Franco-British Agreement on Northern Border
(Paulet-Newcombe Agreement, 1923)

This agreement, formalized through an Exchange of Notes between Great Britain and France signed in Paris on March 7, 1923, constitutes a preview of the detailed arrangements for the boundary line between Syria and Palestine from the Mediterranean Sea to El Hammé. This agreement ratifies the proposals of the Boundary Commission’s final report of February 3, 1922, which meticulously demarcates the border using a series of cairns and geographical features. Beyond defining the physical boundary, the agreement addresses crucial aspects such as the preservation of Syrian water rights on the Jordan River, shared fishing and navigation rights on Lakes Huleh and Tiberias and the Jordan River, provisions for potential Palestinian dam construction with compensation for affected landowners, and specific arrangements concerning the Deraa-Haifa Railway and access to Lake Tiberias at Semakh. Furthermore, the agreement acknowledges the possibility of future adjustments to the frontier between Banias and Metullah, and both governments committed to communicating the details to the League of Nations, with the agreement intended to take effect on March 10, 1923.

The following is an executive summary of the agreement. For the full agreement, click here.

The Exchange of Notes between Great Britain and France, signed on March 7, 1923, constitutes a formal agreement regarding the boundary line between Syria and Palestine from the Mediterranean Sea to El Hammé. This agreement signifies the ratification by both governments of the proposals put forth by the Boundary Commission, which completed its work in Beirut on February 3, 1922.

The agreement meticulously describes the demarcated boundary, commencing at Ras-el-Nakurah on the Mediterranean coast and extending to El Hammé in the lower Yarmuk Valley. This boundary is defined by a series of seventy-one cairns and natural geographical features like crests, the thalwegs of wadis, and straight lines connecting these points. The agreement also incorporates infrastructure, such as roads and paths, into the boundary definition in certain sections.

Beyond the physical demarcation, the agreement addresses crucial related matters. It explicitly states that existing water rights for the inhabitants of Syria concerning the Jordan River will remain unimpaired. Furthermore, Syrians and Lebanese are granted the same fishing and navigation rights as Palestinians on Lakes Huleh and Tiberias and the Jordan River between them. However, the Government of Palestine is designated responsible for policing these lakes. The agreement also grants the Government of Palestine the right to construct a dam to raise the water levels of Lakes Huleh and Tiberias, contingent upon providing fair compensation to affected landowners, with a joint commission established to resolve any disputes arising from this.

Specific provisions are included for the Deraa-Haifa Railway. The agreement ensures that Syria retains control of the railway up to Semakh, with the Semakh station designated for joint use. The section of the railway now situated in Palestine (excluding Semakh station) is granted extraterritoriality, and the Syrian government and its technical agents are guaranteed complete and unrestricted access to all railway-related activities, including policing. Additionally, special arrangements are made to facilitate the passage of persons and goods between landing stages on Lake Tiberias and Semakh Station without automatically subjecting them to Palestinian customs regulations. Syria is also entitled to build a new pier or share the existing one at Semakh on Lake Tiberias, subject to the commission’s conditions.

Finally, the British Government explicitly reserved the right to revisit the frontier between Banias and Metullah for potential readjustment through future agreements with France, aiming to establish the north road between these villages as the definitive border. The British and French governments communicated the commission’s report and the exchange of notes with the League of Nations. The agreement was intended to take effect on March 10, 1923.

Source: “Franco-British Agreement on Northern Border (Paulet-Newcombe Agreement, 1923),” ECF.