File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎222v] (442/450)

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telegram from Cairo, is a little difficult to understand; no official news of tins event
has-been received, and, if it should prove untrue, we shall find that the issue of false
news of a favourable kind is as much to be deprecated as the spread of alarming
rumours.
The Turkish communiques, it will be noticed, make play with the events m the
Sinai peninsula, but are silent in regard to the Sherif and the Russian advance
in the Caucasus.
The situation in Syria still remains obscure, but such indications as there are
continue to point to the existence of some disturbance or unrest.
The Russian capture of Erzinjan is of political importance since if the Russians
hold Erzinjan they will be able to join hands with the Kurds of the Dersim who have
been in revolt against the Turks for some time. The Dersini Kinds aie not m touch
with the Arab movement proper, but may form a channel of communication with the
Kurdo-Arabs of North Mesopotamia, who are probably favourable to the Sherif.
The Grand Duke’s suggestion that we should bring political pressure to bear
on the Kurds of the Turco-Persian frontier is probably prompted by the idea that
we had taken some steps to foster the anti-Turkish and pro-Arab sentiments
innate among these tribes. This might have been done had we had a consistent
and general policy in regard to the Arab movement, but in the present posture
of affairs we can do nothing owing to lack of previous preparation. Should we
see fit to adopt a definite line in regard to Arabs and Kurdo-Arabs it would,
perhaps, be possible to improve the situation, but it would take time and an
efficient propagandist organisation well acquainted with the views and habits of the
tribesmen to achieve anything.
It may be remarked that the Kurdish officers in the*Turkish army drawn from
these districts were generally anti-Committee, pro-British and anti-Russian, this was
well known to the Russian Intelligence officers in the Army of the Caucasus.
M. S.
26th July 1916.