Occupied Enemy Territory Administration

Occupied Enemy Territory Administration
Administration du territoire ennemi occupé (French)
إدارة أراضي العدو المحتلة (Arabic)
Iidarat 'aradi al-eadui al-muhtala
1917–1920
Flags of France and the United Kingdom, as well as the flag of the Arab administration in OETA-East
Area of the OETA, according to the British Government's History of the Great War Based on Official Documents[1]
Area of the OETA, according to the British Government's History of the Great War Based on Official Documents[1]
StatusOccupied territory
Common languagesArabic, Hebrew, Ottoman Turkish, English, French
Administrators 
History 
• Established
23 October 1917
• San Remo conference
19 to 26 April 1920
• Disestablished
1920
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate
Damascus Vilayet
Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem
Beirut Vilayet
Aleppo Vilayet
Adana Vilayet
Arab Kingdom of Syria
Mandatory Palestine
Greater Lebanon
Alawite State
Turkey

The Occupied Enemy Territory Administration (OETA) was a joint British, French and Arab military administration over Levantine provinces of the former Ottoman Empire between 1917 and 1920, set up on 23 October 1917 following the Sinai and Palestine Campaign and Arab Revolt of World War I.[2] Although it was declared by the British military, who were in control of the region, it was followed on 30 September 1918 by the 1918 Anglo-French Modus Vivendi in which it was agreed that the British would give the French control in certain areas, and the Hashemites were given joint control of the Eastern area per T.E. Lawrence's November 1918 "Sharifian plan".[3]

Following the occupation of the Adana Vilayet (the region of Cilicia) in December 1918, a new territory, OETA North, was set up.[4] The administration ended in OETA West and OETA South in 1920 following the assignment of the Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon and British Mandate for Palestine at the 19–26 April 1920 San Remo conference.[5]

In OETA East, British administration ended following the withdrawal of British forces from the territory in November 1919, and the subsequent declaration of the Arab Kingdom of Syria over the same area. The area was split into two after the French defeated King Faisal in July 1920; the northern part of the territory was combined with the French-administered OETA West, and the southern part became a no man's land and later became the Emirate of Transjordan.[6]

Due to the success of the Turkish War of Independence, Marash, Aintab and Urfa sanjaks of former Aleppo Vilayet remained in Turkey after 1921. Also, Antakya and İskenderun kazas of Aleppo Sanjak in one were separated as the Republic of Hatay in 1938; the republic then instead became a part of Turkey in 1939.

  1. ^ Macmunn & Falls 1930, p. 606-607.
  2. ^ Macmunn & Falls 1930, pp. 606–607.
  3. ^ Paris 2003, p. 48.
  4. ^ Macmunn & Falls 1930, p. 623.
  5. ^ Macmunn & Falls 1930, pp. 607–609.
  6. ^ Macmunn & Falls 1930, p. 609: "The Arab zone was divided into two, the southern of which became, and remains to-day, the mandated territory of Trans-Jordan, under the rule of Abdulla, Hussein's second son. At Damascus the experiment was tried of a French-protected State under Feisal, but it speedily failed. Feisal was ejected by the French in July 1920, and Zone A linked with the Blue Zone under a common administration."

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