Hussein-McMahon correspondence, 1915-1916Between the Sharif of Mecca, Hussein bin Ali and Sir Henry McMahon,

the British High Commissioner in Egypt.

The British encouraged Sharif Hussein to revolt to distract the Ottoman Empire during WWI

In return, the British promised Sharif Hussein that he would have all areas liberated from the Ottoman Empire in the Arab region except:"The two districts of Mersina and Alexandretta and portions of Syria lying to the west of the districts of Damascus, Homs, Hama and Aleppo cannot be said to be purely Arab, and should be excluded from the limits demanded."

Sykes-Picot Agreement, May 1916Between Great Britain, France and Russia

Balfour Declaration, 1917Between the British Cabinet and Zionist Federation of Great Britain

and Ireland

British government states supports the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.

However, "nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.“

Treaty of Versailles, 1919Stated that the Arab countries formally under Ottoman rule could be provisionally recognized as independent, subject to the rendering of assistance and advice by a state charged with the “mandate” for them

Britain-Iraq and PalestineFrance- Syria and LebanonCreation of an independent Turkey