Mss Eur F112/288

This file contains papers relating to the establishment of mandates which were drawn up under Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations (signed on 28 June 1919 as part of the Treaty of Versailles that officially ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers). The papers relate chiefly to the British mandates for Palestine and Mesopotamia and the French mandates for Syria and Lebanon, known as ‘Class A’ mandates covering territory formerly controlled by the Ottoman Empire. There are also papers regarding the ‘Class B’ and ‘Class C’ mandates which applied to former German colonies in Africa, and to territories in the Pacific. The file content was generated prior to and during the League of Nations Assembly at Geneva in December and October 1920.

The file notably covers and includes the following:

• Tensions between the Foreign Office and India Office during drafting of the Mesopotamia and Palestine mandates, generated by article amendments suggested by the India Office
• Negotiations between Britain and France regarding: the northern frontier of Palestine, French territorial claims in Palestine, Mesopotamia [Iraq] and Syria, and related waterway and railway questions; and the wording of the subsequent Anglo-French Agreement 1920 establishing the borders between their Mandatory territories in the Middle East
• The wording of the Palestine mandate, in terms of recognition of ‘the historic connection of the Jewish people’ with the territory. Included are: a letter from Chaim Weizmann, President of the Zionist Organisation, to Arthur James Balfour, Lord President of the Council (ff 48-50); letters from Balfour to Lord Curzon, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, pressing the case for inclusion of a more direct statement regarding a Jewish ‘national home’ in order to secure future funding to economically develop Palestine for the Jewish people (ff 46-47, ff 92-93, ff 124-127, f 145); and Curzon’s letter to the Prime Minister expressing his sceptical views, 29 October 1920 (ff 89-91)
• Printed copies of the Mesopotamia and Palestine ‘draft declarations’ issued on 20 September 1920 and revised on 26 October 1920 by the Foreign Office, and of the versions approved by the British Government that were submitted on 7 December 1920 for the approval of the League of Nations Council (ff 7-23, ff 173-190, ff 200-204)
• Text, in French and English, of the terms of the mandate for Syria and Lebanon approved by the French Government and submitted to the League (ff 151 -166)
• Proposals for the establishment and composition of a Permanent Mandates Commission under League of Nations control (f 95)
• Mandates submitted by the British Government, on behalf of Dominion governments, for approval by the League, 14 December 1920, relating to German South-West Africa [Namibia], Nauru, ‘German Possessions in the Pacific Ocean Situated South of the Equator Other than Samoa and Nauru’ [New Guinea], and German Samoa [Samoa] (ff 207a-221)
• Discussions between British and Japanese officials regarding ‘C’ mandates, particularly Japan’s desire to guarantee ‘fair treatment’ of its subjects trading in the Territory of New Guinea, a former Pacific German Colony, when it becomes administered by the Australian Government (ff 143-144, ff 195-199)
• A memorandum submitted to the League by the German Government ‘concerning the fate of the former German Colonies’ and the ‘responsibility’ of the League under Article 22 of the Covenant, 20 December 1920 (ff 191-194)
• Discussions at the League of Nations regarding matters including: other international and territorial questions; the establishment of six commissions to discuss League business; the admission of new member states to the League; and the aims of the League.

The principal correspondents are: the Foreign Office, notably Curzon and Robert Vansittart, Assistant Secretary at the Foreign Office; members of the British Cabinet; members of the British Empire Delegation at the League of Nations Assembly in November and December 1920; and French and Japanese government officials.