File 705/1916 Pt 1 'Arab revolt: reports' [‎291r] (129/494)

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Ropr ob cntationa rroro made tp Halil Panha concorning
tho fato of tho Araha of KUT • fhoo o had ohovm thomaolvoc,
in tho main, friondly to ug, but had not boon ankod to taka
any activo part inoporationo. Tounahond* a ourrondor
haying boon unoonditi 021 a!, it vrao impooaiblo to make any
stipulation as to their treatment, but g'alil v;an urged
strongly to ahovr moderation, and to treat thorn an compelled
to eido v/ith uo by force majouro.
H 0 oaid that ho had no intention of going to oxtromon, and
oooraod rather amused in our interest in them.
Ho broke tho underotanding, hovrovor, and hao to date
5 they compriao a Turkish officer
oosofter, a Jen conTractor, an Arab notable of KUT and his
two sons, two Mukhtaro and two prominoht Sheilchs*
Halil *0 record of service, which includes some months
Kurd hunting in VAH before the war, and a peculiarly
ghastly Armenian massacre in the HELAZOHBRD area compels
one to look Mapon this performance as humane#
Tho executions are confirmed by British officoro
engaged in removing General Termshond ! n wounded from KUT.
It is roportod that one prisoner, when being led to tho
gallows, seized his Husbah (Hohammadan rosary) and flung
it to a British offioor, over tho heads of tho Turks.
The man may have boon a Shi a, indeed probably r/as, but oven
so tho incident is probably unprecedented in modern Islam.
HOTE - Halil *0 remarks about tho Arabs, and tho
incident of tho Musbah at KUT were reported by officers
present under privilege from tho Turks, and must not
therefore bo communioatod in any way. They are given hero
as remarkable evidence of tho relations existing in Irak
between the Turks and their Arab subjects.
P ERS I A,
BASRA telegraphs, 11th Juno ~
Prime Minister, Poroia, sent following message to
W a li of PUSHTI KUH, and latter has received message,
M 21st May - You are of course aware of tho completely
friondly rolationo existing between the Persian Government
and the Governments of Russia and Uroat Britain. I
therefore emphasise to your Excellency tho need of further
strengthening and consolidating regulation of good
relations which have for a long time existed between Persia
and those two high Governments. You have shown your
approoiation of this point in the excellence and loyalty
of^the services you have always rendered. You should now
give all necessary help and co-operation v/henover British
trooos pass, in tho way of stopping completely interference
from local rebels and others. In this way you may win for
yourself still further approval from tho Government author
ities
S U D A IT.
En t ore opted lo t tor from a n infl uential Hota bl o_of the _Sndan
tcf~a friend -
SFter compkimenta i I hope you are well. The