Bibliografía: The Chatham House Version and other Middle-Eastern Studies (Elie Kedourie, 1970), The Capture of Damascus, 1 October 1918 (Elie Kedourie, en Middle Eastern Studies Vol.1 No. 1, October 1964, pp. 66-83) y England and the Middle East: The Destruction of the Ottoman Empire 1914-1921 (Elie Kedourie, 1956)
La Declaración a los Siete es un documento suscrito por Henry McMahon y leído el 16 de junio de 1918 por un oficial del Arab Bureau británico en El Cairo a siete líderes sirios árabes, en el que el Gobierno Británico intenta responder a la petición de aclaración de la posición británica que esos siete le habían hecho previamente, mediante un documento anónimo que habían publicado en El Cairo.
En ese momento, la alianza de los árabes era conveniente para cubrir el flanco este en el avance británico desde Egipto hacia Siria, en ese momento dirigido por Allenby, que meses después culminaría con la entrada de Feisal, hijo del Sharif Hussein, y hermano de Abdullah, que luego sería nombrado Rey de Transjordania.
La petición de explicaciones de los árabes se produce tras publicar los rusos bolcheviques (poco después de derrocar al zar y cambiar de bando en la Primera Guerra Mundial) el denominado Acuerdo Sykes-Pikot, que podría contradecir los entendimientos entre Hussein y McMahon.
El 18 de febrero de 1918, el agente británico Teniente Coronel J. R. Bassett, siguiendo instrucciones de Sir Reginald Wingate, Alto Comisionado de Egipto británico, había respondido a la revelación del Acuerdo Sykes-Picot:
"...His Majesty's Government and their allies stand steadfastly by every cause aiming at the liberation of the oppressed nations, and they are determined to stand by the Arab peoples in their struggle for the establishment of an Arab world in which law shall replace Ottoman injustice, and in which unity shall prevail over the rivalries artificially provoked by the policy of Turkish officials. His Majesty's Government reaffirm their former pledge in regard to the liberation of the Arab peoples. His Majesty's Government have hitherto made it their policy to ensure that liberation, and it remains the policy they are determined unflinchingly to pursue by protecting such Arabs as are already liberated from all dangers and peril and by assisting those who are still under the yoke of the tyrants to obtain their freedom." (Antonius, 253 .58, 431, 432.) [y ello aunque la historia que, en general, cuenta Antonius ha sido bastante descalificada por claramente sesgada e incorrecta]
El 3 de octubre de 1918, Feisal, aliado de los británicos y que mantenía bastante proximidad con TE Lawrence que le favorecía frente a las reticencias de su padre Hussein, entra en Damasco como su conquistador y personificando la victoria de los árabes, deferencia política probablemente de los británicos, auténticos conquistadores, como ha articulado Kedourie detalladamente. De alguna manera ello contribuyó al prestigio de los británicos entre las diversas tribus árabes, que durante toda la Primera Guerra Mundial, aun inclinadas a apoyar a los británicos siempre habían estado dubitativos en cuanto al bando a apoyar, con un ojo siempre mirando al probable ganador y el otro siempre centrado en las luchas intestinas de poder entre las distintas tribus.
Inicialmente, se nombra a Feisal rey de Siria (luego lo sería de Iraq), pero en un par de semanas Allenby se ve obligado a transferir la administración de la zona costera de Siria (Líbano) de los destacamentos militares británicos a los franceses, por más que, nominalmente, estos siguieran bajo su mando supremo, todo con grave perjuicio de la posición británica entre los árabes.
Para compensar la impopularidad de esta medida entre los árabes, el Mando Militar publica el 7 de noviembre de 1918 una Declaración Franco Británica oficial (que cito más abajo).
Fuente: Cabinet Papers por intermedio de MESH
La Declaración a los Siete es la primera en que los británicos, siguiendo la estela de los Catorce Puntos de Wilson, se refiere, a su estilo, a la autodeterminación de los pueblos.
El mapa de 1918 de más abajo muestra la redistribución posterior a la Guerra Mundial de los territorios otomanos y árabes basada en el principio de la autodeterminación nacional/étnica - regla básica de la Liga de Naciones - que se plantean los británicos.
Siria, Jordania e Iraq se formaron dentro de la zona marcada como ‘Arab Countries’ a partir de mandatos otorgados a Gran Bretaña y Francia; los intentos de crear un Kurdistán independiente y un enclave Asirio Cristiano adyacente (marcado 'E' en el mapa) no llegaron a buen puerto.
THE DECLARATION TO THE SEVEN
Made on or about the 16th June, 1918.
His Majesty's Government have considered the memorial of the seven with thegreatest 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:
Areas in Arabia which were free and independent before the outbreak of war;
Areas emancipated from Turkish control by the action of the Arabs themselves during the present war;
Areas formerly under Ottoman dominion, occupied by the Allied forces during the present war;
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.
Fuente: The Anglo-French Declaration and the Declaration to the Seven, The Emergence of the Jewish Problem 1878-1939 (James Parker, Oxford University Press, 1946, p.20)
Official Franco-British Declaration,
issued on 7 November 1918
by the Military Command
(partial quotation)
The object aimed at by France and Great Britain in prosecuting in the East the war let loose by the ambition of Germany is the complete and definite emancipation of the peoples so long oppressed by the Turks and the establishment of national governments and administrations deriving their authority from the initiative and free choice of the indigenous populations.
In order to carry out these intentions France and Great Britain are at one in encouraging and assisting the establishment of indigenous Governments and administrations in Syria and Mesopotamia, now liberated by the Allies, and in the territories the liberation of which they are engaged in securing and recognising these as soon as they are actually established.
Far from wishing to impose on the populations of these regions any particular institutions they are only concerned to ensure by their support and by adequate assistance the regular working of Governments and administrations freely chosen by the populations themselves. To secure impartial and equal justice for all, to facilitate the economic development of the country by inspiring and encouraging local initiative, to favour the diffusion of education, to put an end to dissensions that have too long been taken advantage of by Turkish policy, such is the policy which the two Allied Governments uphold in the liberated territories.