Sykes-Barb agreement

the agreements of Sykes-Barb , are signed secret agreements on May 16th, 1916, between the France, the Great Britain and Russia tsarist, envisaging the division of the Middle East, i.e. space ranging between the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Caspian Sea between these powers, at the end of the war according to the saying “to divide to reign”.

The agreement

The May 16th 1916, making following an epistolary preliminary work several months between Paul Cambon, Ambassador of France to London, and Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State to the Foreign Office, the agreement Sykes-Barb is concluded between the France and the the United Kingdom with Downing Street between Sir Mark Sykes, and Mr. François Georges-Barb. It envisages in the long term a cutting-up of the the Middle East, i.e. the space ranging between the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Caspian Sea, then integral part of the Ottoman Empire. The Russia tsarist takes part in the deliberations and gives its agreement, like the Italy, under the terms of the secret treaty.

Carte of the agreements Sykes-Barb

Le the Middle East is cut out, in spite of the promises of independence made with the Arab S, in 5 zones:

French restricted parking zone , of formed direct administration of the current Lebanon and the Cilicie;
Arab zone has , of French influence comprising the north of the current Syria and the province of Mosul;
British red zone , of formed direct administration of the current Kuwait and the Mésopotamie;
Arab zone B , of British influence, including/understanding the south of current Syria, the current Jordan and future the Palestine agent;
brown zone , of international administration including/understanding Saint-Jean-in Acre, Haïfa and Jerusalem.

Following the Revolution of October which reverses the State tsarist and installs the capacity Bolchevik, the new governor of Pétrograd discovers in the files of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Pétrograd a copy of the text of the treaty Sykes-Barb which it carries, in January 1918, with the knowledge of the Othoman Gouvernement, always owner of the territories concerned.

The Othoman capacity then transmits this information to the Chérif Hussein of Mecque with which had been promised, by the allies, a large Arab kingdom , so that it disengages coalition. Unpleasantly surprised by the reading of the treaty, Hussein transmits the text to the British Government with a request for explanations.

Answer of the British

The February 18th 1918 the British Government answers:
The Government of its Majesty and its allies did not give up their policy which consists in bringing their most whole contest to all the movements which fight for the release of the oppressed Nations. Under the terms of this principle, they more than are ever determined to support the Arab people in their effort to found an Arab World in which the law will replace the arbitrary Othoman and where the unit will prevail on the competitions artificially caused by the intrigues of the Turkish administrations.

The Government of Its Majesty confirms its former promises concerning the release of the Arab people.

The treaty Sykes-Barb is one of the causes of the permanent tensions which the area knows.

Implementation of the agreement

The Sykes-Barb agreement must face a double opposition: the revolt kemalist in Anatolia in opposition to the treaty of Sevres like to the installation of the Arab capacities of the Hussein Sheriff and of her sons as in Damas (that the agreement attaches to the French domination). It is thus by the weapons that this agreement will be concretized with initially a passing in Anatolia and the loss by the French of Alexandrette, also follows a fight against Fayçal to make him leave Damas, which will be made, English installing it on the Iraqi throne. It is the agreement of Sanremo which in due form ratifies and legalizes the agreement with a mandate of the SDN. France thus receives mandate of Lebanon and Syria, Great Britain of Iraq (aggrandi of Kirkuk yielded by the French in exchange of a participation in the oil profits of the area), of Transjordanie and Palestine.

External bond

Of the charts animated on the history of the Middle East since the beginning of the XXe century

To have an explanation a little more complete, to also see:
How the Ottoman Empire was cut up

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