File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎188r] (373/450)

■(This Boomnent ia the Preperty of Hk Britaanie Majesty's Govemmenll
SECRET.
For Reference only.
N.S. No. V. August 16, 1916 (night).
Contents.
part I.
The Sherif of Mecca.
The Sherif and Idrisi.
The Sherif’s operations.
The Sherif s subsidy.
The Sherif and Colonel Wilson.
French Mission to the Sherif.
The Proclamation.
The Turkish Government and the Revolt.
Opinion in India.
The Arab Bureau Report.
Maskat.
Koweyt and the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. .
Bahrein.
PART II.
Political Notes from the Fields of Operations.
Aden.
PART III.
Miscellaneous.
Armenian massacres.
Turkish deserters.
The Turkish Opposition in Switzerland.
PART IV.
The Press.
Syria.
Syrians starved (“ Times ”).
Neutral aid refused (/£.).
Enemy Propaganda.
1. German activities (“Daily Graphic”).
2. Rumours from Persia (“Kolnische Volks-
zeitung ”).
3. British attitude towards Moslems (“ Tanin ”).
APPENDIX I.
Explanatory Note on Recent Events in Hejaz by a
Tunisian Moslem.
APPENDIX II.
Reasons for the Resignation of Khairi Effendi,
Shaykh-ul-Islam (Algerian).
APPENDIX III.
The Lies of the Young Turk Government (Algerian).
APPENDIX IV.
Moslems and their Holy Places (Indian).
PART I.
THE SHERIF OF MECCA.
The Sherif and Idrisi.
ON the 8th August Viscount Grey telegraphed to Sir H. McMahon [No. 664] that
(l) he saw no objection to the withdrawal of Idrisi’s forces from Comfida if Idrisi could
be induced to consent, leaving the matter to our arbitration after the war ; and every
effort should be made to induce him to take a reasonable view ; (2) the Sherif should
have it clearly pointed out to him that Idrisi is our ally, and he should be asked why he
objected to the latter occupying Comfida ; (3) His Majesty’s Government will use their
good offices to mediate after the war, but has no intention of taking sides in Arab
disputes ; (4) now all should concentrate their efforts in defeating the Turk
This was telegraphed by Mr. Chamberlain on the following day to India and Aden
with the following addition : “ You will realise the importance of making the withdrawal
as little distasteful as possible to Idrisi, whose loyal attitude we appreciate.”
Sir H. McMahon, in a despatch dated the 13th August [No. 688j, reported the
course of the negotiations with idrisi. The commander of the “Northbrook,” lying at
Jeisan, acting for and under the instructions of the S.N.O. in the Red Sea, informed
Idrisi that the ship would leave Comfida, and that the garrison should be withdrawn
within forty-eight hours. Idrisi objected on the ground that the summary ejection of
the garrison would damage his prestige and ours, as he had been installed at Comfida
by us ; he flatly refused to withdraw in forty-eight hours, and asked for at least twenty
days’ extension to allow him to confer with the Sherifis representative and so save his
face; if the ship left Comfida he should hold us responsible for the safety of the
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