Middle East Committee and Eastern Committee [‎4v] (8/42)

2
Palestine:
(c.) Propaganda.
Encouragement of
Arab Forces.
Pan-Turanian
Propaganda among
Pussian Moslems.
*#!&U*"* ' -> ^
The Committee decided that—
Lord Hardinge should have a frank talk with the French
Ambassador upon the situation, pointing out to him the
indignity of allowing friction and disturbances in the Church
of the Holy Sepulchre between Christian representatives
of dilferent nationality.
They further decided that—
Lord Hardinge, after his interview with M. Cambon, should
provide the D. M.I. with material for a reply to General
Allenby’s telegram.
It was pointed out to the Committee that further material for
propaganda in regard to Palestine was required for
dissemination from this country. Propaganda was more
particularly required for—
(a. ) The Jews.
(b.) Irish-Americans.
(c.) Anglicans.
General Macdonogh suggested that some officer who understood
the political conditions for which propaganda was required should be
attached to General Clayton’s staff, and that additional new.^paper
correspondence should be sent to Palestine.
Colonel Buchan suggested that Mr. Philip Gibbs, now serving
as a correspondent on the Western front, would be a suitable person
to undertake the preparation of newspaper propaganda in Palestine.
It was further pointed out to the Committee that Mr. Sacher, a
leader writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. on the “ Manchester Guardian,” was to be attached to
the Zionist Commission.
The Committee decided that—
Among the orders given to Captain Ormsby Gore, the War
Office should include instructions to him to inform General
Clayton regarding the nature of the propaganda material
required, and that Colonel Buchan should take the neces
sary steps to obtain, if possible, the release of Mr. Philip
Gibbs from his present duties, with a view to his proceeding
to Palestine at the earliest possible date.
2. General Macdonotrh informed the Committee that Captain
Lloyd, who had recently returned from Egypt, had informed him
that much might be done to encourage the Arabs by the trans
mission of congratulatory telegrams, and by the granting to Arabs
of British decorations, such as the Order of the British Empire, and
the gift of sundry articles, such as field-glasses, &c., to Arab officers.
The Committee approved the carrying out of the above sug
gestions.
3. The attention of the Committee was drawn to- telegram
No. 64, dated the 8th January, from Petrograd, from which it would
appear that the lines being adopted by Dr. Williams for combating
Pan-Turanian propaganda in the Caucasus and other parts of the
Kussian Empire were of a verv dangerous kind. It would appear
that these methods included the spread of Pan-Islamic ideas.
General Macdonogh added in this connection that a telegram
had been received from Sir Percy Cox suggesting that the King of
the Hejaz should send a representative to Baku to explain to tiie
Moslems m that neighbourhood the reasons why he was endeavouring
to drive the Turks out of Moslem holy places.
The Committee were of opinion that this suggestion was most
impracticable and undesirable.