Papers on British policy and the Arab movement [‎99r] (201/380)

interest. Her great heart will never cease to think that I and my sons are her friends,
whose loyalty and friendship will never change; so name the country where she desires
we should live, that we may proceed to it at the first opportunity. Whether her
decision be favourable or otherwise, we shall continue to praise and thank her; and God
is a witness of this. If, however, she agrees to this, but thinks that the present state
of war necessitates its being held over until the end of the war, we shall, on account of
her favour and our gratitude to her, be obliged to persevere, in the face of redoubled
private and public accusations, and content ourselves with a pure and clear conscience.
In short, the decision one way or the other rests with you. As regards deferring the
question until the peace conference, know, your Excellency, that we are not concerned
with, or related to, it, that we should await its decisions in the negative or affirmative.
Were the said Conference to decide (to give us) double our original stipulations, and
the decision came through any source but your hands, may w^e be expelled from God’s
mercy if we accept it. God is observing all my statements, and to Him I pray to give
us all His divine protection.
Please accept, &c.
HUSEIN.
(Note. —The word “ hudud ” may mean “ boundaries ” or “ conditions. 7 ’)
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
Translation of the Agreement come to with the British Government regarding the
Rising and its Foundation.
1. GREAT BRITAIN agrees to the formation of an independent Arab Govern
ment in every meaning of the word “ independence,” internally and externally ; the
boundaries of the said Government being, on the east, the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; on the west,
the Red Sea, the Egyptian frontier, and the Mediterranean ; on the north, the northern
boundaries of the vilayets of Aleppo and Mosul up to the river Euphrates and its
junction with the Tigris as far as their mouths in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , but with the
exception of the Aden colony, which is excluded from these boundaries.
The Arab Government will undertake to respect the agreements and contracts
which the British Government makes with any Arab or any individual Emir who
happens to be within these boundaries; namely, that she will replace'the British
Government in seeing that the rights involved in those agreements and contracts are
maintained for the benefit of those who are entitled to them.
2. Great Britain undertakes to shield the said Government and protect it against
any interference or encroachment of any kind or form whatever, affecting her internally
or her boundaries by land or sea ; and even, in the case of an internal rising caused by
enemy intrigues or the jealousy of Emirs, the British Government will give the Arab
Government moral and material help in putting down the rising ; this help in internal
disorders and risings shall be limited to the time when the Arab Government shall
have completed its material formation.
3. Basra shall be in the occupation of the British Government until the said new
Arab Government shall have completed its material formation as above mentioned.
A sum of money shall be allotted by the British Government, in assessing which the
requirements of the Arab Government will be taken into consideration, seeing that the
said Government is like a minor in the keeping of the British Government, and the
sum referred to will be a gift made in respect of the said occupation.
4. Great Britain undertakes to supply her foster-daughter, the Arab Government,
with all its requisitions of arms, ammunitions, war materials, and money, in the way
of subsidies, for the duration of the war.
5. Great Britain undertakes to cut the railway line at Karsin or any other
convenient spot in that area.
No. 2.
Brigadier-General Clayton to Sir R, Wingate.
The Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. , Alexandria, G.H.Q., B.E.F., 1st Echelon, September 13, 1918.
I BEG to forward, for the consideration of his Excellency the High Commissioner,
a secret note on the situation in Central and Southern Arabia.
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