Bassett Letter facts for kids
The Bassett Letter was an important message sent by the British Government on February 8, 1918. It was addressed to Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca, who was a powerful Arab leader. Hussein had asked for an explanation about the Sykes-Picot Agreement, a secret deal that worried many Arabs.
The letter was delivered by a British officer named Lieutenant Colonel J. R. Bassett. He sent it after receiving a telegram from the Foreign Office in London. The Bassett Letter told Hussein that the publication of the Sykes-Picot Agreement was a trick by the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans wanted to make Arabs and Britain distrust each other during the Arab Revolt.
This letter was a formal way to support an earlier telegram sent to Hussein by Reginald Wingate. Wingate was the High Commissioner in Egypt, a top British official. The letter made it clear that Wingate had asked for it to be sent.
What Was the Bassett Letter?
The Bassett Letter was written in Arabic. It was later translated into English and published in a book called The Arab Awakening in 1938. The author, George Antonius, mentioned that King Hussein himself had shared copies of the original letter.
The letter aimed to reassure the Arabs. It said that the British Government was happy about Hussein's loyalty. It also said that Turkey (part of the Ottoman Empire) was trying to cause trouble. Turkey wanted Arabs to believe that the Allied Powers (like Britain) had bad plans for Arab lands. They also wanted the Allies to think Arabs might give up their dreams of freedom.
Britain's Promise to Arabs
The letter clearly stated that such tricks would not work. It said that Britain and its allies strongly supported all nations fighting for their freedom. They were determined to help the Arab people create an Arab world. This new world would have fair laws instead of the unfair rules of the Ottoman Empire. It would also have unity, overcoming problems caused by Turkish officials.
The British Government repeated its promise to help free the Arab people. They said it was their policy to make sure this freedom happened. They promised to protect Arabs who were already free. They also promised to help those still under Ottoman rule to gain their freedom.
