This resolution, consisting of the Balfour Declaration and Article 22 of the
Covenant of the League of Nations, is the basic document upon which the Mandate
for Palestine was constructed. The San Remo Resolution concerning Palestine and
the Jewish National Home was adopted at the San Remo Peace Conference on April
25, 1920 by the four Principal Allied Powers of World War I who were represented
by the Prime Ministers of Britain (David Lloyd George), France (Alexandre
Millerand) and Italy (Francesco Nitti) and by the Ambassador of Japan (K.
Matsui). The Resolution was a binding agreement between these Powers to
reconstitute the ancient Jewish State within its historic borders “from Dan to
Beersheba”, an agreement that was incorporated into the Treaty of Sevres and the
Mandate for Palestine.
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It was agreed –
(a) To accept the terms of the Mandates Article as given below
with reference to Palestine, on the understanding that there was
inserted in the proces-verbal an undertaking by the Mandatory
Power that this would not involve the surrender of the rights
hitherto enjoyed by the non-Jewish communities in Palestine; this
undertaking not to refer to the question of the religious
protectorate of France, which had been settled earlier in the
previous afternoon by the undertaking given by the French
Government that they recognized this protectorate as being at an
end.
(b) that the terms of the Mandates Article should be as follows:
The High Contracting Parties agree that Syria and Mesopotamia
shall, in accordance with the fourth paragraph of Article 22, Part
I (Covenant of the League of Nations), be provisionally recognized
as independent States, subject to the rendering of administrative
advice and assistance by a mandatory until such time as they are
able to stand alone. The boundaries of the said States will be
determined, and the selection of the Mandatories made, by the
Principal Allied Powers.
The High Contracting Parties agree to entrust, by application of
the provisions of Article 22, the administration of Palestine,
within such boundaries as may be determined by the Principal
Allied Powers, to a Mandatory, to be selected by the said Powers.
The Mandatory will be responsible for putting into effect the
declaration originally made on November 8, 1917, by the British
Government, and adopted by the other Allied Powers, in favour of
the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish
people, it being clearly understood that 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.
La Puissance mandataire s’engage a nommer dans le plus bref delai
une Commission speciale pour etudier toute question et toute
reclamation concernant les differentes communautes religieuses et
en etablir le reglement. Il sera tenu compte dans la composition
de cette Commission des interets religieux en jeu. Le President de
la Commission sera nomme par le Conseil de la Societe des Nations.
The terms of the mandates in respect of the above territories will
be formulated by the Principal Allied Powers and submitted to the
Council of the League of Nations for approval.
Turkey hereby undertakes, in accordance with the provisions of
Article [132 of the Treaty of Sevres] to accept any decisions
which may be taken in this connection.
(c) Les mandataires choisis par les principales Puissances allies
sont: la France pour la Syrie, et la Grand Bretagne pour la
Mesopotamie, et la Palestine.
In reference to the above decision the Supreme Council took note
of the following reservation of the Italian Delegation:
La Delegation Italienne en consideration des grands interets
economiques que l’Italie en tant que puissance exclusivement
mediterraneenne possede en Asie Mineure, reserve son approbation a
la presente resolution, jusqu’au reglement des interets italiens
en Turquie d’Asia. |
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