File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎223r] (443/450)

SECRET.
reprinted for reference only.
A R A B I A N R E P O R T.
N.S. Ko. II. 25th July 191.6 (night).
COR T E N T 8 .
Part I.
Tlie Sherif of Mecca :
Mission from C.U.P.
The Pilgrimage.
Hejaz Railway.
The Proclamation.
Objections of the French Government.
Opinion in regard to Sherif in—
(1) India and Afghanistan.
(2) Zanzibar.
(3) E gypt.
(4) Syria.
Mesopotamia and the Sherif.
Germans for Mecca.
Threat of Retaliation.
The Sherif and the Allies.
Proclamation as Caliph.
English Adviser.
Idrisi, Imam, and Aden.
Part II.
Political Events in Fields of Operations :
Aden.
Hejaz Coast.
Caucasus.
Mesopotamia.
Appendix.
Sherif’s Proclamation (translation).
From the Press.
Proclamation of Djemal Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. .
Visit of a Turkish M.P. to the camp at
Zossen.
Fighting at Medina,
Commercial Relations with Hejaz.
Closing in on Erzinjan.
Turkish aircraft in Egypt.
Revolt of Smyrna garrison.
PART I.
THE SHERIF OF MECCA.
Mission from the CJJ.P.
An agent reported on loth July that he had learnt from a member of the Young
Turk party thaR acting on advice from Berlin, the C.U.P. had decided to send a
mission to the Sherif, headed by his cousin Sherif Haydar Bey and composed of
notable Ulema : the object being to advise the Sherif to settle difficulties by arbitra
tion, and to offer different administration, other concessions, and gifts of money for
tribal chiefs. Should he refuse to accept this advice, energetic military measures
would be taken by both Turks and Germans. [ALL 1—06254.]
Pilgrimage.
On 21st July the Foreign Office telegraphed to the High Commissioner [No. 603 j
suggesting that he should without loss of time urge the Sherif to put the arrange
ments for the pilgrimage on a satisfactory footing and make a public announcement
on the subject.
The Sherif himself, the Arab Bureau reports [No. 9], has asked that the pilgrimage
shall take place as usual and has suggested a radical reduction in the pilgrimage dues
to celebrate the opening of the new regime.
Hejaz Railway.
The High Commissioner in Egypt telegraphed on 18th July [No. 591] that the
Sherif had urged us to cut the Hejaz railway, and that the Commander-in-Chief was
considering with the naval authorities the possibility of doing this from Akaba.