'Correspondence with the Grand Sherif of Mecca' [‎2v] (4/16)

Notwithstanding this ] am of opinion that it will be better now to put ofl"
action. This is due to the reasons explained here above, and to the fact that
it will be in our interests that this delay be.
Say, Ali, are yon satisfied ? Yes, sir.
7. Comimmication from Sherif of Mecca to Mr. Storrs, Oriental Secretary
to British Representative, Cairo.
To the dear honourable, may God protect him,
I present to your dear hononr my affectionate regards and respects,
and hope that you will do your best to make the enclosed note, containing
the proposed conditions, effective, as you are capable of doing.
And in this connection \ declare to you and your Government that you
need not be anxious about the ideas of the people here, because they are
closely bound to your Government by community of interests.
Do not be at pains to send aeroplanes or men-of-war to throw reports and
rumours, as was done before, because the matter is now decided.
What we desire to beg you is to open the way for the Egyptian Govern
ment to send the charitable offerings of corn for the Holy lands. I.e., Mecca
and Medina, which were stopped since last year.
For verily, the sending of this grain for this year and last would be an
important factor in laying the foundations of our mutual advantage.
This should suffice for a person of your grasp.
In conclusion 1 offer you my best salaams and respects.
^nd Ramadan 1333 (14th July 1015).
Kindly do not trouble to send any correspondence until you see the
result of our operations; except the reply to the note and its enclosure,
which should be through the bearer only; and, if you should think fit, give
him a written token to make it easy for him to reach you when we find it
necessary.
He is all right.
Unsigned.
S.—Enclosed with forefiroino 1 .
o o
To his Honour,
W hereas the whole ol the Arab nation without any exception have
decided in these last years to live, and to accomplish their freedom and
grasp the reins of their Administration both in theory and practice ; and
whereas they have found and felt that it is to the interest of the Government
of Great Britain to support them and aid them to the attainment of their
firm and lawful intentions (which are based upon the maintenance of the
honour and dignity oJ their lile) without any ulterior motives whatsoever
unconnected with this object;
And whereas it is to their (Arabs ) interest also to prefer the assistance
of the Government of Great Britain in consideration of their geographical
position and economic interests, and also of the attitude of the above-
mentioned Government, which is known to both nations and therefore need
not be emphasized ;
kor these reasons the Arab nation sees fit to limit themselves, as time is
short, to asking the Government of Great Britain, if it should think fit, for
the approval, through her deputy or representative, of the following-
fundamental propositions, leaving out all things considered secondary in
comparison with these, so that it may prepare all means necessary for
attaining this noble purpose, until such time as it finds occasion for making
the actual negotiations :—
h irstly. —England to acknowledge the independence of the Arab
countries, bounded on the north by Mersina-Adana up to the 37 c of latitude,
on which degree fails Birijik, Urfa, Mardin, Midiat, Amadia Island, up to
the border of Persia ; on the east by the borders of Persia up to the Gulf
ol Basra ; on the south by the Indian Ocean, with the exception of the