File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎201v] (400/450)

to which he transferred, did not start till midday of the 30th, and by the time it
reached Rabegh, the trouble, to which I shah presently refer, had taken place. Major
Pearson was also on board the “Surada.”
On the morning of the 30th June I had a long conversation with Sherif Faroki, in
which he told me frankly the object of his mission. He also showed me his letter of
introduction to the High Commissioner, of which a rough translation is attached
| (Appendix V). The Sherif is very anxious to be officially recognised by the Allies, and
has ordered Sherif Faroki to make a special point of this. He intends to send
telegrams to each Government. He is very sensitive about the opinion of the
Mohammedan world, but hopes that his proclamation will convince it of the righteousness
of his cause. He also intends to conciliate the Azhar Ulema at all costs, and to start
a press campaign in his own favour. I pointed out that nothing could help him so
much as a successful pilgrimage, as his fair fame would then be spread all over the
Moslem world. Faroki replied that this was fully realised and that the Sherif intended
to begin by halving the pilgrimage dues. He then went on to say that the Sherif
designed to assume eventually the title of the “ King of the Arabs,and “ Calipha of
the Moslems, but that he wished to make his position thoroughly secure first. He
realises that his present untrained bands are of little use in opposing the Turks, and
therefore wishes as quickly as possible to form an army of about 30,000 men, of which
the majority will be Hejaz Arabs, stiffened by all the Arab officers and men who can
be obtained in the British prisoners of war camps in India, Mesopotamia, and Egypt.
Sherif Faroki is empowered to ask the British Government to equip the whole of this
force, to collect in Egypt all the Arab supporters from the various prisoners of war
camps, and to help in every way possible the formation of the nucleus of the Arab
army. Probably Aziz Bey El Masri will be asked to command. Faroki, after obtaining
the approval of the British Government to the scheme in principle, will consult with
the Arab officers now in Cairo and submit detailed and considered proposals. The
ultimate intention which he frankly avows is to invade Syria as soon as possible. He
has instructions to raise the Syrian territorial question, and to try to come to some
arrangement with the French. As to whether the British Government will be asked to
maintain the Arab army in the field depends on what other drains are made on the
monthly subsidy of 125,0002. The Sherif is convinced that this sum has been
promised to him, and wished it paid in gold at Jeddah commencing from the
1st July.
His present immediate requirements are :—
1. 7,000 rifles.
2. 5,300,000 rounds S.A.A., i.e., at the rate of 650 rounds per rifle for the
whole 10,000, since he says that the 400 rounds per rifle sent with the
first 3,000 rifles were not enough.
3. 50 kilos dynamite to be used against the Medina Fort. Faroki intends to
send an Arab sapper officer with this immediately on his arrival at
Cairo.
4. 500 hand bombs.
5. 5 trained Moslem armourers for the repair of both rifles and guns.
6. 2 or 3 Moslem experts in explosives, about whom Colonel Wilson has already
telegraphed to the Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. .
The other things which he has already asked for, such as two more mountain
batteries, a howitzer battery, 25,000 rifles, a field ambulance and two or four
aeroplanes, form part of the scheme for the regular army, and will be submitted by
Faroki later.
The Sherif hopes and expects that the British Government will keep his present
irregular force fully supplied and equipped. He will be glad to welcome a British
consul at Jeddah shortly. He wants the Mahmal sent at the usual time.
As regards the internal administration of the Hejaz, Faroki wishes to send some
Mohammedans of experience from Cairo at once to reduce to order the chaos at present
reigning. I do not think he has any cut-and-dried proposal to make. He is very
anxious to secure the help of General Clayton in military, and Mr. Storrs in civil
matters, and seems to have left the details for later decision. If His Britannic Majesty’s
Government intends to afford full help to the Sherif, it will probably be necessary to
form two Committees, one civil and one military, composed of British and Arab members,
in order that a comprehensive scheme may be drawn up.
Faroki also spoke to me of the rising which has taken place in Syria, and which