"ملخص لثورة الحجاز" [و‎‎٨‎٣] (٣٠/١٧)

The failure of the Stotzin^en Mission to Arabia in 1916 was attributed to him, and he displayed
remarkable selCshness in his refusal to assist Khalil Pasha in Mesopotamia during the British threat'on
! lad, 1916/17. Jemal's hostility and failure to co-operate with Falkenhajn, whom he held morally and
materially responsible for the loss of Jerusalem, resulted in his recall to Constantinople, whence he
visited Berlin about Aug-ust, 1917. In September, he returned to Syria with the title of General Officer
Oom man ding - , Syria and Western Arabia.- In November, before his final recall from Palestine, he was
responsible for a somewhat striking speech in Beirut, in which he explained his Syrian policy and emphasized
the necessity for Turkey keeping a watchful eye on her hereditary enemy Bulgaria. He also went into
some detail regarding his attempts to recall the Sherif to his Turkish allegiance. He had written to both
Sherif Feisal and Gaafar Pasha* (commanding the Sherif's regular troops) inviting them to a conference.
! 3 Feisal he pointed out the result to Islam of the ultimate fate of the Arab countries, Palestine and Syria,
as disclosed by the revelations in the Russian Press; to Gaafar he reminded him of his heroic past when he
was aiding Islam to conquer Egypt.
Jemal's position on his recall to Turkey in November was a curious illustration of how greatly a man
may fail without suffering the common lot of failures. He had displayed no military capacity and his
scheme had led to a whole series of disasters. He provoked and had been powerless to check the
Arab revolt and made no practical response to the appeals of Pakhri cut off by his agency at Medina; he
bad embittered Syria agains tthe Turks; he had embittered the Turks against their all-powerful Allies,
^ et he was still Minister of Marine, and the most conspicuous Turk in Syria. He had quarrelled with
the most powerful ministers and generals and had again been summoned from his Syrian stronghold to giv^
account at Constantinople, where, not so long ago, the bowstring or the Bosphorous would infallibly have
awaited him. He obeyed, even went to Berlin, and had been everywhere more courted than castigated,
and had returned in power to Syria.
On the other hand, his achievements consisted of compelling us to spend millions on the defence
of Egypt, and to divert our armies sorely needed elsewhere, lie had combed out Syria until it had not a head
and hardly a hand to make rebellion. His strength lay in his championship of Islam, sincere enough
as he made this his line in public life, and he was false to everything else but his own interest. Among
prominent Turkish ministers he was the only one wno stood for that, and greatly as the Turanians would
have liked to have had him and all other pro-Islamic Turks out of the way, they dared not put him out.
Therefore Jemal I. remained in power in spite of German opposition and Enver Pasha's scheming.
On his return to Constantinople in December, 1917, he took up his old post of Minister of Marine. Later
he was reported at Batum on the Black Sea, and in August, 1918, at Vienna.
In 1917, Kuchuk Jernal 11. commanded the Vlllth Army Corps. On the 11th November, 1917, he was
travelling, in a train which was mined by the Arabs near Khirbet-es-Sumra north of Amman and narrowly
escaped beiig killed. His aide-de-camp and some 20 others lost their lives. About the beginning of 1918
he was given command of the IVth Army, and on the 25th January, 1918, was appointed Governor-General
of Syria.
On the formation of the Composite Force at Tebuk at the beginning of 1917, Jemal III. was given .
command. On reorganixation of areas he took over command at Maan in September, iyi7, until he went sick
in Decemoer, 1917, and returned to Damascus, thence to Constantinople.
appendix e.
MAURICE'S REPORT.
About the beginning of January, 1918, Maurice, who was at one time employed as a British Agent in
Egypt and Switzerland, arrived at Akaba and was sent to Cairo where he was interrogated, lie left
Switzerland on the 22nd September, 1917, arrived Berlin the 23rd land travelled via Sofia to Constantinople,
where he arrived on the 5th October. In Berlin be was questioned closely at the War Oftice as to what he
knew of British intentions in Syria and Mesopotamia, and asked if he considered it possible to buy over
Ibn Saud, as well as various other questions concerning the Arab revolt. Maurice stated that the Germans
had expressed to him their disappointment at the failure of the Turkish alliance to bring the whole Moslem
world on to the side of the Central Powers. He was also interviewed by Von Kuhlmann. in the presence of
llakki Pasha, the Turkish Ambassador, and claimed to have impressed the former with his reasons tor the
dislike to Turkish rule of the Arab Ottoman subjects ; his reasons chiefly being the atrocities committed by
Jemal Pasha I. and Khalil Pasha in Syria and MesoDotamia respectively.
On his arrival at Constantinople, Maurice stated he was at once interviewed by Talaat Pasha regarding the
Arab question. Talaat stated that both th« Sultan himself and Said Halim, the Grand Vizier, had written to the
Sherit proposing peace, but the replies they had had were very vague regarding conditions. He stated he
was also taken to see Enver, with whom the Sherif s revolt was discussed. Maurice stated he was informed
that £T2OO,'0ttO in gold had already been despatched to Damascus for propaganda purposes among the Arabs.
Later Talaat told him that there had been an offer of peace from the Sherif in the spring of 1917, but
it had not been entertained, as one of the conditions was for the Shenf to become Khalif. Talaat, according
to Maurice, threw all the blame for the continuance of the Arab revolt on Sherif Abdullah, and said that
Turkey might consent to the independence of the Sherif. and might possibly arrange matters iu Syria for him,
but would never permit him to become Khalif. Before leaving Constantinople Maurice stated he had had a
farther interview with Enver, who asked Maurice to explain to the great Bedouin families and the Druses,
when he arrived in Damascus, Enver • attachment to them and consideration of their interests.
Enver stated that Tahsin Bey, formerly Vali of Erzerum, had been entrusted with the handling of the
Arab propaganda at Damascus.
About the beginning of 1917, Maurice reached Damascus and again saw Jemal Pasha I., who showed
him two large envelopes which were to be sent to the Sherif via Kerak, and stated he had repeatedly written
* A Baghdadi Arab, with a considerable European experience of modern warfare. Commanded th«
Turkish forces operating with the Senussi in Tripoli, 1915-1 , .)16. He was captured in I'JIG and interned in
the Ciiadel, Cairo. After an abortive attempt to escape, in the course of which he broke a leg, volunteered
to fight for the Sherif and was appointed to his preseut post in May, 1917.