File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎103v] (204/450)

4
(H.) En route from England.
5 colt machine-guns and 200,000 rounds.
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The Sherifs Subsidy.
Sir H. McMahon has transmitted [No. 219] the translation of a letter, dated the
25th August, received by him from the Sherif relating to the latter’s subsidy of
125,000L a month, in the course of which the Sherif says : “Your Excellency knows
that the above-mentioned monthly pay of 125,000L is for the organisation of Govern
ment and its necessary administrations, and, will be deducted from the amount which we
left to the justice of Great Britain to decide for our deficient Government, which is
under Great Britain’s guardianship and protection dnring the occupation of Basra and
Iraq.”
Meeting of Colonel Wilson and the Sherifs son, Abdulla.
Sir H. McMahon telegraphed on the 7th October [No. 855J that the Sherif was
about to send his son Abdulla to Jeddah to see Colonel Wilson, and that, in accordance
with request, he was sending Mr. Storrs to the meeting, merely to act as a medium of
communication. Colonel Wilson intimated the possibility of the Sherif himself coming.
The object of the meeting was to convey to Sir H. McMahon the views of the Sherif
either on Arab affairs in Syria or on the questions raised by the French mission, the
nature of which was still unknown.
Colonel Bray.
On the 9th October Sir H. McMahon telegraphed [No'. 872] that Colonel Wilson
had made a special request that he might have the services of Colonel Bray, who
accompanied the two Indian officers to Jeddah, for a month after these officers had
returned to India. Sir H. McMahon hoped that this would be approved.
The French Mission.
Sir H. McMahon on the 9th October [No. 865] transmitted a telegram from Colonel
Wilson, dated the 3rd October. Colonel Wilson said that Abdulla Bey had informed
him by telephone that the French mission had brought a letter from the French
Government for the Sherif intimating friendly feeling for the Arabs and their new
Empire, and enquiring as to the safety of pilgrims, and the ideas and intentions of the
Sherif. The mission was to leave after the end of the pilgrimage, and the Sherif wanted
advice as to the form his reply should take : Abdulla was sending French and Ara^b
copy of the letter from the French Government. The Sherif also wanted advice as
to the presents he should make in return for those received.
On the 7th October Arab Bureau telegraphed to Colonel Wilson that, as the
contents of the letter were unknown, the High Commissioner could only advise Sherif
to send a reply of a non-committal nature, guarded but friendly ; to which Colonel
Wilson replied that, as he had not received the promised copy, he had suggested a reply
of this nature.
? An Italian Consul at Jeddah.
Sir H. McMahon telegraphed on the 8th October [No. 860] that Colonel Brdmond
had informed Colonel Wilson confidentially that he had heard that an Italian consul
was coming to Jeddah. Colonel Bremond had informed the French Minister at Cairo
that both .he and Colonel Wilson considered it most undesirable for any consuls to be
allowed at Jeddah.
Sir H. McMahon had already telegraphed on the 5th October [No. 848] that he
should be reluctant to accept responsibility for the safety of any Italian, especially of
one connected with Hodeidah ; and he added that, without the introduction of Italian
elements, the difficulties of the Hejaz question were already sufficiently complex.
Dutch Bilgrims in Mecca.
On the 5th October Sir H. McMahon [No. 847 (B)] transmitted a telegram from
Colonel Wilson saying that there were 2,050 Dutch pilgrims in Mecca, of whom 1,500
were fed by the Egyptian Wakf and 550 by the Sherif. Though all were destitute,
Colonel Wilson w T as informed that, on their arrival at Singapore, 1,430 could pay their