from sir henry mcmahon to sharif hussein, october. Husaynmcmahon correspondence 24 october 1915 mcmahon his majestys high commissioner in egypt. Mcmahonhussein correspondence military wiki fandom.
In the interest of anglofrench relations, though, a more precise agreement on the postwar partition of arab lands was needed. Here, it is examined in historical context to determine why it was so obscure and what lay in the minds of those who drafted it. The husseinmcmahon correspondence july 1915august 1916. As for those regions lying within those frontiers wherein great britain is free to act without. Toward the end of world war i, when the imminent fall of the ottoman empire was clear to the belligerents, the governments of britain and france started discussing the division of spoils. The mcmahonhussein correspondence chiefs, is as yet inconceivable to arab mind. The correspondence had a significant impact on middle eastern history during and after the war, and a dispute over. Feb 07, 2017 sykespicot agreement and the balfour declaration the 20th century world history khan academy duration. A letter from british high commissioner sir henry mcmahon to. The british argued the omission had been intentional, thereby justifying their refusal to grant the arabs independence in palestine after the war. As for those regions lying within those frontiers wherein great britain is free to act without detriment to the interests of her ally, france, i am empowered in the name of the government of great britain to give the following assurances and make the following assurances. Hussein mcmahon correspondence aftermath independent kingdom of syria march 1920august 1920 league of nations mandates lawrences post war advocacy the damascus protocol may 1915 the document which faisal bin hussein son of hussein bin ali is presented with independence from. Mcmahonhussein correspondence wikisource, the free online.
To his excellency the most exalted, the most eminentthe british high commissioner in egypt. Mcmahon agreement facts, summary, demands, overview. The husayn mcmahon correspondence refers to the ten letters exchanged between husayn ibn ali, king of hejaz c. Cmd 5974 report of a committee set up to consider certain correspondence between sir henry mcmahon and the sharif of mecca in 1915 and 1916. Mcmahon husayn correspondence 1915 1916 a t the awakening of arab nationalism and the start of the first world war 19141918, the european governments attempted to gain the sympathies of the arabs with promises of independence from the ottoman empire and other foreign powers. Ali, emir of mecca, and sir henry mcmahon, the british high commissioner in egypt. Hussein demanded that england acknowledge arab independence following the conditions of the damascus protocol. The origins of the mcmahonhussein correspondence and the subsequent official interpretations, and the controversies surrounding those interpretations are essential to the understanding of a great deal of middleeastern diplomatic history during and after the first world war, as well as of the palestinian dispute in the 1920s and 1930s. The mcmahonhussein correspondence is a series of letters that were exchanged during.
The mcmahonhussein correspondence, or the husseinmcmahon correspondence, was an exchange of letters 14 july 1915 to 30 january 1916 during world war i, between the sharif of mecca, husayn bin ali, and sir henry mcmahon, british high commissioner in egypt, concerning the political status of lands under the ottoman empire. Through the mcmahonhussein correspondence, mcmahon promised the independence of the arab countries and their inhabitants, and british readiness to approve an arab caliphate upon its proclamation. Mcmahonhussein correspondence of 1915 march 16, 1939 the argument of the arab representatives, as set forth in their memorandum dated the 23rd february, 1939, may be summarized as follows. The mcmahonhusain correspondence handed in by the united. Did the mcmahonhussein specifically promise to grant the.
But, the arabs claim the mcmahonhussein correspondence, a series of letters in 1915 and 1916 exchanged between henry mcmahon, the viceroy of egypt at the time, and sharif hussein, the guardian of mecca, outlines a promise by england to the arabs to sponsor an arab kingdom that would cover most of the arab world with hussein as king. The british government was bound to seek french agreement on promises made to sharif hussein. Mcmahonhusseincorrespondence the mcmahonhussein correspondence, or the hussein mcmahoncorrespondence,wasaseriesof tenlettersexchangedfrom14july1915to30january. Sep 10, 2017 information about this edition edition. The hussein mcmahon correspondence july 15 august 1916. Mcmahonhussein correspondence july 14, 1915 march 10, 1916. Hussein, and very many arab people, considered palestine to be purely arab. But, the arabs claim the mcmahon hussein correspondence, a series of letters in 1915 and 1916 exchanged between henry mcmahon, the viceroy of egypt at the time, and sharif hussein, the guardian of mecca, outlines a promise by england to the arabs to sponsor an arab kingdom that would cover most of the arab world with hussein as king.
Sykespicot agreement and the balfour declaration the 20th century world history khan academy duration. Sir henry mcmahon 18621949, british high commissioner in cairo, negotiated in 191516 with husayn ibn ali, the sherif of mecca. The husaynmcmahon correspondence refers to the ten letters exchanged between husayn ibn ali, king of hejaz c. As sharif, hussein was responsible for the custody of islams shrines in the hejaz and, consequently, was recognized as one of the muslims spiritual leaders. Complete document in pdf format requires acrobat reader. The mcmahonhussein correspondence is a series of letters that were exchanged during world war i in which the united kingdom government agreed to recognize arab independence after the war in exchange for the sharif of mecca launching the arab revolt against the ottoman empire. The husseinmcmahon correspondence july 15 august 1916.
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