During World War I, as the collapse of the Ottoman Empire became evident, Britain began to make plans for the colonization of Ottoman lands at the end of the war. The British made three mutually-exclusive agreements concerning Palestine, meaning it was not possible for the British to uphold the promises made in all three agreements. The British promised Palestine to the Arabs in the Husayn-McMahon Correspondence, to international administration in the Sykes-Picot Agreement, and for a Jewish national home in the Balfour Declaration.
Ten letters exchanged between July 1915 and March 1916 between Sir Henry McMahon, the British High Commissioner for Egypt, and Sharif Husayn ibn Ali, Amir of Mecca. McMahon promised Arab independence in exchange for the Arab Revolt against the Ottomans.
“Great Britain is prepared to recognize and uphold the independence of Arabs in all the regions lying within the frontiers proposed by the Sharif of Mecca”
"Article 22 of The Covenant of the League of Nations" by Allied Nations of World War I is in the Public Domain, CC0
Resolution of the Syrian General Congress at Damascus, 2 July 1919
§7 “We oppose the pretensions of the Zionists to create a Jewish commonwealth in the Southern part of Syria, known as Palestine, and oppose Zionist migration to any part of our country; for we do not acknowledge their title but consider them a grave peril to our people from the national, economical and political points of view. Our Jewish compatriots shall enjoy our common rights and assume the common responsibilities.” [emphasis author’s]
1916 secret agreement between France and Britain finalized in 11 letters between April and October
The agreement defined different zones of direct control and also influence by the British and French in the Eastern Mediterranean. The French claimed what is now Southeastern Turkey, ethnic Kurdistan, Syria, and Lebanon. The British claimed what is now Southern Israel, Jordan, and Iraq. Palestine from Gaza to Acre, and inland to the Dead Sea was to be an international zone of influence to be determined at a later date, anticipating Russian objections to this division.
"Map of Eastern Turkey in Asia, Syria and Western Persia" by Royal Geographical Society, Mark Sykes, and François Georges-Picot is in the Public Domain, CC0
Zones in blue and labeled “A” represent French control.
Zones in red and labeled “B” represent British control.
The zone in yellow covers Palestine from Gaza to Acre, inland to the Dead Sea, was planned to represent a zone of international control.
11/2/1917 Letter from Foreign Secretary Lord Balfour to Lord Rothschild
"His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country." [emphasis author's]
