011-27-3304 gize PREFATORY NOTE The object of this publication is to present a documented exposition of the position taken by the Government of the United States relative to "A" mandates, during the negotiations leading to the conclusion and exchange of ratifications of the American-British convention of December 3, 1924, whereby a definite understanding was reached with respect to the rights of the two Governments and their respective nationals in Palestine. The material is arranged in the following manner: I. Introduction, recapitulating the principal events and inter national agreements leading up to the conclusion of the convention, as follows: (1) Explanation of the term "Palestine"; (2) Palestine under the Turks; (3) Palestine during the World War; (4) Political situation at the end of the war; (5) British military administration, 19171920; (6) The granting of the mandate; (7) British civil administration, 1920-1925; (8) The special situation in Trans-Jordan. II. Correspondence referring to economic rights in mandated territory, consisting of notes exchanged between the United States and British Governments during the year 1920 and between the Secretary of State and the Council of the League of Nations. III. Principal documents, consisting of relative memoranda and notes exchanged between the United States and British Governments during the years 1921-1925 resulting in the signature and exchange of ratifications of the convention. IV. Complete text of the American-British Palestine mandate convention of December 3, 1924. Subsection (6), entitled "The granting of the mandate," is developed at considerably greater length than the other subsections of Section I, in the belief that a detailed presentation of the principal circumstances surrounding the granting of the mandate for Palestine is essential to a full understanding of the position taken by the United States Government in its negotiations with the British Government relating to that mandate. Certain of the documents in Section II relate more directly to Mesopotamia, but, as many of the principles developed apply to mandated territory in general, it has been deemed wise to include this material in the publication. III (7) British civil administration, 1920-1925_. (8) The special situation in Trans-Jordan___. (1) The American Ambassador (Davis) to the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Curzon), May 12, 1920‒‒‒‒ (2) The American Ambassador (Davis) to the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Curzon), July 28, 1920----- (3) The British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Curzon) to the American Ambassador (Davis), August 9, 1920---- (4) The Secretary of State to the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Curzon), November 20, 1920___. Exchange of notes between the United States and the Council of the (1) The British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Curzon) to the American Ambassador (Harvey), August 1, 1921_-. (2) Memorandum to the British Foreign Office, August 24, 1921. (3) The British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Curzon) to the American Ambassador (Harvey), December 22, 1921. Preliminary reply to (2)–– (4) The British Foreign Office (Crowe) to the American Ambassa- 53 (5) Lord Balfour to the Secretary of State, January 13, 1922. (6) The Secretary of State to Lord Balfour, January 27, 1922. (7) The American Ambassador (Harvey) to the British Secretary V |