Papers on British policy and the Arab movement [‎95r] (193/380)

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The wish of the last generation of British statesmen (expressed in many ways beside
the Bagdad Railway Agreements and the Al.exandretta negotiations of 1915) to with
draw from their Imperial position in the Middle East, made it desirable to find indirect
means of keeping intact our “ Monroe” area, the quadrangle of land between Egypt,
Alexandretta, Persia and the Indian Ocean. When war broke out an urgent need to
divide Islam was added, and we became reconciled to seek for allies rather than subjects.
We therefore took advantage of the dissatisfaction felt by the Arabic-speaking peoples
(formerly voiced by Abbas Hilmi) with their alien rulers, and of the tendency, each day
more visible, of the subject eastern peoples to demand a share in the dangers of
government. We hoped by the creation of a ring of client states, themselves insisting
on our patronage, to turn the present and future flank of any foreign power with designs
on the three rivers.
The greatest obstacle, from the war standpoint, to an Arab movement, was its
greatest virtue in peace time—the lack of solidarity between the various Arabic
movements. The local jealousies in Syria, in Mesopotamia, in Arabia and in Egypt
made it hard to know where or with whom to begin. There were abortive attempts
with Sayid Taleb and with Aziz el Masri before we made up our minds to concentrate
on the Sherif of Mecca. The Sherif was ultimately chosen because of the rift,he would
create in Islam, because his geographical position gave him a fair chance of surviving,
and because his pre-eminence amongst Arabs was based on the arbitrary and empiric, but
in the East unassailable, ground of family prestige.
Negotiations began between the Sherif and Sir Henry MacMahon, who was given
discretion by the British Government to conclue an agreement that would bring him in.
Sir Henry was unfortunately not informed of the Sykes-Picot Agreement then in proof.
The Sherif had no idea that we wanted him only as a figure-head; throughout the
correspondence he spoke as the mandatory of the Arabs—meaning everyone under
Turkish rule who spoke Arabic.
His first season as a rebel was not fortunate, and his chances were not improved
by the dismissal of Sir Henry MacMahon and the substitution of Sir Archibald Murray,
Sir Reginald Wingate and Colonel Brimond as his advisors. Nevertheless he was able
eventually to carry all Western Arabia with him from Mecca northwards, until
the occupation of Akaba by Feisul in August, 1917, closed the Sherefian military
movement.
Feisul now undertook for his father (who had aged very fast) the liberation of
Syria. His status for so doing was as a sealed member of the Syrian Revolutionary
Committee. He remained in constant touch with his fellow-members in Egypt, with
him in the field, and in undelivered Syria, treating them as colleagues. For his
instrument he formed a regular army of Syrians and Mesopotomians, and returned to
the Hejaz all his Arabians. As a detail of interest I may mention that only 8 Hejazis
shared in the entry into Damascus.
Feisul’s military operation could not be independent : he made himself the hand
maid of General Allenby, the Allied Commander-in-Chief. I hope that in dividing the
common spoils we will not descend to commercial arguments of the exact participating
contingents of British, French, Indian, Arab, Jew, or Armenian troops. The
Commander-in-Chief’s Arab alliance enabled him to throw his cavalry, without lines
of communication or the usual precautions, from Jaffa to Aleppo in pursuit of the
Turks through country nominally hostile, but really our own. General Allenby
reversed the old policy towards the Arabs, and helped them in every way he coidd
in materials, advice and men. Their rapid success is due to him.
The war work of the ruling family of Mecca is now completed. We can hardly
question the courage of King Hussein, who joined us, against Feisul’s advice, soon after
the'fall of Kut, with the example of our other small friends before his eyes. It is also
easy to see the moral ordeal it has been for the oldest, most holy, and most powerful
family of the Arabs (a people who lay more stress on faith and pedigree than others),
to cast off the friends and allegiance of a lifetime and to incur, on behalf of their
national freedom, the unmeasured abuse of India, Turkey, Afghanistan and Egypt.
(F18/441) 50 11/18 H&S 6l92wo