File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎215v] (428/450)

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manifesto tlie specific references to tlie administrative acts of the Committee of Union
and Progress should be eliminated, as they would give enemy propagandists an
opportunity of citing certain acts of the French Government in North Africa as being
of a similar nature. Sir H. McMahon has been informed of these representations.
I.Gr.P. 2719.
P. 2677.
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Effect oil the Moslems in India and Afghanistan.
The Viceroy reported on 10th July that the Indian Ulema had been violently
attacked by the Sadaqat, a Calcutta newspaper, for not having openly condemned
the Sherifalso that on the north-west frontier Region of British India bordering Afghanistan. opinion generally was against the
Sherif’s action. On Idth July he further reported that this had been condemned by
meetings held at Bareilly and Moradabad (both in tlie United Provinces), but that in
Calcutta a resolution had been passed by the ventral National Muhammadan
Association (chiefly run by government officials) reserving its opinion and welcoming
the assurance that ihe Hejaz would remain under independent Moslem rule and that
Moslems would decide the question of the Caliphate. The Viceroy further stated
that the press was still adverse to the Sherif, but, he added, Indian Moslems weie not
likely to commit themselves seriously at present. Reference has already been made
to another telegram of the same date in which the Viceroy attributed Indian
resentment to the belief that the Sherif had jeopardised the Holy Places by
his revolt.
It must be noted at this point that there appears to be diversity of opinion as to
the feeling in India, for the Arab Bureau in its report on current events reproduces
a censored telegram stating that the Moslems of Calcutta were elated at the news
from Hejaz, and that they felt assured that with British help the safety of the Holy
Places would be secured. 1 his telegram was published by the Mokattam, a Cano
newspaper.
The Indian Government has been greatly perturbed by the Sherif’s action, and
wishing to conceal the facts looked to the India Oflice for help. In reply to their
representations the Secretary of State telegraphed to the Viceroy on the 10th July.
He pointed out that it was impossible to prevent the publication of Turkish
communiques in neutral countries, and that the facts could not be indefiniteb
concealed. All possible measures would be taken to conceal, as long as possible, the
indirect connection of His Majesty’s Government with the revolt, but that he thought
it could not be the wish of the Indian Government that Turkish falsehoods and bazaar
rumours should be the sole source of information for Moslems in the East. So long
as these considerations are borne in mind the Foreign Office was prepared to instruct
Sir Charles Marling, the Minister at Tehran, to consult the Viceroy before publishing
anything connected with the Arab revolt. Finally, he suggested that the Viceroy
should instruct Sir Percy Cox and other officers to publish a plain statement that
British ships have not fired upon the Moslem Holy Places, and that the Viceroy himself
should similarly contradict falsehoods.
As to Afghanistan, the Viceroy telegraphed on 13th July that the British Agent
at Kabul reported that the revolt was condemned universally and ascribed to English
intrigues ; but so far there had been no great excitement as the revolt in Hejaz was
believed to have been promptly crushed.
The latest communication from the Viceroy to hand is dated 15th July. In this
he says that the Indian Government would prefer not to make any announcement in
India at present for the reason that any official announcement would be liable to be
distorted and misconstrued and would give food for fresh Pan-Islamic agitation ; that
they had the Indian situation well in hand and _ thought it better for the Moslem
community to get accustomed to the fait accompli in Hejaz than for it to be hustled
into a definite attitude; that an announcement in Afghanistan of our sympathy for
the Sherif (which would be construed as instigation and co-operation) would
embarrass the Amir, who, until we declare ourselves, can answer the party in favour
of the Turks by saying that he has no ground for quarrelling with us over this
matter ; that reports from Kabul indicate that the Amir has called a secret council to
discuss the matter and that there is excitement, which would be increased by the
proposed announcement in India. As to the announcement itself, the Indian
Government considered it to be unobjectionable and saw no reason why it should not
be published in other Mohammedan possessions from which it could filter to India
through the post.
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