The rest of the territory in question -- a huge area including modern-day Syria, Mosul in northern Iraq, and Jordan -- would have local Arab chiefs under French supervision in the north and British in the south. Also, Britain and France would retain free passage and trade in the other's zone of influence."
In one of those quirks of history, exactly 16 years later to the day, after Sykes-Picot was signed, on May 19, 1935, T.E. Lawrence, known to the world as Lawrence of Arabia, died as a retired Royal Air Force mechanic living under an assumed name.
The legendary war hero, author, and archaeological scholar succumbed to injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident six days before his death.
David Lean's film, Lawrence of Arabia, describes the cinematic moment in Lawrence's life, when he hears a description of the Sykes-Picot agreement.
In the film, Lawrence has come to the office of British General Edmund Allenby, to resign his officer's commission.
When he arrives, he finds two other men with Allenby, Prince Feisal ibn a' ¸ ¤ussein, who would later serve as king of the Arab Kingdom of Greater Syria in 1920, and as king of Iraq from 1921 to 1933.
Lawrence had led Arab troops on behalf of Prince Feisal, against the Turkish army. The second man with General Allenby is Mr. Dryden, a British diplomat.
Below is the clip from Lawrence of Arabia, followed by the script reproduced from the scene.
PRINCE FEISAL: Well, general, I will leave you. Major Lawrence doubtless has reports to make...about my people and their weakness...and the need to keep them in the British interest. And the French interest too. We must not forget the French.
GENERAL ALLENBY: I told you, no such treaty exists.
FEISAL: Yes, general, you have lied most bravely, but not convincingly. I know this treaty does exist.
MAJOR LAWRENCE: Treaty, sir?
FEISAL: He does it better than you, general. But then, of course, he is almost an Arab.
DRYDEN: (Staring at Lawrence) You really don't know?
ALLENBY: Then what the devil's this? (thrusting papers at Lawrence)
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