File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎105r] (207/450)

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and the call of our forefathers whom the affairs of Hejaz concern. v We call you to be
united and to rush to hg'ht the troops who are sent by the Christian English and those
who dare to befnend them, and to support the troops of the Sultan who are advancing
on Medina and Mecca to cleanse them from the infidels
And he who disobeys the call of God and His Prophet, the anger of God will fall
upon him.^ He who sees the foreigner begin to send his forces to the Holy Places and
does not rise to defend them does not belong to the Prophet; and he who dares to
help those foreigners who are the enemies of the religion, in any way, or agrees with
anyone who revolts against the Government, he will render himself liable to torture in this
world and in the other. I do not wish to believe that there is anyone among the
people of these Holy Districts who will choose to obey Satan, and disobey the Sultan,
or accept the infidel rather than the faithful, and I do not wish to see the people of those
places give their necks to our swords whose deeds they have witnessed in our battles
with the English and the French when thev attacked Chanak Kalaa and returned with
failure. We have no doubt that God will protect those places where His House is,
and which hold the bones of our Prophet, and will help you to succeed in this Holy
War. Fight so that the word of God may be uppermost, and you may gain the riches
of this world and the next, and bring shame and defeat upon those who dare to play
with the House of God as well as upon the foreigners who keep them. Fight so that
you may shortly enter the Holy Mosque in peace with your heads uplifted. Do not
be deceived by the intriguers and the liars, and do not be afraid of their power, for
God will make you conquer. May He include you in His Army and support you.
(Signed) ALT HAIDAR,
(Seal) I mar at of Mecca.
10 Shawal, 1334.
TIejaz Railway.
According to the official Turkish Gazette “ Taquim I Veqaya,” of the 24th August,
40,490,988 piastres (364,418Z.) have been added to the Hejaz railway budget of
a.h. 1332 (a.d. 1914).
IBN BAUD.
The C.P.O. at Basra telegraphed to Simla on the 6th October that he had received
a further letter from Ibn Saud, dated the 3rd September. In regard to his attacking
I bn Rashid m or near Hail, he alluded to the before-mentioned need of guns, but then
went on to say that tire only obstacle at present was that the political juncture
appeared to him to be unfavourable. If the question of attacking Ibn Rashid or
assisting the Sherd were merely matters of policy concerning the chiefs themselves,
then it was simply a matter of watching for a suitable opportunity; but if it was a
question of our interests as well, then he would doubtless conform to our will after
discussion with the C.P.O. ' Sir Percy Cox says that with the Army Commander’s
permission he could arrange a meeting for the latter part of this nionth, but if it is not
desired to press upon him any specific form of action [see “ Arabian Report, N.S. XII,
p. 3], it would perhaps be better not to have the meeting just now. Sir Percy Cox
asked for instructions on this point. _ , • p i
Among other papers received this week from Basra is the translation of a long
letter written by ibn Saud to the C.P.O. on the 20th July. The gist of what it contains
has already appeared in the reports, but there is one passage which it seems advisable
to quote. Speaking of the Sheri f he says :
“ As soon as I was certain of the accuracy of the Sherif s news, and even before
your letter readied me, I had the intention to write to your Honour regarding my
position vis-d-vis the Sherif, and also regarding the questions which affect you m
this connection. I feel it incumbent on me to state to you (though you are much
better informed in regard to the affair than I ami that my fear is that the Sherif
may obtain from the British Government an undertaking for his independent
control over Hejaz and the Arabs. Although you yourself probably appreciate my
hears it is possible that the representative of the British Government who is actually
conducting the negotiations with the Sherif is not acquainted with the position.
MASKAT.
[Nil]