File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎157r] (311/450)

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Commandant (Firid Bey) seemed to have secret instructions from Constantinople to help
Ajaimi and to murder or capture Sayyid Talib. Fights began in Basra between the
adnerents ot Abdullah-el-t aleh and Ajaffni 5 more and more of Ajaimi’s men drifted into
Basra, with the connivance of the Wall and Commandant; and Sayyid Talib’s position
seemed exceedingly precarious when on the 19th June, 1913, his adherents assassinated
Commandant as he was landing from a boat in the Ashar Creek, and mortally
wounded the Mutesarrif of the Muntafik who was with him. This frightened the
Turkish Government. The Wali was dismissed, an acting Wall, Izzat Bey, was appointed,
and in August 1913 a programme of reforms was published which made many
concessions to the Arabs. This does not seem to have satisfied the Arab Committee,
who at the end of August distributed among the troops and Arab tribes a long address
calling all men of xlrab race to rise and throw off Turkish tyranny by asserting the
independence of Iraq. Enver Bey, who was now in power, ordered the Military
Commandant to arrest Sayyid Talib, but the Commandant reported that he was
powerless. In December 1913 Sayyid Talib sent a second threatening address to
Constantinople. Enver Bey then telegraphed to him making advances and saying that
he had ordered the Walis of Basra and Bagdad to consult him about everything. The
Sultan conferred a high order upon him, and Sayyid Talib issued in January 1913 a
manifesto saying that all differences were removed between him and the Turkish
Government, and that he would in future do all that lay in him to promote Ottoman
unity.
Finally, in May 1914, Sayyid Talib seemed to have reached the zenith of his power.
The Minister of the Interior telegraphed offering him the choice between the posts of
Ambassador, Wali, or member of the Senate, and in July Talaat Bey informed the
British Ambassador that Sayyid Talib was to be made Wali of Basra.
In the meanwhile Djaved Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , Wali of Bagdad, seems to have had secret
instructions to arrest Sayyid Talib. He tried to induce Subhi Bey to do so, and
failing, started down in October 1914 towards Basra himself for the purpose with a
considerable force, arriving just after the outbreak of war with Great Britain. Sayyid
Talib had news of his intentions and withdrew to Koweyt, ostensibly with the purpose
of negotiating to bring Ibn Sand in against the British. Sayyid Talib was still in
Koweyt when the British occupation of Basra took place. He made extravagant
demands as to the price of his assistance and, when these were refused, voluntarily
withdrew to India. It is said that the Shaykhs of Mohammerah and Koweyt no longer
desire his return, since their estates in Basra territory are now safe and he could be of
no use to them.
APPENDIX (B).
The Italian Peess on Italy and Asia Minor.
In certain towns (for instance, in Borne and Milan, hut not in Turin or Bologna),
an'Athens report, according to which British transports have been seen near Bhodes
and a landing was imminent at Alexandretta, was allowed to appear in the press. To this
report the “ Tribuna ” (23rd) appends an important editorial note :—
“ England has now disembarked her troops there. This is an event of great
importance, whether locally or in relation to the general facts of European policy.
For England Alexandretta has always been a point of first-rate strategical import
ance in her Oriental activities To-day, now that Germany’s ambitious plans
are defeated, it may well become in England’s hands the railhead of an English
Bagdad- Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Line. Whilst noting with sincere satisfaction this landing
of our Allies, we hope that our own interests in the East have been successfully
and adequately protected by our Government.”
To this reported landing the “ Idea Nazionale ” (25th) devotes a long editorial
leader, which will be dealt with in next week’s Summary.
However, the Italian press did not await the publication of this report in order to
discuss the problem of Asia Minor. As lias been noted, all important articles on the
Salonica landing refer directly or indirectly to this question. Indeed, during the week
under consideration there seems to have been what amounts to an organised agitation
for Italy’s “ Asiatic rights.”