Coll 6/43 'Pan Arab Congress 1933. Attitude of H.M.G. to a Pan Arab Movement' [‎349r] (698/1144)

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
EASTERN (General).
( P.
/ / . j September 15, 1936.
CONFIDENTIAL.
| 76
O P ’
/ 'A Section 1.
^ [E 5831/381/65]
J Copy No,
Mr. Kelly to Mr. Eden.—(Received September 15.)
(No. 1039.)
Sir, Ramleh, September 4, 1936.
Mr. BATEMAN’S despatches No. 436-and•:430T o you of the 25th and the
21st August, respectively, are of consid^raWe interest from the point of view
of Anglo-Egyptian relations.
2. It has generally seemed hitherto that Egyptian interest in the neigh
bouring Arab States has been superficial, and there have been various reasons to
support this view. The unique dependence of Egypt on the Nile, and the relative
unimportance of trade relations with Near Eastern neighbours has tended to
create geographical isolation. The governing classes in politics and commerce
have been drawn mainly from Turkish, Coptic or fellaheen Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. sources (Ziwer,
Makram and Nahas are typical examples in the political sphere), and the modern
Bedouin Arab is usually either half starved in the desert or an object of jealousy
in the “ cultivation ” owing to his ancient fiscal privileges. The religious motive
(which, in any case, acts in a contrary sense in the case of the Copts, and of the
Syrians who play such a large role in the conduct of the press) has been apt to
cut both ways, as was shown by the recently ended dispute with the W ahabee
Kingdom and the resentment caused in Egypt by a dispute as to the disposal
of funds contributed for the Mosque of Omar at Jerusalem. The religious bond
with its product of common Islamic culture is there, an immense latent force, but
it has been temporarily obscured. Chief among the factors making for isolation
must, however, be counted the long modern association with England and the
absorption of Egyptian interest in the treaty question and everything connected
with the activities, real or imaginary, of the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. . The whole emphasis
has been laid on Egyptian nationalism in the strict sense, and racial and, still
more, religious, motives have been entirely ignored.
3. There are definite signs of a changing outlook in this respect, and there
is no doubt whatever that but for the treaty negotiations this change would have
become very manifest in connexion with affairs in Palestine. In addition to the
concentration of public interest on the treaty, the negotiations also gave Nahas
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. a very strong inducement to meet us more than half-way in taking active
steps to smother the attempted agitation, which, had it not been firmly handled,
and had it not been for the successful issue of the treaty negotiations, might have
developed into a situation resembling that at the end of last year. Nahas,
however, took, every opportunity of passionately advocating the Arab cause in
private conversation, using on one occasion the phrase “ we, too, are Arabs.” He
is not; but, as the prevailing doctrine in Germany illustrates, the importance
assumed by racial myths need not bear any relevance to the degree of truth
contained in them, and there is, of course, much Arab blood in the fellaheen Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. . It
will be remembered also that the extremely moderate, sensible and highly
westernised Dr. Hafez Afifi Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. made a very determined effort to secure the
reception of some Palestine Arab delegates at the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. in June with a view
to mediation being set on foot in Cairo. It is unfortunately far from certain
that there will not be a revival of this agitation when the numbing effect of the
signature of the treaty has worn off and the students reassemble next month.
4. Among secondary examples of the growing interest in neighbouring
Arab States may be cited the spontaneous popular welcome given last year to the
Amir Saud (followed by Ali Maher’s settlement of the religious dispute), but
more considerable future significance may attach to the appointment as Minister
in Iraq and Persia of Abdul Rahman Assam who, as described by Mr. Bateman,
“ achieved a conspicuously higher standard of thought and eloquence than those
of the Iraqis present” Although Abdel Rahman Assam was perhaps the most
effective contributor to the campaign inaugurated in July 1935 by Takla’s Ahram
[806 p—1]