File 705/1916 Pt 1 'Arab revolt: reports' [‎243v] (34/494)

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APPENDIX B.
VIEWS OF AN INDIAN RESIDENT IN LONDON.
Since that sensational news of the “ Revolt of the Arabs ” I have
been thinking of writing you, but didn’t feel well enough. You know
I have always endeavoured to bring to the notice of the Authorities any
policy or steps on their part which may be likely to cause misunderstanding
and unrest in the mind of Muslims. My best efforts were also directed
to a rapprochement between the Moslim domains and Great Britain.
Before this unfortunate war between Turkey and Great Britain was
declared, I approached, through an M.P. friend, responsible people in the
Government advising them to issue a declaration, in case the war between
Turkey and England did break out, that Great Britain would do nothing,
even under provocation from the Turks, to create any change in the native
guard at the Holy Places in Islam. I impressed my friend that it would
he to the interest of the Turks to compel Great Britain to show some sort
of design on the Holy Places, either of a Protectorate, or of a conquest,
just to arouse the invincible fanaticism of the Muslim world.
A few days before the outbreak of the war between Turkey and
England I wrote to H.H. the Aga Khan also to the same effect, a personal
correspondence of some length. I was very glad to see that the Authorities
did adopt the same course as was suggested by me, with the result that
although a Holy War was declared by Turkish Ministers, it did not arouse
Muslim fanaticism, because the Holy Places and religious questions as to
the Khalifat, &c., were wisely left absolutely and assuredly alone by Great
Britain and its Allies.
Now a sensational news has been spread broadcast concerning those
very Holy Places. The Times leading article announcing the news was well
written, insomuch that it reproduced the declaration made by Great Britain
and its Allies as to its inviolability of the Holy Places and their Port, Jeddah,
and that it plainly said that the incident was domestic, and only temporal,
concerning none but the Muslims themselves.
But the next day a news from Constantinople was published to the effect
that a British man-of-war had bombarded the Hedjaz Coast, and this news
was never contradicted.
With your experience of India you know that for some time—a good
long time, in fact—Indian Muslims have felt suspicious of the policy of
Great Britain towards the Holy Plages. They have been led to believe
that it was the object of Great Britain to have Arabia and the Holy Places
of Islam under its Protectorate, or under its influence. As you know, one
of the commands in the Holy Quran itself forbids the ruling of all non-