Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎253r] (505/544)

9
Khulif? As is well known he is not of the Koreish family, end from the point of
view of descent his claim to the spiritual supremacy is widely disputed m the
Moslem world. He has been enabled to keep it, in the main, tor two reasons : * irst
because he has been the custodian of the Holy Places, and secondly, because he has had
Constantinople. The first has given him great spiritual distinction and authority over
the Moslems all over the world. The second has enabled him to pose as the greut
Islamic Power. He has already lost the Holy Places. If he also loses Constantinople,
it seems to me his chances of retaining the Khalifate are gone. What they may be it
he remains there I do not know. 1 should think that they are doubtful. H e
loses Constantinople I imagine that there can be very little doubt that the Mahommedan
world will not accept as a Khalif a sovereign who has been dispossessed of Constantinople,
Mecca, and Medina, and who has been driven back into the highlands of Asia.
I have stated what seem to be the reasons for getting rid of the Turk from Iturope
altogether. Now let us consider the reasons against.
"First, we are told that it would outrage Mahommedan sentiment throughout
the world. 1 very much wonder if that would he the case myself. this wai has
applied a wonderful test-stone to the solidarity of Islam, and as the various l owers
who have been fighting the Turk, and so many of whom have large 1 urkish possessions
of their own, whether they be in Africa or in Asia, successively came into the
struggle, each was oppressed with the fear that all his Mahommedan subjects would
dislike ihe fact that we were fighting the Turks so much that trouble and revolution
might break out, and, in fact, that the Moslem world as a whole would be outraged at
the idea of our being at war with the Turk. So far as I know those expectations have
been falsified. When we come to India, about which Sir Hamilton Grant has put in a
very powerful plea as to the feelings of the Indian Mahommedans and their great sense
of outrage and indignity if the Turks were turned out of Constantinople, with all
respect 1 do not a^ree the least in the world. I believe that the Moslem sentiment
about Constantinople is one of purely modern creation. I do not believe that it existed
fifty years ago. .. . _ .
It was largely the fuss we ourselves made about turkey at the time of the Crimean
War, and the fVict that our policy w^as so much identified with that of Turkey, that
first induced the Mahommedans of India to begin to look towards Constantinople, and to
regard the Sultan as their spiritual chief. I was in India when the l urks were at war
with Greece, and all sorts of apprehensions were expressed as to the possible attitude
of the Moslems in India. They did not turn a hair. In the same way when the first
and second Balkan wars took place, and Turkey was gradually being driven back, and
Constantinople was at one time in danger. 1 do not say that anxiety was not expiessed
in India, but nothing serious took place. In this war, again, where the strain has been
immeasurably greater upon Moslem sentiment than it ever has been befoie, is it not a
most startling and remarkable fact that the Moslems of India have accepted the position
with the loyalty and equanimity they have? If Sir Hamilton Grant refers, as he may
do, to more recent manifestations, I would reply r to him that the Nationalist Moslem
movement in India is much more concerned in sympathising with the ^ oung Turk
because the Young Turk is anti-British than because he is a Moslem.
It is some years since I left India, and I speak with some diffidence on the matter.
If I were asked, however, to give my opinion for what it is worth as to whether, if the
Turk were turned out of Constantinople, there would be a great revulsion of feeling or
any serious excitement in India, I should answer decidedly in the negative. I do not
think that Pan-Islamism has any substantial hold in India at all. #
Now, coming to the end, what I have said would indicate that, m my judgment, for
what it is worth, the arguments in favour of seizing this opportunity of getting rid of the
Turk altogether from Europe are predominant. 1 hat still leaves unsolved the question
of whether there is to be a condominium, or whether we ought to have the Americans.
Perhaps the authorities here, who are much better qualified than I am, would tell me
what are the kinds of limitations that could be placed upon their exercise of authorityn
Would it be possible, if you put the Americans there (I am assuming that the lurks
have gone), to place them there with a sort of municipal administration of
Constantinople, with a force that would enable them to police the city and such
surrounding districts as were left, with such naval force, again, as would enable them
to patrol the waters of the Straits, with no fear of their thus creating a con
siderable force—in fact, to allow or invite the Americans simply to discharge the
functions of preserving law and order, and conducting local administration within that
area. ? I cannot myself see that that need necessarily be impossible , but it is not
accepted in any of the papers, and therefore I venture merely to suggest the idea.
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