File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎63v] (124/450)

telegram relating to this meeting to the Sherif, who, he was confident, would be much
gratified.
Sir Percy Cox telegraphed on the 26th November, saying that he suggested that
we should give Ibn Saud until further notice a monthly assurance of 5,Q00L, together
with 3,000 rifles and ammunition and four machine guns. Though the military result off
his co-operation may not amount to much, the value of his moral co-operation is very
considerable, and, compared to what should be given by us to Sherif and by Turks to
Ibn Has hid, the measure of support proposed appears moderate, and Sir P. Cox trusted
that it would be accepted.
Ibn Saud had asked him to lay the following before the Government :—
In his fight with Ibn Pashid, in which Captain Shakespear was killed, he lost
enormously in rifles and material looted than after the collision. Before he could recover
from this, Turks and Ibn Rashid set tine Ajman against him, and he had a difficult
time with them. Since then protraction of war lias made his position with his tribesmen
still more difficult. Their main normal source of income is the camel trade with Syria,
and they resent stoppage of this, and wish they were not in the opposite camp to the
Turks. They are still loyal to himself, but being weak from a military point of view,
he has had the trouble of doing much more than usual in order to keep them so.
He was very grateful for the 20,000L given him last year, and for 1,000 rifles, but
former was mostly spent forthwith in liquidating debts, while he utilised the latter to arm
his permanent guards for protection of his towns. Conditions being as above, he has
not been in a position to give much military co-operation without being financed and
assisted with arms. Short of this, however, he submits that he has done all that he
can in the way of moral co-operation. Thus he has arrested Bin Faraoon, and handed
his camels over to us ; he has identified himself most publicly with us by his visit to
Koweyt and Basra, and pronouncement he made there.
In the direction of munitions, he asks for 3,000 rifles and some machine guns with
necessary ammunition. In the matter of money, he states that with the high prices
now prevailing, and the cost of transport, they will cost 1 rupee per day per man
to maintain in the field, and leaves it to us to give him such monthlv subsidy as
we feel able.
On conclusion of his visit here, be will return at once to Riadh, and is prepared
instantaneously to proceed to Qasim, where, if assisted, he will maintain 4,000 men
under arms to be employed under himself and his brother and son. If Ibn Rashid
moves towards Irak in force be will move up parallel with him towards Zobeyr, and join
up with our friendly tribes, and with a force from Koweyt. During visit here he will
warn Shaykhs of our combine, who are here to meet him, that if Ibn Rashid threatens
them in strength he will move up in their support.
If Ibn Rashid remains in Hail, Ibn Saud will remain at Qasim, and harass or attack
him as opportunity offers.
PABT II.
POLITICAL NOTES FROM THE FIELDS OF OPERATIONS.
Mesopotamia.
Major Rowlandson telegraphed to D.M.I. on the 22 nd November that an escaped
prisoner had given the following information in regard to Turkish recruiting. About
the 31st August the Turks took all the men in Bagdad from 16 to 50. In October
they unsuccessfully tried to rouse the Kurds for the defence of Diarbekr, but Rashid
Beg, a Kurd chief, joined them at Bitlis. In August he said supplies were very scarce
in Bagdad.
. PART III.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Sayid Mustapha El Idrisi.
Sir H. McMahon telegraphed [No. 1031] on the 23rd November that Sayid
Mustapha El Idrisi was then in Cairo, and seemed to think that his services as inter
mediary between Aden and Idrisi had not been recognised to the same extent as those