File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎127r] (251/450)

Other Help for the Sherif.
Sir H. McMahon telegraphed on the 17th September [No. 794] that, as the present
crisis can only continue for two or three weeks, assistance given by the French Government
x-is unlikely to arrive in time. The Naval Commander-in-Chief is making arrangements
lo increase the number of warships on the Hejaz coast temporarily. The main thing is
to keep up the spirits of the Arabs, and for that reason he still urges the sending of a
flight, or even of half a flight, of aeroplanes, which the Sherif has so urgently
asked for.
The Sherif s Stamps.
Sir G. Buchanan telegraphed on the 16th September [No. 1447 (It)] that the
Russian Government had no objection to an issue of stamps by the Sherif for the
duration of the war.
On the 18th September the Foreign Office telegraphed to Sir H. McMahon
[No. 755] that as a temporary measure for the duration of the war, the Allied
Governments had agreed to the issue of stamps, and asked him to telegraph the date
of issue.
[The “Near East” of the 22nd September gives a reproduction of “the first
specimen to reach England of a new issue of postage stamps ” made by the
Sherif of Mecca. “The issue,” it says, “consists of three values, i.e .,
one piastre (very dark blue), half-piastre (red), and quarter-piastre
(green).”]
French Mission to the Sherif.
Reuter reports the arrival of the French mission at Jeddah and of the French
Moslem pilgrims at Port Said [“Morning Post,” 23rd September]: also that the
Sherif has telegraphed to M. Poincare expressing satisfaction at the arrival of the
mission and his thanks for the interest the French nation had shown towards Islam,
and that M. Poincare has replied thanking the Sherif for his warm reception of the
mission, and assuring him of the sincere good wishes of the French nation for the
success of his arms. [Ibid., 26th September.]
The Haj.
In a despatch dated the 4th September the Consul-General at Algiers reported
that the Algerian Government-General had, by advertisement in the local newspapers,
offered to send a party of Arabs on a pilgrimage to Mecca. All passage and food
expenses as far as Jeddah, and from that port back to Algiers, were to be paid by the
Government. [F.O. 181,437.]
In a report dated the 24th August, a copy of which was forwarded by Sir H.
McMahon on the 5th September, Colonel Wilson said that there was no doubt that
the Sherif realised the importance of the pilgrimage being a success and of the pilgrims
being well looked after ; his orders to that effect were stringent. It remained to be
seen how they wuuld be cained out. [F.O. 182,184.]
The “ Times ” correspondent in Cairo telegraphed on the 21st September that the
Holy Carpet left for Mecca on that day, and that it was accompanied by a large
number of Egyptian pilgrims. [“ Times,” 23rd September.]
The Sherif and the Moslems of the Far East.
In “Arabian Report,” N.S., No. IV (page 3), it was recorded that the G.O.C.
in the Straits Settlements had reported on the 7th August that the Arab feeling in
that place in regard to the Sherif and his move was satisfactory, and that tie
sympathies of other Mohammedans were gradually inclining to the Sherif; that in the
Federated States indifference prevailed, though in one ol them the Malays weie in
* sympathy with the Arabs; and that in Java there was diversity of opinion. _
A despatch, dated the 15th August, from General Ridout, the G.O.C., is now to
hand [W.O., I.S., 477]. He gives information regarding Mr. Algasoff, who made a free
offer to the British Government of houses possessed by him at Jeddah; and speaks of
the steps taken by himself at the very outset of the revolt to guide “ m an
unostentatious way, Mohammedan feeling in the Far East as far as possible, and to
draw attention to the misrule of Turkey. ”
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