'Correspondence with the Grand Sherif of Mecca' [‎4v] (8/16)

8
regard to those portions of the territories therein in which (Ireat Britain is
free to act without detriment to the interests of her Ally, \' ranee, I am
empowered in the name of the CJovernment of Great Britain to give the
following assurances and make the following reply to your letter :—
Subject to the above modifications, Great Britain is prepared to recognize
and support the independence of the Arabs within the territories included
in the limits and boundaries proposed by the Sherif ol Mecca.
Great Britain will guarantee the Holy Places against all external aggression
and will recognize their inviolability.
When the situation admits. Great Britain will give to the Arabs her
advice and will assist them to establish what may appear to be the most
suitable forms of (government in those various territories.
On the other hand, it is understood that the Arabs have decided to seek
the advice and guidance of Great Britain only, and that such European
Advisers and Officials as may be required for the formation of a sound form
of administration will be British.
With regard to the vilayets of Baghdad and Basra, the Arabs will
recognize that the established position and interests of Great Britain
necessitate special measures of administrative control in order to secure
these territories from foreign aggression, to promote the welfare of the local
populations and to safeguard our mutual economic interests.
I am convinced that this declaration will assure you beyond all possible
doubt of the sympathy of Great Britain towards the aspirations of her
traditional friends the Arabs and will result in a firm and lasting alliance,
the immediate results of which will be the expulsion of the Turks from the
Arab countries and the freeing of the Arab peoples from the Turkish yoke
which for so many years has pressed heavily upon them.
1 have confined myself in this letter to the more vital and important
questions, and if there are any other matters dealt with in your letters
which 1 have omitted to mention, we may discuss them at some convenient
date in the future.
It was with very great relief and satisfaction that I heard of the safe
arrival of the Holy Carpet and the accompanying offerings which, thanks to
the clearness of your directions and the excellence of your arrangements,
were landed without trouble or mishap in spite of the dangers and dilficnlties
occasioned by the present sad war- May God soon bring a lasting peace
and freedom to all peoples.
1 am sending this letter by the hand of your trusted and excellent
messenger. Sheikh .Mohammed Ibn Aril" Arayfan, and he will inform you
of various matters of interest but of less vital importance, which 1 have not
mentioned in this letter.
(Here follow the usual compliments.)
24th October 1915.
A
12.—Communication from the Grand Sherif of Mecca to the High
Commissioner, Cairo.
(Literal t ranslation.)
In the name of God the Merciful the Compassionate. To His Excel
lency the most exalted and eminent Minister who is endowed with the
highest authoritv and soundness of opinion. May God guide him to do His
Will. '
1 received with great pleasure your honoured letter dated loth Zul Hijj
(24th October 1915), to which 1 beg to answer as follows
(1.) In order to facilitate an agreement and to render a service to Islam, and
at the same time to avoid all that may cause Islam troubles and hardships-
seeing, moreover, that we have great consideration for the distinguished
qualities and dispositions of the Government of Great Britain—we renounce
our insistence on the inclusion of the vilayets of Mersina and Adana in the
Arab Kingdom. But the provinces of Aleppo and Beyrout and their sea-
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