File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎62r] (121/450)

of barbarous behaviour on
Medina, which he says has
to the Sherif’ s cause.”
r ^
T7
part of the Turks towards the townspeople of
the effect of detaching certain tribes from the Turks
X The Sherif and the Shaykhs.
, : he ^ 3rd NovemberBir A. Hirtzekcalled the attention of the Under-Secretary '
oi State tor foreign Affairs to three telegrams, all dated the 21 st November, which had
een received from Sir Percy Cox, then at Koweyt with the Shuykh of that place, the
Shavkh of Mohammerah, and Ibn Saud. Two of these [T 56 and T 58] are reproduced
at length further on, under the heading « Ibn Saud ” ; the third [T 57 ] is to the following
e ect. Some weeks ago the Shaykhs of Koweyt and Mohammerah sent congratulatory
etters to tne Sherif. The SheriPs letters in reply had just reached Basra, and at the
request of the Shaykh of Mohammerah, he, Sir P. Cox, had instructed his deputy to
open one of them and telegraph its purport. He replied that the Sherif’s letter was a
formal acknowledgment of che Shaykh s, couched, so far as he could judge, in a
patronising and oil-hand style; that the Siiaykh’s name was on the envelope, but in the
letter the place for it was left blank, as if it was a carelessly despatched circular ; and
that the letter to the Shaykh of Koweyt was no doubt identical. Sir Percy Cox adds
that sucii lack of courtesy could do no good to the Sherif’s cause lor] ours, and he
hoped that he would be given a hint to mend his ways.
In regard to these telegrams, Sir A. Hirtzel. wrote as follows :—
“ Mr. Cnamberlain has no desire to suggest any unnecessary interference with
the Grand Sherif m the internal affairs of his ‘kingdom’; but he would urge
strongly that, in view of the very satisfactory attitude of those three Shaykhs (one
of whom is a Persian subject and not directly concerned), it should be represented
to the Sherif that his own interests, no less than courtesy to the British Govern
ment, require him to meet the advances of their allies with civilitv, and even with
cordiality. His Majesty’s Government are using all their influence to secure the
cordial co-operation of all Arabs with the Sherif, but their efforts will be of no
avail if the Sherif himself repels those whom the British Government have attracted
to his support.”
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 on the 22 nd November that he had sent the same
instructions in regard to Sir P. Cox’s telegram T. 57, as he had already sent in regard
to T. 56. [See p. 7.]
On the 25th November the Foreign Office telegraphed to 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. [No. 24] that
he should instruct Colonel Wilson to tell the Sherif personally on the telephone that
His Majesty’s Government had learnt with great regret that the Shaykhs of Moham
merah and Koweyt and Ibn Saud, three great Arab chiefs, had reason to feel aggrieved
at the reception of their advances by the Sherif. His Majesty’s Government was
convinced that such an incident was'entirely contrary to the intentions and washes of
the Sherif himself, and that it was no doubt due to an oversight on the part of his
subordinates, but, in view of the very satisfactory attitude of these three shaykhs, it
must observe that the Sherif’s own interests, no less than courtesy towards His
Majesty’s Government, require him to meet the advances of the King’s allies with
civility and even with cordiality. His Majesty’s Government was using all its influence
to secure the cordial co-operation of all Arabs with the Sherif, but its efforts would be
of no avail if the Sherif himself repelled those wKom His Majesty’s Government had
attracted to his support.
The Sherif s Title.
Sir H. McMahon telegraphed [No. 1026] on the 21 st November that no mention
had yet been allowed in the press of the Sherif’s new title, but the fact was now
common knowledge, and No. 22 of the Mecca newspaper, the “ Kibla,” had recently
arrived, giving in well-expressed language full. details of the terms in which Ulema,
notables, and people of Mecca had petitioned the Sherif to accept the kingship and in
which he accepted the title. 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. agreed with him that it was advisable to*
permit the entry and circulation of that number of the “ Kibla ” as being the best way
of publishing the news; it obviated the need of a communique and relieved us of
responsibility for the terms in which it was made known. To delay publication would
give rise to question and possibly resentment. He therefore proposed to release this
number of the “ Kibia,” and said he should be glad to know as soon as possible if there:
were any objection to his so doing.
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