File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎197r] (391/450)

and that some of the travelled merchant classes were reported to go so far as to say
that they would welcome British rule even in Mecca, as they know we should not
interfere with their religion.
The Resident also sent copies of two letters written to the Imam by Sultan Abdul
Karim bin Fadl bin Ali the Abdali, and of one of congratulation from the Idrisi to the
Sherif.
The Abdali is distinctly anti-Turk, pro-Sherif, and pro-British. Of us, he
says : The English came to Aden before the Turks came to Yeman, but they have
not quarrelled with any of the chiefs about his independence in his own soil; on the
contrary, we govern our country according to our own religion, and do as we like.
Over and above this, they give us continuous subsidies, whereas the .Turk's came into
the Yeman after them, fought with their co-religionists, and turned them out of their
own dwellings.
Opinion in India.
From telegrams published in the “Indian Daily Telegraph ” (Lucknowi of [?] the
29th June it appears that opinion in India is far from being unanimous. Resolutions
antagonistic to the Sherif were passed at meetings held at Lucknow (under the
chairmanship of a lawyer) and at Calcutta, as well as at an emergency meeting of the
Council of the All-India Moslem League. On the other hand, another telegram from
Calcutta, dated the 25th June, published in the same paper, says that the Mohammedans
generally are delighted at the news; and a telegram from Madras, dated the 28th June,
said that one influential Moslem declared that the whole community was glad to hear
of the Sherif s declaration of independence ; and another, that he was confident that,
“ with British advice and guidance, the Sherif would perform an immense service to the
Mohammedan world.”
Opinion in Afghanistan.
The Viceroy telegraphed on the 26th July that the British agent in Kabul had
reported, in regard to the Arab revolt, that the Amir and his council were taking drastic
measures to prevent dissemination of news or general discussion in Kabul. The Viceroy
regards this as further evidence of the determination of the Amir not to be hustled into
war by a popular outburst, and as an indication of his unwillingness to commit himself
till the result of the revolt is clear.
Opinion of Russian Moslems.
Sir G. Buchanan telegraphed from Petrograd on the 28th July 'No. 1193] that
the Russian Government had informed him that but little impression had been produced
on Russian Moslems by the rising.
Opinion of Turks in Switzerland.
Agent reports that the Turkish Opposition party in Switzerland is in favour of the
Sherif "being proclaimed Caliph in place of the Sultan ; that it is most anxious to help
us in every way ; and that it is of opinion that the time is ripe for an extensive
propaganda, in the form of pamphlets and leaflets, distributed among the Arabs and
the Turks.
Suggested Propaganda in India.
On the 27th July the Viceroy telegraphed his views in regard to the suggestions
made by Risaldar Major Gul Mawaz Khan in his interview with Sir Arthur Hirtzel:
(1) that some (say ten) carefully-selected Indian officers from France should take leave,
and find their way in twos and threes to Hejaz, where it might be arranged that the
Grand Sherif should receive them and tell them his case. They would then go to India
(still on leave), scatter to their homes, and relate what they had seen and heard;
(2) that the Grand Sherif should put out a proclamation to the Moslem world, which
should also bear the signatures of the leading Arab notables, and that a deputation of
these notables, with facsimiles of the proclamation, should visit India and give lectures
or hold meetings. The Viceroy says that, after very careful consideration, they had
come to the conclusion 'that neither suggestion was _ really practicable. As regards the
first suggestion, ten or twelve native officers would in any case have but little influence,
if anv on public opinion, and in this particular case, being Government servants, they
would be discredited ; and as regards the second, while there was no objection to the