sep 16, 1922 - Trans-Jordan memorandum

Description:

The Transjordan memorandum, approved by the Council of the League of Nations on 16 September 1922, outlined the British plan to implement Article 25 of the Mandate for Palestine. Drafted during the March 1921 Cairo Conference, it included Transjordan within the mandate without applying provisions for Jewish settlement.

Background
After WWI, the British and French divided the Levant into three military regions: OETA North, South, and East. OETA South became Mandatory Palestine, and OETA East included Transjordan. Local councils were established in Transjordan under British guidance in 1920, but a unified administration began with Abdullah bin al-Hussein's appointment as Emir in 1921.

The San Remo conference awarded Britain the mandate for Palestine without defined boundaries. To control Transjordan without including it in the "Jewish homeland," the British included Transjordan in the mandate while preserving its autonomy, leading to Article 25 and the 1922 memorandum detailing its implementation.

Article 25
Article 25 allowed for Transjordan's exclusion from certain mandate provisions. On 16 September 1922, Lord Balfour presented the memorandum to the League of Nations, proposing to implement Article 25 as intended.

Borders
The Palestine Order in Council of August 1922 authorized the High Commissioner to define the boundary between Transjordan and Palestine. The boundary followed from two miles west of Aqaba, up the Wady Araba, Dead Sea, River Jordan, to the Yarmuk River, and to the Syrian frontier.

Exclusions and Application
The memorandum excluded Articles 4, 6, 13, 14, 22, 23, and parts of the Preamble and Articles 2, 7, and 11 from the mandate in Transjordan, notably those concerning a Jewish national home. Britain assumed full responsibility for Transjordan, ensuring its administration was consistent with applicable mandate provisions.

From then on, Britain administered west of the Jordan as Palestine and east as Transjordan, often treating them as separate mandates. In May 1923, Transjordan was granted internal self-government with Abdullah as ruler and Harry St. John Philby as chief representative.

Added to timeline:

Date: