File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎116v] (230/450)

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the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Constantinople. Both papers refused the offer. It
is also stated that the offer was for a campaign in favour of Turkey and ao-ainst
Germany ; but this needs confirmation.
The same agent reports that an emissary from Naby Bey (ex-Minister at Home
who came to Switzerland recently), has approached an English agent asking hini^
whether the British authorities would be willing to receive a communication from
Talaat Bey.
Report on the Sheri fs Revolt made by a highly-placed Diplomat in Constantinople
in a Letter to his Government dated July 7.
The Turks greatly feared a revolt in Arabia and the opening of an Arabic question.
And all those who closely followed the course of Turkish affairs foresaw it. But owing
to the present state of affairs and to the declaration of the Holy War. it was not
considered likely that Arabia would rise so soon; certainly before the end of the
European war. Therefore the events in Hejaz have frightened not only the Turkish
Government but also Turkey’s allies, and specially Germany.
According to information received here, the Emir of Mecca, Hussein Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , having
declared himself Great Kalif of all the Mohammedans (a title which was hitherto borne
by the Sultan), attacked, at the head of many Arabs, the Turkish garrison of Jeddah,
which surrendered. Then he marched towards the city of Tayif, whose garrison also
surrendered. The Arabs, spurred by these initial successes, attacked the Turkish
troops in Medina but were repelled, at least according to the assertions of Turkish
official circles.
On receiving the news the Sultan by an irade deposed the Emir of the Mecca, and
named as his successor the Vice-President of the Senate, Ali Haidar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , who has
left last week for Damascus. The commander of the 4th Syrian Army, Jemal Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ,
has received orders to suppress the Arab revolt and to establish the new Emir in Mecca.
To carry out these orders two Turkish divisions were sent from Syria, and began their
concentration in Medina. Experts in Arabian affairs seem most pessimistic, and consider
the extraordinary military measures to suppress the movement as inadequate. The
revolt of Arabia will, they believe, reach great proportions if England, as is most
likely, supports the insurgents by sending munitions and guns to Jeddah and if the
ambitious imam, Yahya, all powerful in the Yemen, and the dervish Idris, all powerful
in Assyria, join the Emir of Mecca.
Arabia s insurrection was undoubtedly fomented by the British ; but what greatly
contributed to hasten its outbreak was, on one hand the be ginning by the Turkish
Army of the Arabian town of Kerlela, sacred in Mesopotamia and on the Euphrates ;
and on the other hand, the persecutions exercised by the Turkish authorities upon the
Arabs of byria. The Turkish authorities at Bey rut and Damascus, having reason to
suppose that the majority of the influential Syrians had made a private agreement
with the French, seized the activities of the French consulate, and unfortunately
found many official clbcuments incriminating Syrians. The most incriminating, upon
which the charge was founded, were the reports of the French Consul at Cairo,
Mr. de France, who described the proceedings and resolutions of the Congress of
Syrians at Cairo in 1913, which had voted for achieving by all means the independence
of Syria, selecting as sovereign the councillor Shefik-bin-Ahmed el Mulayed, who
belongs to the great and powerful family of the El Azam.
Another most incriminating document was a report from the French Minister at
Constantinople, M. Bompard, dealing with a long interview between himself and
Shefik el Mulayed, in which formal promise of France’s support was asked in case of
an uprising in favour of Syria’s independence.
The remainder of the correspondence showed that the official agents of France in
Tmkey strove to establish French influence over Syria, and had come to an under
standing with many influential Syrians.
After these discoveries Jemal Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , fully empowered by the Turkish Government
to act according to his own judgment, displayed great severity. He sent before the
courts martial (incompetent to judge political offences anterior to the outbreak of the
war) all the notable Syrians incriminated by the documents, insisting, in order to
dominate by terror the Arabian people, that the best known and most influential should
be condemned to death and hanged.
The. effect w T as^ widely different from what he expected. So far as I know, the
indignation of the Syrians is such that they would have revolted forthwith, following