Hussein bin Ali, the Sharif of Mecca, had been growing concerned by Ottoman control in the region since the completion of the Hejaz Railway in 1908. Following the Ottoman decision to join the Central Powers in the First World War, Hussein entered formal correspondence with the British High Commissioner in Egypt, Sir Henry McMahon, in which he agreed to launch a revolt against the Ottomans in return for British recognition of an independent state.

In his first letter of July 14, 1915, Hussein demanded control over the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, and parts of Mesopotamia. McMahon’s initial response expressed general agreement with Hussein’s aspirations but was deliberately vague regarding the specific boundaries of the proposed Arab state. Nevertheless, he assured Hussein that Britain was prepared to recognise and support Arab independence in return for a successful revolt against the Ottomans.

Over the course of eight further letters, the men negotiated the terms with McMahon seeking to balance British strategic interests with Hussein’s demands for territorial recognition. Key issues included the delineation of territorial boundaries and the exclusion of certain regions, such as parts of Palestine and coastal Syria, which the British intended for future negotiations with other Allied powers.

The correspondence culminated in an ambiguous agreement. While Hussein believed Britain had agreed to recognise a vast independent Arab state, the British maintained that certain areas were excluded. This ambiguity would fuel later tensions and conflict in the Middle East. Nevertheless, the McMahonHussein Correspondence resulted in the successful Arab Revolt, which began in June 1916.