The Manchester Guardian Publishes Details of the Sykes-Picot Agreement
Everyone wants peace in the Middle East. But no one talks about why there isn’t peace there in the first place.
Hello, and welcome to On This Date, Some Years Back. Today is November 26, 2017, and on this date, 100 years back, in 1917, the Manchester Guardian newspaper published the full text of the Sykes-Picot Agreement, detailing how the victorious allies would handle Middle Eastern territories in the aftermath of World War I.
World War I was largely fought between the Triple Entente, consisting of France, Russia, and the United Kingdom, and their numerous allies against the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire. We’ll be focusing on the Ottoman Empire.
The Ottomans, who controlled much of the Middle East, launched a surprise attack on Russia as their first act of participation in the war. This opened the Middle Eastern Theater of the war. This part of the war was most famously depicted in the David Lean epic Lawrence of Arabia, which tells of the real-life British officer T.E. Lawrence and his experiences working with Arabs to fight the Ottomans.
Before the war was even ended, the French and British were already dividing up the Middle Eastern territories. The British would get a large coastal area between the Mediterranean Sea and the River Jordan. France would get much of Syria, Iraq, and part of Turkey. They both agreed to give Russia Armenia and part of Turkey. The deal became known as the Sykes-Picot Agreement, named for its two authors. Russia agreed to the terms, and upon victory, the plan would be put into place.
After the armistice, on November 23, two Russian newspapers published the details of the agreement. Three days later, November 26, the Guardian unveiled the plan to the English speaking world.
There was nothing inherently scandalous about it. Victors in war often claimed the losers’ territories, and this was no different. The Triple Entente had all agreed to the terms. So, why was this so important?
Well, for the first time, the Western world was imposing their will on the Middle East. Arbitrary borders were being drawn with no concern shown at all for tribal and religious sects in the region. As a result, sectarian violence such as Sunni-Shia clashes. British occupation of the area carved out Israel as a home for Zionists, which has led to almost endless conflicts between Jews and Arabs.
In essence, everything that is wrong with the Middle East in 2017, is the fault of the way the Triple Entente handled the territory one hundred years ago. In fast, ISIL leaders have even claimed that one of their intentions is to undo the damage the Sykes-Picot Agreement wrought upon their lands.
And there are still no easy answers.
Thanks for reading, and be sure to check back tomorrow for the last executions for a crime that isn’t even a crime anymore. And rightfully so.
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