File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎169r] (335/450)

These gains are worth more than all her sacrifices in the war. France has now
more or less insured her future possession of Syria.
Thus, the direction of our Allies’ activities has left untouched the southern
part of Asia Minor; and there—from the Gulf of Smyrna to Alexandretta—a
zone of influence remains for Italy. This zone falls naturally to Italy in compen
sation for—but still more as a direct political consequence of—her allies’ gains.
For all these gains injure Italy in varying degree : Russia’s opening of the Straits
will add a further formidable Mediterranean competitor ; England’s annexation of
Egypt cuts Italy off from her Red Sea colonies ; a French Syria will mean the
cutting of the one other route to the East which could possibly compete with the
Suez Canal and connect the Mediterranean with Mecca.
This last point—'the absolute severance of all possible direct connection
bet ween Italy and the centre of Islam—is worth emphasising, since it must not be
said that Syria is too slight a compensation for France, and that Italy’s with
drawal of all claim to the zone from Alexandretta to the Egyptian frontier is no
great sacrifice The sole road—now that the Suez route is cut—-which can connect
the Mediterranean with Arabia and the Red Sea will be the Hejaz railway^ with
its branches to various places on the Syrian coast. Now we resign our claim to
this connecting route in favour of France. But that is not all ; the Hejaz has
long been an isolated province, and the Holy Places have therefore fallen under the
influence of Egypt. The opening up of the Hejaz Railway will withdraw from
Egyptian influence the centre of Mohammedanism, and will tend to transfer it to
the influence of the owners of Syria and Lebanon. influence we also
renounce, together with all other titles to Syria which for many years Italian
settlers, and, above all, Italian religious foundations, have constituted^ But we do
lay claim to the southern part of Asia Minor. Since our right to it cannot be
gainsaid, its precise boundaries alone remain to be discussed. ^
(The “ Idea ” promises to point them out in a further article.)
[Taken from the “ Daily Review” (W.O.) for the 25th August.]
APPENDIX (D).
Miscellaneous Cuttings fbom the Press.
The Yeni-Turan Movement.
[The following appeared in the “ Daily Telegraph” of August 24. It has also appeared
in other papers.]
A special correspondent of the Central News states .
For some years a new movement has been noticeable m Turkey, known as “ Yem-
;' U raii ”—New Turan. Its object is to revive Turkish nationality at the expense ot
he Moslem religion, and on this basis to unite in a general federation all the iurco-
[artar and kindred races (Bulgarians included). Its promoters are hostile to Is am, on
he ground that (so they say) Islam tends to destroy the feeling of nationality, and
las prevented the formation of a “Turkish” civilisation: they want to make the
Darkish national soul independent of Islam.” Islam, in fact, has no place in their
wogrammeovement has both a literary and a political side. The former seeks, among
,ther things, to glorify the history of the Turanian races; Chingiz Khan is made a
ero and f statesman by those who dream of restoring his empire. The political side
mncerns the Arab race. Bitter hostility is shown to them. They are a “ misfortune
hr Turkey; they must be Turkish ; their lands must become Turkish colonies; their
Story and customs must be forgotten ; above all, their language must be forbidden
nd replaced by Turkish. All this has been constantly advocated by Turkish nationalist
writers’, Ld a Turk, preaching in Syria, has declared that the existence of the Prophet
wrs & fiction invented, by the ArBibs.