File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎128r] (253/450)

much affected by occurrences lowering only the religious prestige of Turkey—
though, of course, the Hejaz revolt is of military and political significance also.
3. “ The Bahraini Shias, alienated by the Turkish atrocity at Kerbela, are
a at present anti-Turkish, and will in all probability remain so, especially 4 if kept up
to the mark ’ by further propaganda.”
But on the 9th August he sent a memorandum to the C.P.O. at Basra (who
transmitted a copy of both report and memorandum to the Arab Bureau) saying that
from opinions expressed by a trustworthy individual he was inclined to believe that the
pro- J urkish and anti-Sherif feeling was somewhat stronger than he had previously
indicated. But the same individual also expressed the opinion that the people of
Bahrein were more interested in the pearl market than in religio-political matters which
took place in foreign parts.
KOWEYT.
At the same time the C.P.O. reported that the first news of the Sherif’s revolt
created some stir in Koweyt, but that the interest had then subsided. There was, he
said, considerable divergence of opinion ; but, generally speaking, the Koweyt attitude
was one of expectancy combined with some sympathy for the Turks in that the
Sherif had taken advantage of the difficulties in which the war had involved them.
PART II.
POLITICAL EVENTS IN THE FIELDS OF OPERATIONS.
Aden.
Situation unchanged.
The Caucasus.
[Nil]
PART III.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Arab Bureau.
The Bureau has issued its report for August. Since the departure of Lieutenant-
Commander Hogarth, R.N.V.R., Captain Cornwallis has been director. The instalment
of Colonel Wilson at Jeddah has thrown much additional work on the Bureau, which
has also been able to assist the military authorities in the preparation of a map of
Syria on a scale of 1/500,000. It hopes that Lieutenant Nalder, R.N.V.R., Political
Officer of the Red Sea Patrol, will soon be appointed its correspondent in the Southern
Red Sea, and that he will be able to devote some of his time to research work, as the
“ Handbook of Asir ” is necessarily inaccurate and incomplete, and first-hand knowledge
of the tribes and their boundaries will be of importance when His Majesty’s Government
is called upon to arbitrate between the Sherif and Idrisi.
Trade with Jeddah.
Sir H. McMahon telegraphed on the 22nd September [No. 803] in answer to an
enquiry from Mr. Chamberlain in regard to trade with Jeddah. He said that between
Egypt and Hejaz a limited amount of strictly controlled trade by steamers was allowed.
The Khedival Mail Company sent a steamer weekly to Hejaz, which met local needs,
and he deprecated any extension of commercial relations for shipment.