'File 53/1915 Pt 2 German War: Turkey; the Caliphate and Pan-Arab movement' [‎126r] (256/444)

[P 4151]
7
FOREIGN SECRET TELEGRAMS,
Secret Department,
From Viceroy, 11th November 1915.
Foreign Secret. Arabia. Your telegram 8th November. We find
nothing in McMahon’s telegram of 5th November to palliate in any way
position he has brought about, and fact remains that althugh he could
apparently, without imperilling the negotiations, safeguard other interests
at Alexandretta, Mersina and Syria, he yet found it necessary to guarantee
to Arabs the rendition of territories in Mesopotamia won by our arms in
face not only of Turkish but also of Arab opposition, without which Turks
alone would have been of small account. Moreover, from information received
from Sir Reginald Wingate, it appears that leaders in Egypt were quite ready
to recognise as a necessity the incorporation of certain portions ofMesopotamia
in the British Empire and would not oppose it. Further, it need hardly be
pointed out that financing of large irrigation schemes by which the
prosperity of Mesopotamia is enhanced a hundredfold is not likely to be
encouraged by fact of the creation of an Arab State and administration, and
the whole country would be likely to lapse into a worse condition than under
Turkish rule and be a source of danger to British political and commercial
interests. The possession of Basra is in our opinion essential for the
protection of Abadan and the security of our interests in oil-fields. We
are still in dark as to actual quid pro quo to be given by Arabs in return
for those sweeping assurances, but trust it may be of sufficiently 7
definite character to enable us, if Arabs fail to perform their part, to
repudiate those assurances—at any rate as far as Mesopotamia is concerned.
As regards proclamation we agree that in view of chaotic position created
by McMahon’s assurances it will be best if General Nixon on occupation of
Bagdad issued no proclamation at all except perhaps a formal notice calling
upon civil population to acquiesce quietly in our occupation, and assuring
them, should they do so, their persons, property, and religion will be
scrupulously respected. In India we propose, as soon as Bagdad is actually
occupied, to suppress news for day or two, and to publish following
proclamation :—“ [R.] His Majesty’s Government have authorised General
Nixon to advance on Bagdad, his forces having once more defeated
Turkish opposition on Tigris in vicinity of Suliman Pak. Not only
for military reasons is this advance necessary, but in order to relieve
British ladies and British Indian subjects who, contrary to usage of
civilised war, have been detained at Bagdad ; and in order to break up a
focus of German intrigue in middle East. His Majesty’s Government,
however, desire that it should be clearly understood that stringent orders
have been issued that every precaution should be taken to prevent sacred
shrine of Sheikh Abdul Qadir, Gilani, and the other tombs and shrines in
the vicinity 7 , from being in any way even accidentally damaged in course
of the operations, in accordance with their unswerving policy of respecting
the sacred places of Islam and the susceptibilities of the Moslem community ;
and they wish it clearly to be understood that in regard to all other Holy
Places in Mesopotamia, this policy^ has been and will be scrupulously^
followed, and that no obstacle whatever will be placed in way of Imams,
Ulemas, Mujtahids and other religious persons following freely and as usual
their ordinary religious practices, after occupation of Bagdad.”