File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎57r] (111/450)

[898—19] B 2
shaykhs of Koweyt and Mohammerah [See Arabian Report, N.S. XIX, p 7] At the
Shenf s request he was transmitting this message to Sir Percy Cox.
him f-mtl 6 2 f n f Deoem ^ er 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. telegraphed [? No. 53]''that the Sherif had sent
m tuither telegrams for transmission to Ibn Saud and the shaykhs of Koweyt and
Mohammerah. In tins the Sherif said that since sending his former telegram of
he „ had learnt , that a le«er he had previously despatched had
trnT?"f d b f T ; He , was at a loSS t0 kno ' v how > and he relied on their wisdom and
knowledge of his condition, and their own personal dignity and nobility, to remove
misconceptions. Neither blame nor insult could be “attached” to persons of their
’gimv and importance, nor could he intentionally do anything- so contrary to all Arab
traditions and manners. If then, he said, through distance or"the weakness of human
nature there had been any misponception at a time when all their energies should be
directed to the assertion of their independence, he was “ the sufferer and the aggrieved
party. fie and they were friends and allies of the British Government, the powerful
riend of the Arabs, and they should unite and co-operate one with the other to expel
the iurkish tricksters, their personal enemies and the enemies of the truth, and to
pin gw re co antry 10 m their vileness and iniquity ; that was the first necessity
and everything else would follow. He had absolutely no personal ambition m the
matter ; his object was to secure his safety and theirs and the integrity of the Arab
country and its purification from the wickedness of the deceitful Turks who were the
enemies of God.
Protest against Turkish Cruelties.
His Excellency Fuad El Katib, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mecca, tele
graphed to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on the 28th November, in regard to
the cruelties of the Turks at Alawli and Medina. He said that they made a protest to
the civilised world m the name of international law and of justice, against the band of
unionists and their confederates, who had inflicted every kind of cruelty on the women
and children of the innocent inhabitants of Alawli, and who were now renewing their
refined cruelty at Medina, where they were condemning to penal servitude or tcTdeath
by hanging innocent inhabitants of that place, and such of the inhabitants of Alwali as
were stid alive. The report [“lEcho”j of these atrocities had been transmitted to the
General of their Western Army (whose advance guard was in touch with the enemy) by a
body of representatives chosen from all classes of the inhabitants met together to appeal
for protection, against these atrocious and inhuman acts, to that Arab Government
which had shown every regard for the Turkish prisoners of Eltaif, Wali commanders,’
officers, and soldiers, in spite of their misdeeds and of their having fireffthe houses of
princes, notables, and others, after having pillaged them. The Arab Government, he
said, had called the attention of the Secretary of State to this matter, that it might be
held free from blame if it found itself obliged to make use of reprisals.
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. , telegraphing on the 3rd December, said that this had been published
in Khartum with good results, and he heard the same from Egypt. Last June a
number of the Awali were massacred by the Turks at Medina, and it was reported that
recently persons had been executed by the Turks. An Arab deputation from Medina
had visited Faisal to protest against Turkish oppression and to implore the Sherif to
hasten Arab assistance.
Bank at Jeddah.
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. telegraphed [No. 54] on the 3rd December that, in regard to the
establishment of a bank at Jeddah [see Arabian Report, N.S., XIX, p. 6 ], Captain Lloyd
had further suggested that we should encourage the British firm of Gellatly Hankey,
already established at Jeddah, to extend their business so as to include banking; but
that this should be done after some delay, to avoid offending French susceptibility.
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. added that he thought the suggestion good, and capable of being carried out.
Property of the Ottoman Public Debt Administration.
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. telegraphed [No. 54] that he was instructing Colonel Wilson that,
when he should see the Sherif, he should point out the inadvisability of his action in
regard to the property of the Ottoman Public Debt Administration, and endeavour to
obtain further particulars.