ABSTRACT
The vast structure of recrimination, accusation and self-accusation which after the war was erected upon the McMahon-Husayn correspondence gives Hirtzel's words the character and status of a prophecy. The India office suggested therefore that McMahon should invite the Sharif to send a representative to Egypt in order to 'negotiate a preliminary agreement for securing the independence, rights and privileges of the Sheriff ate'. McMahon's letter to the Sharif of 25 January 1916 was the last in the correspondence to deal with territorial issues. In Maxwell's telegram of 16 October had declared that the Arab party, insist on Homs, Aleppo, Hama and Damascus being in their sphere. This telegram constitutes the first intimation to the government of the alleged demand of the Arab party that the four cities, Homs, Aleppo, Hama and Damascus, should belong to 'their sphere'. In stating this, and that Mesopotamia north of the Basra vilayet should be 'included in the negotiation'.
