File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎69v] (136/450)

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Sir H. Wingate telegraphed [No. 21 ] on the 14th November that Ben Ghabrits
view was shared by Colonel Bremond, and in some measure supported by the report of
Buhi Effendi on his visit to Mecca. Colonel Wilson, on the other hand, had not the
slightest doubt as to the Sherif’s sincerity or of his loyalty to us, and he, 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 Colonel Wilson.
Sir H. McMahon telegraphed on the 15th November [No. 1012 ] that, in his
opinion, the Sherifs assumption of the kingly title was a conclusive reply to any
question of his alleged readiness to make terms with Turkey. His own information
was totally opposed to any such idea. Ben Ghabrit, on his return to Cairo, had given
Sir H. McMahon the impression that he had “ an ulterior motive” in some of his views
on Hejaz affairs.
The Sherifs Title.
Sir H. McMahon telegraphed on the 8 th November [No. 983] that the Serbian
Government had telegraphed on the 6 th November to the Sherif formally recognising
his title; and that the Italian Government had telegraphed thanking Abdulla for his
communication and saying that it proposed sending a special envoy shortly. Both
telegrams had been held up.
The Viceroy telegraphed on the 5th November that Abdulla’s telegram to the
Amir informing him of fact had been held up at Peshawur ; but apparently the one to
Bangkok had got through.
Sir H. McMahon telegraphed on the 8 th November [No. 984] that Colonel Wilson
had received from Abdulla an acknowledgment of the congratulations sent to the
Sherif; in his communication it was mentioned that His Majesty’s Government had
once addressed the Sherif as Caliph. Enquiries were made as to when this was done,
and on the 10 th November 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. 12 ] that Abdulla had stated to
Colonel Wilson that no letter was ever addressed to the Sherif as Caliph, but that in a
letter from Cairo the phrase occurred, “We hope that Caliph maybe in your noble
household.”
Sir H. McMahon telegraphed | No. 1004] on the 13th November that this could
only refer to a message from Lord Kitchener in October 1914, which concluded with
the words, “ It may be an Arab of the race will ; ssume the Caliphate at Mecca or
Medina, and so good may come, by help of God, out of all evil which is now
occurring .’ 5
As to the title which should be recognised, 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. on the 6th November [No. 6| that the Sherif should be informed as follows:
His Majesty’s Government and the Governments of France and Bussia, though they
are glad to recognise the Sherif as the lawful and de facto ruler of Hejaz, and though
they regard and will continue to regard him as the titular head of the Arab peoples
in their revolt against Turkish misrule, are unable to recognise the assumption
by him of any sovereign title which might at the present moment provoke disunion
among the Arabs. It should also be urgently brought to the Sherifs attention that
in its English and French equivalents the title assumed by him appears to be national
and not territorial, and that His Majesty’s Government had taken note of the
declaration by the Sherif himself that Ibn Sand and Saiyid Idris “ ruled their own
country ” and that he had “ no intention of interfering with them.” It should also be
strongly impressed on the Sherif that the question of the Caliphate should be left open
until the end of the war.
Sir H. McMahon in a telegram [No. 991] despatched on the 9 th November
expressed the opinion that the term “titular head of the Arab peoples” might be
misunderstood, and suggested the substitution of “ champion of peoples of Arabia.”
The Pilgrimage.
, Sir H. McMahon has inquired as to the time having arrived for an official
communique in regard to the success of the pilgrimage.
Applications for British Protection for Families in Jeddah.
Sir H. McMahon telegraphed [No. 995] on the 10th November that he had
been consulted as to applications which had been made by families of Egyptian or
Indian origin settled in Hejaz—one of them an Egyptian family which settled there
250 years ago.
Experience in Egypt, he said, was conclusive as to the unwisdom of encouraging