File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎181r] (359/450)

. Recording to British books of travel and the accounts of travellers, Arabian
administration was never regarded as of any utility. It is an historical taunt that the
Arabs would not have lost the Spanish Caliphate if they had been able to rule.
“Ihe Arabs doubtless have the right to rule the followers of Islam, but in this;
modern age they will find it difficult to establish their claims to that right until such
time as they educate themselves and become civilised. The matter for most apprehen
sion will be that certain Mussulman States and Administrations will not be able to
recognise the Arab Government because they have foolishly made Mecca and Medina
their centres of war.
“ If they desired to declare their independence of Turkish rule they might have
issued such announcement from some other province. As the Arabs have, however,
drawn the sword in the sacred territory of God and the Apostle, they have by this act
of theirs, and by laying siege to Medina, violated the sanctity of the Holy Places and
made them the scene of war. These are the reasons why most Mussulmans condemn
the procedure of the Arabs, and express their regret at and detestation of their
mad act.
“ It appears from the telegrams that the Turkish garrison have been taken prisoners.
If this be true the Arab affair becomes more detestable, for to the generality of
Mahommedans it means that the Turks did not consider it lawful to shed blood in the
Holy Places. It is these things that will make a disagreeable impression on the public
and create anxiety among the people. Most Mahommedans consider it to be a very
grave occurrence and that the Arabs are entirely to blame. Apparently the religious
importance and sacred influence of the Holy Places have created this sensational
impression upon people’s minds—that the Arabs have proclaimed their independence
and at the same time invited the Turks to stay in the sacred territory.
“We frankly say that these ideas are baseless and that there is nothing in the
occurrence, and we should not pay much attention to it, for history records several
similar incidents. There have been revolts and rebellions in the Holy Places before.”
The writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. observes with regret that the contemporary English papers, which are
unacquainted with both the Moslem mind and the spirit of Islam, are guilty of egregious
blunders in this matter. Eor example, the “Statesman ” of the ‘25th June stated that
the Arab revolt had^ created a feeling of joy among the Mussulmans of Calcutta, but
the telegraphic messages of yesterday show that the Mussulmans of Calcutta repudiated
the statement at a public meeting. ' On the 29th June the paper published the opinion
of two Madras Mussulmans, but we and our local contemporaries, in spite of being on
the spot in Madras, have not been able to hear “ their voices.” We fear this informa
tion also is more or less as false as the report regarding the reputed feeling of the
Calcutta Mussulmans! In any case, no individual or combined Moslem opinion can
nullify the divine commands, Koranic texts, the traditions of the Apostle of God, the
sacred law, and the consensus of opinion of the Moslem community.
The “ Qaumi Beport ” of the 4th July writes that a meeting of the Council of the
Madras Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. Moslem League was held at the “ Anjuman,” under the presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent.
of Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. Kauf Ahmad Khan Bahadur, Parthan, yesterday evening, when Mr. Yaqub
Hasan Sait Sahib explained the present position and the substance of the resolution of
the All-India Moslem League, &c. After some deliberation and discussion he moved
the following resolution, which was carried unanimously:
“ That this Council of the Madras Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. Moslem League records its
opinion that the news of the revolutionary action of the Sherif of Mecca ^ in
proclaiming Arab independence and bringing about a state of war in the region
of the Holy Places, utterly regardless of their sanctity, has caused the Mussulmans
of Southern India much pain. . . .
“ The Council is also of opinion that the interference m the matter on the
part of any European Power would be resented by Indian Mussulmans.
2. Hindu Paper.
The “Sasilekha” of the 30th June has the following: “ The authorities here
[Pondicherry] admitted 385 Hindus into the military service, gave them training for
some months, and sent them to France,” _ _ . , ,
After pointing out that there is nothing in common between the Arabs and the
Turks except that they are both Mahommedans, and that the former have been
dissatisfied with the administration of their country by the latter, the Kerala
[898—4] G