File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎77r] (151/450)

(4.) British Military Mission.
H i at there should be a small expert military staff at Eabegh is a matter of great
urgency, as its functions would be the superintendence of the organisation of the trained
bands and the appreciation of, and advising on, the military situation. Colonel
Newcombe should be sent as soon as possible, with an engineer officer and an artillery
officer, and, if possible, his assistants should have had previous experience of Arabs.
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. asked for the confirmation by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
of his pnposed course of action.
The instructions from the Foreign Office referred to above were sent on the
6 th^ November, being to the following effect : The recent emergency at Eabegh was
sufficient to show that, when essential issues were involved, the principle of not allowing
Christians in Hejaz must be abandoned. 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. therefore should inform the
Sherif that he had been entrusted with the supervision of military assistance to the
Arabs ; tha't the pivot of the present situation was clearly Eabegh, which, provided
they had their Christian officers and technical personnel, could be secured by French
and Sudanese troops and artillery ; and that therefore, if he wished to protect Eabegh
and the road to Mecca, the Sherif must give the strictest orders for complete facilities
for the British and French units at Eabegh, who would have to be entirely withdrawn
if there were any difficulties. As regarded the French troops at Eabegh, a note had
been received from the French Government which the Secretary of State interpreted as
giving 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. a free hand, and he was so informing the French Government.
The War Committee^ Proposal. p/:. •
In regard to this, Sir F. Wingate telegraphed [No. 5] on the 7th November that
the scheme proposed by the War Committee was not practicable. Great difficulty was
experienced in keeping the Sudanese units up to establishment, and the only means of
increasing the supply rapidly would be to adopt conscription ; and this would not be
advisable, as the steps necessary for enforcing it inevitably arouse bitter recollections
in the mind of the older natives, and fear and resentment in that of the younger. The
effect would be to excite fanaticism, and also hostility to the British Government.
Nuri Shaalan.
Sir H. McMahon telegraphed [No. 977] on the 6 th November that Colonel Wilson
bad informed him that the Sherif had heard from Faisal that the Arab chief, Nun
Sha’alan, had revolted against the Turks, and had had a fight with their troops, which
he had defeated.
The Coronation.
Sir H. McMahon telegraphed [No. 978] on the 6 th November, that Colonel Wilson
had telegraphed that he had been privately informed by Abdulla that the Sherif was
crowned on the morning of the 4th November, and that 60,000 people acknowledged
him King.
On the day of the coronation 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. telegraphed [No. 2 ] that Colonel Wilson
had reported conversations which had taken place between himself and Abdulla m
regard to the assumption of the regal dignity. Abdulla said the royal style had been
assumed in compliance with the request of the Hejaz shaykhs, and that his action was
not only for the good of his people and of Moslems in general, but also would refute
enemy reports regarding his dependence on Great Britain. The declaration had
been deferred as the Sherif had been anxious to obtain the complete confidence of
His Majesty's Government, and if his ally was dissatisfied with him, he was prepared
to resign the style he had adopted. He had no intention to interfere wuth Ibn k.aud
or other Arab chiefs or to extend the boundaries of his kingdom ; and he left the
question of the caliphate to the decision of the Moslem world. tt i\/r ivr
The Foreign Office telegraphed [No. 880] on the 3 rd November to Sir H. McMa on
saying that Colonel Wilson should be told to inform the Sherif that His Majesty s
Government had been informed of the coming coronation and that he had been
instructed to offer sincere congratulations, adding that His Majesty s Government was
in consultation with its allies on the question of a joint official recognition of the ne
position, but there might be some delay, as the enemy was not yet comp e e y e ea e ,
and a premature recognition might greatly injure the Sherif s cause.
The French Government instructed Colonel Bremond to reply m the same terms as
Colonel Wilson.