File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎69r] (135/450)

Attitude of the French Government.
< ' L) rh fi.rh1 1 ret u kr troo 8 s 0t 3,16 Satisfied ° f the nlabi % of the Sherif’s army to
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(5. ; The lurkish attack, if there is to be one, cannot be long delayed : the autumn
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^ be utdised for the purpose.
( 6 .) 1 he British Government cannot conceal from itself the grave consequences
which a check of the Arab movement would produce in its Moslem posses
sions as much as in those of France. If the Sherif fails, Moslems throughout
the world will compare the poorness of o m support with the vigour of that
given by Germany to the Turks.
(7.) In conclusion, the French Ambassador urged the grave responsibility the
British Government would incur if it refused to do what was held to be
necessary by all those who had studied the question on the snot.
Application by Sherif to French Government for certain Moslems.
The French charge d’affaires informed the Foreign Office on the 6 th November
that his Government had been requested by the Sherif to furnish him with three
Moslems capable of directing the cultivation of the Mecca valley, and of founding a
tannery for the utilisation of the skins of the thousands of beasts sacrificed on Arafat.
Ihe Foreign Office replied that His Majesty’s Government saw no objection to a
favourable reply being returned.
On the 6 th November the.Secretary of State for India telegraphed to the Viceroy
that there was no objection to the Arab prisoners in India being sent to Egypt via Babegli
to give them an opportunity of offering their services to the Sherif.
The D.M.I. telegraphed on the 26th 03tober that we should be grateful to the
Bussian General Staff if it would allow four Arab prisoners to proceed to England at
once in plain clothes. The British consul should be asked to make arrangements and
to telegraph the probable date of arrival, that they might be met.
Lord Bertie telegraphed [No. 1180] on the 10 th November saying that Ben
Ghabrit, the Moslem leader of the French pilgrimage, had been seen by M. Gout. This
person, who is regarded with great confidence by the French Government, expressed
great anxiety as to the situation; he feared that, unless sufficient help were sent
speedily, the Sherif would treat with the Turks if he considered himself in danger,
d he Sherif appears to have spoken freely with him and to have given him the impression
that he, the Sherif, was convinced that the Turks would jump at any peace proposals
and give him all he wanted.
Arab Prisoners from India.
Ai^ab Prisoners from Russia.
The Sherif s Loyalty.