SYKES-PICOT AGREEMENT

        LETTER FROM SIR EDWARD GREY TO COUNT BECKENDORFF, 10/23 MAY 1916

     I HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR IN LONDON COPIES OF THE NOTES

EXCHANGED BETWEEN THE RUSSIAN AND FRENCH GOVERNMENTS ON THE 26TH ULTIMO, BY

WHICH YOUR EXCLLENCY'S GOVERNMENT RECOGNISE, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE

ARRANGEMENT MADE BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND FRANCE, RELATIVE TO THE CONSTITUTION

OF AN ARAB STATE OR A CONFEDERATION OF ARAB STATES, AND TO THE PARTITION OF THE

TERRITORIES OS SYRIA, CILICIA, AND MESOPOTAMIA, PROVIDED THAT THE CO-OPERATION

OF THE ARABS IS SECURED.

     HIS MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT TAKE ACT WITH SATISFACTION THAT YOUR EXCELLENCY'S

GOVERNMENT CONCUR IN THE LIMITS SET FORTH IN THAT ARRANGEMENT, AND I HAVE NOW

THE HONOUR TO INFORM YOUR EXCELLENCY THAT HIS MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT, ON THEIR

PART, IN ORDER TO MAKE THE ARRANGEMENT COMPLETE, ARE ALSO PREPARED TO RECOGNISE

THE CONDITIONS FORMULATED BY THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT AND ACCEPTED BY THE FRENCH

GOVERNMENT IN THE NOTES EXCHANGED AT PETROGRAD ON THE 26TH ULTIMO.

     IN SO FAR, THEN, AS THESE ARRANGEMENTS DIRECTLY AFFECT THE RELATIONS OF

RUSSIA AND GREAT BRITAIN, I HAVE THE HONOUR TO INVITE THE ACQUIESCENCE OF YOUR

EXCELLENCY'S GOVERNMENT IN AN AGREEMENT ON THE FOLLOWING TERMS:---

     1. THAT RUSSIA SHALL ANNEX THE REGIONS OF ERZEROUM, TREBIZOND, VAN, AND

BITLIS, UP TO A POINT SUBSEQUENTLY TO BE DETERMINED ON THE LITTORAL OF THE

BLACK SEA TO THE WEST OF TREBIZOND.

     2. THAT THE REGION OF KURDISTAN TO THE SOUTH OF VAN AND OF BITLIS BETWEEN

MUSH, SERT, THE COURSE OF THE TIGRIS, JEZIREH-BEN-OMAR, THE CREST-LINE OF THE

MOUNTAINS WHICH DOMINATE AMADIA, AND THE REGION OR MERGA VAR, SHALL BE CEDED TO

RUSSIA; AND THAT STARTING FROM THE REGION OF MERGA VAR, THE FRONTIER OF THE

ARAB STATE SHALL FOLLOW THE CREST-LINE OF THE MOUNTAINS WHICH AT PRESENT DIVIDE

THE OTTOMAN AND PERSIAN DOMINIONS, THESE BOUNDARIES ARE INDICATED IN A GENERAL

MANNER AND ARE SUBJECT TO MODIFICATIONS OF DETAIL TO BE PROPOSED LATER BY THE

DELIMITATION COMMISSION WHICH SHALL MEET ON THE SPOT.

     3. THAT THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT UNDERTAKE THAT, IN ALL PARTS OF THE OTTOMAN

TERRITORIES THUS CEDED TO RUSSIA, AND CONCESSIONS ACCORDED TO BRITISH SUBJECTS

BY THE OTTOMAN GOVERNMENT SHALL BE MAINTAINED, IF THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT

EXPRESS THE DESIRE THAT SUCH CONCESSIONS SHOULD LATER BE MODIFIED IN ORDER TO

BRING THEM INTO HARMONY WITH THE LAWS OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE, THIS MODIFICATION

SHALL ONLY TAKE PLACE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.

     4. THAT IN ALL PARTS OF THE OTTOMAN TERRITORIES CEDED TO RUSSIA, EXISTING

BRITISH RIGHTS OF NAVIGATION AND DEVELOPMENT, AND THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF

ANY BRITISH RELIGIOUS, SCHOLASTIC, OR MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS SHALL BE MAINTAINED.

HIS MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT, ON THEIR PART, UNDERTAKE THAT SIMILAR RUSSIAN RIGHTS

AND PRIVILEGES SHALL BE MAINTAINED IN THOSE REGIONS WHICH, UNDER THE CONDITIONS

OF THIS AGREEMENT, BECOME ENTIRELY BRITISH, OR IN WHICH BRITISH INTERESTS ARE

RECOGNISED AS PREDOMINANT.

     5. THE TWO GOVERNMENTS ADMIT IN PRINCIPLE THAT EVERY STATE WHICH ANNEXES

ANY PART OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE IS CALLED UPON TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SERVICE OF

THE OTTOMAN DEBT.

                                        SIR EDWARD GREY