File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎13r] (23/450)

that Saud can gather the A bdah to him, and this would leave with Ibn Rashid only the
Sinjara section.
Three courses are open to us:—
1 . We might endeavour to establish an understanding between Saud and Ibn Saud
with a view to a combined attack on Ibn Rashid.
2 . Sand might be kept employed on this side endeavouring to draw the Shammar
away from Ibn Rashid, so that Ibn Saud might be the better able to attack
him on the north-east, and Ibn Shaalan from the west.
Sir P. Cox was of opinion that, in view of the Turkish guns said to be with Ibn
Rashid, not much would result from either of these courses, but thare remained:—
3. That it the Aslarn, under Ibn Tawalah, and the Abdah were prepared to back
Saud and proclaim him Emir we should give the movement our moral
support in the hope of the Shammar deserting Ibn Rashid ; we must assist
Saud financially but should make it clear that there would be no question of
troops mov mg out to his assistance.
In regard to this he said it must be remembered that Jebel Shammar has only been
independent of Nejd for seventy years, and our support of a new Emir
might not be palatable to Ibn Saud as there can be no doubt of his hope and
ambition to recover sway over it. At the same time it would be greatly in
the interests of ourselves and the King of Hejaz to eliminate Ibn Rashid,
the only remaining stand-by of the Turks in Central Arabia. It is a matter
of common knowledge that he is a hot-headed truculent youth wholly
subservient to the enemy who regard his adherence as of the highest
importance.
In regard to this Sir R. Wingate telegraphed to Sir P. Cox on the 9th January
informing him that the Arab Bureau had suggested certain objections : In regard to
the course numbered (3) above, the Bureau said that Saud was a Shubha, not a Rashid,
and his capacity to bring in the whole Shammar was doubtful. By open support of
him we saould commit ourselves to maintaining Hail against Riadh, even if the support
were only moral. The note favoured the other two courses and preferred the second on
the ground that Ibn Saud had two Rashid pretenders with him, Dhari and Faisal Ibn
Fahd : Dhari it was said was a favourite of Ibn Saud, and it seemed unlikely that
Faisal would support Saud. Sir R. Wingate expressed the opinion that these views
were deserving of serious consideration.
And on the 9 th January Mr. Chamberlain telegraphed to the Viceroy saying that if
there was a reasonable probability that the Shammar could be detached from Ibn Rashid
and used by us to military advantage, the chums of Ibn Saud to Jebel Shammar were
notstrong enough to prevent us from giving moral support to Af Subhan.
Sir Percy Cox telegraphed on the 6 th January that reliable information had been
received that a caravan from Hail had been intercepted by Saud-as-Saleh on its way to
Kerbela.* Saud is reported to have taken many rifles and some 6,000 liras from
caravan. '
SYRIA.
French Syr ian Ley ion.
The French Government is raising a foreign legion for service against Jhe Turks ;
the legion will be comprised of Syrians and Armenians, who will oe divided into groups
according to race and religion. On the 7 th January Sir R. Wingate telegraphed
[No. 20 J that the French Minister had asked whether he might recruit Syrian volunteers
in Egvpt, and send them to be trained with the Armenians in Cyprus. He saw no
objection so long as those liable to serve in the Egyptian army weie not taken , but he
did not think that many would present themselves.
* This sounds impossible; if. may be that the caravan was on its way from Kerbela to Hail.
pi)
1’HINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY C, U. 11A1UUSON.— lV/l / 1 hi 7.