File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎367v] (743/834)

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assistance of Fakfiri Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. . Abdullah further stated that no
treaty had been made by the King with Ibn Rashid ; the affair
had never got beyond preliminary negotiations. Ibn Rashid had
stipulated for the return to him of Kheibar, Teima, and Huwaiyat,
but the King had replied that though there could be no question
about Kheibar (it being essentially a Hejaz village), he would be
prepared to “ further discuss ” the cession of Teima and Huwaiyat
after Ibn Rashid had proved his allegiance.
Emir Abdullah conveyed to Colonel Wilson a verbal message
from King Husein. The' King declared that he wished to be
regarded by the Moslem world as a man who had helped to uplift
and strengthen Islam. He had always realized that, to achieve
this, Turkey must be replaced by another Moslem Power of
sufficient stability and importance to ensure the respect of the
Moslem countries generally. He considered that the Arab
Government could not be recognized as a fitting successor to the
Turkish power unless there were one suzerain over all the integral
parts of the newly freed Arab countries. That there must be
divisions of Government, each practically autonomous, he did
not dispute, but a nominal head is essential. He has never urged
this from motives of personal ambition but in the belief that
only by such means can the best interests of Islam be served.
' The King further said that the Hejaz Government is very
feeble at present and can only look to Great Britain for support.
He confidently expected that support would be supplied until
the new Government is firmly established. He was aware of
the risk of rumours getting abroad in the Moslem world that
Great Britain is laying hold of the Hejaz, but, he said, such
rumours carry less weight since the defeat of Turkey than they
did before. He believes that Moslems who have become uneasy
on this score will gradually realize that the work undertaken
by him, with the aid of Great Britain, has been in the best interests
of Islam.
King Husein, Ibn Rashid and Ibn Saud.
We have now received from Jeddah a copy of Ibn Rashid's
recent letter to Emir Abdullah (see page 118 of last number).
It was despatched on June 17, from El Shaibah, two days’ ride
from Hail, and in it Ibn Rashid stated he had promised the people
of Jebel Shammar that he would raid Boreidah. The interesting
part of the communication is, however, an appendix written by
Ibn Rashid’s secretary, Mohammed el Mughreibi (see page 338,
volume 1918). The latter wrote that on May 23 a special
messenger arrived at the camp of Ibn Rashid with a letter and
a verbal message from Ibn Saud. The verbal message was to