File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎153r] (303/450)

SECRET.
APPRECIATION OF ATTACHED ARAB REPORT No. VIII (New Series).
. THE Sherif’s position still gives cause for anxiety. The Turks maybe relied upon
to make every effort to get into a position to prevent the pilgrimage taking place.
Attention is drawn to Sir H. McMahon’s request for the assistance of selected Indian
officers from the Indian force now in France.
I, It is suggested in regard to propaganda in Mesopotamia that General Clayton
should be given sufficient funds to enable the Arab Bureau to produce the fortnightly
literary supplement for the “ Haqiqat.”
. v The letter from the Resident at Aden to the Secretary of the Political Department
of the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. is interesting: it would have been more interesting a
month ago.
Examination of the Iraq Code shows that the Shara’, or Ecclesiastical Courts, have
been abolished, and that in Ecclesiastical cases, though a reference is made to a
Mohammedan Jurist, the judgment is given by the British Court [see section 41 (p. 16)].
There is no objection to this as a provisional arrangement in occupied territory under
military administration, where the population is mostly Shia, but such a S 3 T stem
cannot be extended to Sunni areas without giving rise to considerable trouble and
discontent.
In Appendix (A) will be found a history of Sayyid Talib, which is of special
interest. Sayyid Talib was an able, ambitious, and powerful leader. He practically
gave life to the Arab movement after the Young Turk revolution, and managed by
various means to maintain a very strong hold over the Basra province, although almost
always in opposition to the Government. In May 1914 he was at the zenith of his
power, and was playing for the rulership of Southern Mesopotamia under Turkish
suzerainty. In October of the same year, when we appeared on the scene, he retired
“ voluntarily ” to India.
The note m the appendix does not mention the fact that from November 1915 to
March 1916 Sayyid Talib was engaged in correspondence with the Government of India,
begging permission, on grounds of health, to move from the place chosen foi his
retirement. His request was granted after it had been under discussion for four
months.
' We have been unable to make any use of this remarkable if unscrupulous man,
because we have hitherto not had any general defined policy in regard to the Arab
movement. . ^ „ , „ . . ,
rf, In Appendix (C) is reprinted an article by Mr. Candler, the official correspondent
with Force D. This article is not good propaganda either for this country or Arabia
The “white man’s burden” motif is precisely the one to eliminate from British and
Arab minds; nothing is more calculated to vex the modernised Arab than writing in
this strain. Mr. Candler is sincere and truthful, and after an affair like Dargai or
Omdurman such an article would not be out of place ; but after Kut and Gallipoli
it will appear to educated Arabs as uncalled for as the condescending airs of a “ nouveau
riche ” of doubtful solvency who buys an ancient estate and patronises the tenantry^
[898—6]
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