17 



-question of the Straits and Constantinople, in accordance with 

 Russia's desires. The Imperial Government fully appreciates the 

 sentiments of the British Government and feels certain that a 

 sincere recognition of mutual interests will secure for ever the firm 

 friendship between Eussia and Great Britain. 



Having already given its promise respecting the conditions 

 of trade in the Straits and Constantinople, the Imperial Govern- 

 ment sees no objection to confirming its assent to the establish- 

 ment of (1) free transit through Constantinople for all goods not 

 proceeding from or proceeding to Russia, and (2) free passage 

 through the Straits for merchant vessels. (Signed) SAZONOFF- 

 (Manchetter Guardian, December 12, 1917.) 



VI. TURKEY IN ASIA. 



Memorandum (dated March 6, 1917) of an agreement arrived at 

 between Britain, France, and Rustia in the Spring of J916. 



As a result of negotiations which took place in London and 

 Petrograd in the Spring of 1916, the Allied British, French, and 

 Russian Governments came to an agreement as regards the future 

 delimitation of their respective zones of influence and territorial 

 acquisitions in Asiatic Turkey, as well as the formaton in Arabia 

 of an independent Arab State, or a federation of Arab States. The 

 general principles of the agreement are as follows : 



Russia obtains the provinces of Erzerum, Trebizond, Van, 

 and Bitlis, as well as territory in the southern part of Kurdistan 

 along the line Mush-Sert-Ibn-Omar-Amadjie-Persian frontier. The 

 limit of Russian acquisitions on the Black Sea coast would be 

 fixed later on at a point lying west of Trebizond. 



France obtains the coastal strip of Syria, the vilayet of Adana, 

 and a territory bounded on the south by a line Aintab-Mardin to 

 the future Russian frontier, and on the north by a line Ala-Dagh- 

 Zara-Egin-Kharput. 



Great Britain obtains the southern part of Mesopotamia, 

 with Bagdad, and stipulates for herself in Syria the ports of Haifa 

 and Akka. 



By agreement between France and England the zone between 

 the French and British territories forms a confederation cf Arab 

 States, or one independent Arab State, the zones of influence in 

 which are determined at the same time. 



Alexandretta is proclaimed a free port. 



With a view to securing the religious interests of the Entente 

 Powers, Palestine, with the holy places, is separated from Turkish 



