File 53/1915 Part IV 'German War: Turkey; Caliphate etc' [‎196r] (388/481)

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I further suggest Vilayets of Basrah and Baghdad are incapable of self-
government and owing to Shiah and Sunni dissension new and weak States
could not administer them. We might agree with Arabs to administer these
provinces on their behalf and to allocate certain revenues to their exchequer
or exchequers (this corresponding to their demand for subsidy) and further
agreeing that deficit will be made good from Arab State or States in the event
of population of Vilayets of Baghdad and Basrah not producing a sufficient
number for administrative personnel under British supervision. I make these
suggestions because I believe situation is critical. I feel that Arab nation now
or in future isolated, as such, presents no danger to India unless we confine
ourselves to Canal defensive and let Turk and German masses assembled in
Syria and north Mesopotamia re-establish their prestige and so with Arab
support work a real jehad. This would entail strong re-percussion in north
Africa ? involving both Trench and Italians, thereafter in Persian and
Caucasus and Afghanistan eventually engrossing under less favourable circum
stances than at present a larger force of Entente troops.
I submit that Russia, Armenia, (? Italy,) Prance, are all affected by this
situation directly. Arabs are anti-Turkish at present and Taurus and Armenian
snow hampers our enemies movements. 1 therefore believe now is chance of
German plan of involving all the Entente Powers in defensive operations
against Islam being foiled by us.
30
(Received under cover of Office Memorandum No. 2042, dated the 2oth
November 1915, from Assistant Private Secretary to Mis Excellency the
Viceroy.)
Dated Cairo, the 11th November 1915.
From— Milne Cheetham, Esq., C.M.G.,
To—His Excellency the Viceroy.
I have the honour to forward herewith copy of a report of the second
mission to the Sheriff of Mecca of a messenger, who is employed by the Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
for the transmission of confidential communications to the Sheriff.
Copies of this report have also been sent to the Poreign Office with my
despatch No. 143 of the 9th instant.
Enclo. to Serial No. 30.
Report of second mission of Messenger “ G* to the Sheriff Hussein Ibn Alt
of Mecca.
“ G ” left Suakin on 2nd October 1915 and proceeded in a private dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean.
to the anchorage referred to in the previous report (21st September 191o)
where he found an agent of the Sheriff and six followers awaiting him.
He was asked if he had brought anything with him (cash for the guar
dians of the Holy Places and pious offerings) and on his replying in the nega
tive but stating that he had an urgent message to the Sheriff he was conducted
to Jeddah whence an urgent telephonic communication (in code) was made o
the Sheriff by the latter’s local representative.
“ G ” was then instructed to proceed at once and arrived at Taif two days
later.
Here he w^as conducted without delay to the Sheriff to whom he delivered
the following verbal massage (in Arabic):—“In reference to recent commumca-
tions and having regard to the well-known disposition °f J°“ r Highn^s it
is renorted for Your Highness’s secret information that the Egyptian
Mahmal will leave Suez by ship for Jeddah about October 7 th (27 Zilgada).
As no military escort will accompany the Mahmal this year it will be for
Your Highness to make the requisite arrangements for the landing of tl t
Mahmal at Jeddah and its subsequent transport to Mecca.