The Secret Anglo-Ottoman Treaty of 1919 in the Light of British Foreign Office Document

Year 1970, Volume: 34 Issue: 135, 451 - 462, 20.07.1970

Salâhi R. Sonyel

Abstract

Towards the middle of December, 1919, rumours began to spread around that a secret treaty was signed on uth September, 1919, between Damad Ferit, the Ottoman Grand Vizier, and three British agents, M. S. Francer, H. Morlan and G. Churchill, who pretended to be authorized official British envoys, but who were, probably three Levantines in the employment of the British Intelligence Service. The agreement, which was said to have been prepared in duplicate, approved by the Sultan Vahidettin, and exchanged between the signatories, provided as follows: The British Government undertook to guarantee the integrity and independence of the Ottoman Empire under her own mandate. Istanbul would remain the capital of the Sultanate-Caliphate. The Straits would be under the control of Britain. The Ottoman Government would not object to the establishment of an independent Kurdistan. In return, the Ottoman Empire undertook to use the moral force and authority of the Caliphate in favour of Britain in Syria, Mesopotamia, and in other Muslim countries. The British Government would assist in the efforts to pacify the sentiments against the semi-constitutional administration to be set up in Turkey for the repression of the nationalist movement. The Ottoman Empire would forfeit all her rights over Egypt and Cyprus, whereas Britain would undertake to assist the Turkish delegates at the Peace Conference. After the conclusion of peace, the Sultan would exchange a further agreement with the British Government in order to extend the provisions of Article 4 dealing with the moral force of the Caliphate, and make it more effective and all-embracing. The provisions of this agreement, too, would be kept secret.

Keywords

Ottoman Empire, British, International Relations, The Secret Anglo-Ottoman Treaty of 1919, Anglo-Ottoman Relations