File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎150r] (297/450)

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Mecca, some time ago, the Sharif told him: “You are an ignorant person, and you are
dragging Turkey downwards to its ruination.” The Sharif has therefore achieved the
separation of Hedjaz from Turkey, so as to remove it from any danger of a hostile
action and being included in the ruin of Turkey.
The Sharif, in declaring the independence of the Hedjaz, has acted for the best in
the light of his own understanding, and, if his act can be attributed to a good motive,
no one has a right to use strong language in condemnation of it. Apart from the
question as to whether Turkey or the Arabs have the power to protect the Hedjaz, the
whole world knows, and the Muslim gentlemen of Lucknow, who, like good
Musalmans, are feeling anxiety for the safety of the holy cities, must also know, that
our sacred land is being protected by the greatest Muslim Power in the world, for the
sake of her eighty million Musalman subjects, or, in other words, the eight crore Equivalent to ten million, or one hundred lakhs. Used especially in connection with money (rupees). Muslim
subjects of the British Empire are responsible for the safety of the Hedjaz. It is to be
hoped that Musalmans have not degenerated to the extent, and lost their sense of
fairness, that they are unable to feel grateful to those who have acted in a noble spirit
towards them, and have done good to them. It is neither loyal nor honest to increase
the difficulties of the Government at the present time by publishing false views, and
thereby misleading the Musalman public. It does not require any deep thinking to
come to the conclusion that it is abject disloyalty to sympathise with Turkey, even under
any cloak, as long as she is fighting against our Empire, and it is disloyalty all the same
to condemn Arabs, under any excuse, who are in their present position the enemies of
our enemies, and therefore our friends.