File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎190v] (378/450)

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Neutral Aid for Syria refused,
Washington, 11th August .—Turkey has refused to grant the request of the United
States to permit a neutral committee to distribute relief in Syria, where thousands are
reported to be starving.—(Reuter, “ Times,” 12th August.)
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1. German Activities.
Enemy Propaganda
Writing from Berne, Mr. Julian Grande gives in the “ Daily Graphic ” (2nd August)
some astonishing facts regarding Germany’s propagandist activities in Moslem lands.
After remarking that he is assured from a perfectly trustworthy source “that her
budget for propaganda in Switzerland alone for the last two years has amounted to
2,000,000 M., which does not surprise us,” he proceeds:—
“ I have no means of knowing what she has expended upon propaganda in
Mohammedan lands, but it must be also a considerable sum, for, according to one
of our Egyptian fellow-subjects, Mr. Aly El Gha’iaty, she has, to his certain
knowledge, published and circulated in these countries seventy-two different
pamphlets, and, of course, there may be others which he has not succeeded in
discovering.
“ The pamphlets are published in a variety of languages, principally Turkish,
Arabic, Persian, Tartar, Hindustani, Chinese, and modern Sanskrit. Some of these
productions bear on their covers the statement that they were printed in Paris or
London; but most ostensibly proceed from Zurich, Rio de Janeiro, or some neutral
European capital. Some are illustrated, some actually printed on art paper, while
in order the better to impress the Arabs and Persians in particular, the writers of
pamplets intended for them have blossomed forth into poetry.
“ As for the contents of these precious productions, they may be judged from
some of their titles : ‘ A Verdict on England,’ printed in Berlin ; ‘ British Atrocities,’
‘Russian Cruelties,’ ‘French Lies,’ and ‘French Intrigues against Islam.’ The
so-called Young Egyptians, or Egyptian Nationalists, who idle about the lake
promenade in Geneva, and who are not, as a rule, true Egyptians at all, but
Levantines and nondescripts generally, have, of course, been pressed into the service.
If those for whom these pamphlets are destined could but see the individuals whom
Germany has employed for their writing, they would scarcely be edified. Nowhere
are these ‘ Young Egyptians ’ looked upon with more contempt than in their
headquarters, Geneva, where no serious newspaper will have anything to do either
with them or with their silly resolutions.”
[This was taken from the “ Near East” of the 11th August.]
2. Rumours from Paris.
According to a statement of the “ Frankfurter Zeitung ” from Constantinople,
reliable information is to hand concerning differences which have arisen between
England and Russia concerning essential points in connection with Persia. Shortly
after the capitulation of Townshend at Kut-el-Amara, England expressed an urgent
desire chat Russian troops should be removed from the English sphere‘of influence in
Southern Persia. In London there was obvious depression at Russia’s failure to succour
the English troops in Mesopotamia. Despite great resistance from the Russian military
authorities, Sazonov acceded—at first hesitatingly and finally absolutely—to the English
desire. After Sazonov’s fall, St firmer endeavoured to go against this promise. It is
no mere circumstance that the English Embassy at Tehran, for the first time, should
have its summer residence at Ispahan.—(“ Kblnische Volkszeitung,” August 7.)
[This was taken from the “Daily Review of the Foreign Press” (W.O.) for the 14th
August.]
3. British Attitude towards the Moslems.
An agent reported [06772] that in the “ Tanin ” (the organ of the Young Turk
party) of the 28th July it was stated that the principal British political aim was morally
to crush all Moslems.
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