File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎55r] (107/450)

r
SECRET.
51 41
l ' 1916
APPRECIATION OF ATTACHED ARABIAN
REPORT No. X ^
General Situation in Hejaz.
At TEIi a quiet and promising week, during which affairs were going well, the
situation has once more become threatening, owing to Turkish activity. The telegram
on p. 1 from the Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. deserves careful study. However, the interruption of the
railway by our aeroplanes and general Arab activity must not be discounted. The
presence of Jemal at Medina is perhaps explained by the general policy of hostility
which has been adopted towards him by the Turkish Government. He may feel that it
is up to him to do something, and may take some risks. Should matters become serious
a further report will be prepared and circulated.
F ren gh Co-operation .
From, private sources it has been ascertained that until a day or two ago neither
M. de France nor Colonel Bremond was acquainted with the purport of the Anglo-
French Agreement in regard to the Arabic-speaking areas of the Ottoman Empire.
This will explain certain views advanced by Colonel Bremond. However, the matter
has been cleared up, and fuller co-operation may be expected in future.
The Atrocities of the Turks at Alowli and Medina.
The Sheriffs protest against the Turkish atrocities through the medium of his
department for foreign affairs, seems to present an easy way of introducing the Sheriffs
independence to the world at large by means of press communiques. It is suggested
that should the Sheriffs position appear generally secure, in three or four weeks from
now, it would be a good plan to begin making occasional communiques to the press,
referring to his title and achievements. However, we should not introduce him
to the public until he is firmly established, otherwise he may become another
M. Yenizelos.
Mesopotamia.
The general sense of the telegrams from Mesopotamia is satisfactory, and exhibits
an increasino* tendency to co-operation, and treatment of Arabian affairs on the basis of
one general problem. Thus the Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. has obtained apologies to the Eastern chiefs of
a very complete kind from the Sherif, while Sir Percy Cox has just completed arrange
ments with the Anazeh, who are, properly speaking, Syrian Arabs, for interception of
caravans.
The Situation at Aden.
The news from Aden is most interesting ; however, it is too early_ to give an
oninion. If the Yemen Arabs rise against the Turks and establish an independent
Government, we can at once recognise it, and so avoid much diplomatic complication
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