Papers on British policy and the Arab movement [‎65v] (134/380)

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compensation (which Sir H. MacMahon had ignored) go by default. It ran
as follows :—
“ With regard to what had been stated in your honoured communication
concerning El Irak, as to the matter of compensation for the period
of occupation, we, in order to strengthen the conlidence of Great
Britain in our attitude and in our words and actions, really and
veritably, and in order to give her evidence of our certainty and
assurance in trusting her glorious Government, leave the determi
nation of the amount to the perception of her wisdom and justice.”
12. The correspondence, so far ns Mesopotamia is concerned, closed with
Sir H. MacMahon’s reply, in which he merely “took note” of the Sherif’s
“remarks concerning the Vilayet of Baghdad,” and promised that he would
“ take the question into careful consideration when the enemy has been
“ defeated and the time for peaceful settlements arrives.”
1.”. On the 25th August 1910 the Sherif, in acknowledging the grant to
him of a monthly subsidy of 125,000?. by Ills Majesty’s Government, wrote
as follows to Sir 11. MacMahon :—
“ Your Excellency knows that the above-mentioned monthly pay of
125,000/. is for the organisation of government and its necessary
administrations, and will he deducted from the amount which we left
to the justice of Great Britain to decide for our deficient Government,
which is under Great Britain’s guardianship and protection, during
her occupation of Basra and Irak.”
Xo reply appears to have been returned to this letter.
14. In a recent telegram (22nd January 1918) Sir R. Wingate has
recommended that, in view of what he describes as the** 1 growing uneasiness
among Arabs about the Entente’s intentions for Arab countries,”-he should
be authorised at once to give King Husain the following definite assurances :—
(1) that His Majesty’s Government is still determined to secure Arab
independence and to fulfil the promises made at the beginning of
the Hejaz revolt ;
(2) that His Majesty’s Government will countenance no permanent
foreign or European occupation of Palestine, Irak (except the
province of Basra) or Syria after the war ; and
(3) that these districts will be in the possession of their natives, and that
foreign interference with Arab countries will be restricted* to
assistance and protecticn.
15. Commenting on these recommendations, Sir P. Cox (telegram of
,25th January 1918) has protested strongly against Mesopotamia being
“ treated as a pawn in our negotiations or relations with young Arabs of
“ Egypt and. the Sherif” ; and has urged that, if any new declarations are
considered necessary, no reference should be made to the promises of 1915,
at all events so far as Mesopotamia is concerned. The Government of India
(telegram of 29th January) support Sir P. Cox’s view, and recommend that,
if further discussion with King Husain at the present stage is really
unavoidable, an endeavour should be made to obtain the King’s assent to a
“ definite modification of MacMahon’s unfortunate pledge in the light of
“ actual facts and his acceptance of principle that we should have right to
“ continue administration in both Vilayets with the object of gradually
“ building up self-government in both.”
Political De r artaient,
India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. ,
30th January 1918.