THE DECLARATION OF THE SEVEN

Made on or about the 16th June, 1918. His Majesty's Government have considered the memorial of the seven with the greatest care. His Majesty's Government fully appreciate the reasons why the memorialists desire to retain their anonymity, and the fact that the memorial is anonymous has not in any way detracted from the importance which His Majesty's Government attribute to the document. The areas mentioned in the memorandum fall into four categories : 1. Areas in Arabia which were free and independent before the outbreak of war; 2. Areas emancipated from Turkish control by the action of the Arabs themselves during the present war; 3. Areas formerly under Ottoman dominion, occupied by the Allied forces during the present war; 4. Areas still under Turkish control. In regard to the first two categories, His Majesty's Government recognise the complete and sovereign independence of the Arab inhabiting these areas and support them in their struggle for freedom. In regard to the areas occupied by Allied forces, His Majesty's Government draw the attention of the memorialists to the texts of the proclamations issued respectively by the General Officers Commanding in Chief on the taking of Baghdad and Jerusalem. These proclamations embody the policy of His Majesty's Government towards the inhabitants of those regions. It is the wish and desire of His Majesty's Government that the future government of these regions should be based upon the principle of the consent of the governed and this policy has and will continue to have the support of His Majesty's Government. In regard to the areas mentioned in the fourth category, it is the wish and desire of His Majesty's Government that the oppressed peoples of these areas should obtain their freedom and independence and towards the achievement of this object His Majesty's Government continue to labour. His Majesty's Government are fully aware of, and take into consideration, the difficulties and dangers which beset those who work for the regeneration of the populations of the areas specified. In spite, however, of these obstacles His Majesty's Government trust and believe that they can and will be overcome, and wish to give all support to those who desire to overcome them. They are prepared to consider any scheme of cooperation which is compatible with existing military operations and consistent with the political principles of His Majesty's Government and the Allies.

DECLARATION TO THE SEVEN

[Translation]
His Majestys Government have considered the memorial of the Seven with great care. They fully appreciate the reasons for the desire of its authors to retain their anonymity, but the fact that the memorial is anonymous has in no way detracted from the value which His Majestys Government assign to that document. The territories mentioned in the memorial fall into four categories: (i) Territories which were free and independent before the outbreak of the War; (ii) Territories liberated from Turkish rule by the action of the Arabs themselves; (iii) Territories liberated from Turkish rule by the action of the Allied armies; (iv) Territories still under Turkish rule. With regard to the first two categories, His Majestys Government recognise the complete and sovereign independence of the Arabs inhabiting those territories, and support them in their struggle for freedom. With regard to the territories occupied by the Allied armies, His Majestys Government invite the attention of the memorialists to the proclamations issued by the commander-in-chief on the occasions of the capture of Baghdad (March 19, 1917) and of the capture of Jerusalem (December 9, 1917). These proclamations define the policy of His Majestys Government towards the inhabitants of those regions, which is that the future government of those territories should be based upon the principle of the consent of the governed. This policy will always be that of His Majestys Government. With regard to the territories in the fourth category, it is the desire of His Majestys Government that the oppressed peoples in those territories should obtain their freedom and independence. His Majestys Government will continue to work for the achievement of that object. They are fully aware of the difficulties and perils which threaten those who are striving for the [liberation] of the inhabitants of those territories. In spite of those obstacles, however, His Majestys Government believe that the difficulties can be overcome, and they are prepared to give every support to those who are striving to overcome them. They are ready to consider any scheme of cooperation which does not conflict with the military operations in hand or with the political principles proclaimed by His Majestys Government and their allies.

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENTS DECLARATION TO THE SEVEN ARABS (June 16, 1918) This Declaration was made in reply to a memorial submitted to the Foreign Office, through the Arab Bureau in Cairo, by seven Arab leaders domiciled in Egypt. The Declaration was read out by an officer of the Arab Bureau at a meeting of the seven Arab leaders, which had been specially convened for the purpose on June 16, 1918, in Cairo. The text reproduced here is my own rendering of the Arabic text which is in the possession of one of the seven memorialists. In Arab circles this Declaration is usually known as the Declaration to the Seven.

From George Antonius - The Arab Awakening - New York: Lippincott - 1938