ملف رقم ٢١٨٢ لسنة ١٩١٣، الجزء ٥، "منطقة نجد بالجزيرة العربية: سياسة ابن سعود" [و‎‎٣‎٢‎٠] (٣٠٨/٢١٥)

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This Document is the properly of His Majesty’s Seereta nj of State for India.
SECRET.
Correspondence with the Grand Sherif of Mecca.
1. 1 el eg lain to Mi. Clieetluun, Cairo, from foreign Office, dated
24th September 1914. No. 219. Secret.
• Following from Lord Kitchener :—
Intelligence report 6th September, statement regarding- attitude of
Sherif of Mecca. Tell Storrs to send secret and carefullv chosen messenger
Korn me to Sherif Abdullah to ascertain whether “ should present armed
“ German influence at Constantinople coerce Calif against his will and
“ Sublime Forte to acts of aggression and war against Great Britain, he
and his father and Arabs of liedjaz would lie with us or against us.”
2.- -lelegram from Mr. Cheetham, Cairo, to Foreign Office dated
31st October 1914. No. 233.
Your telegram No. 219.
Messenger has returned from Mecca with letter from Sherif Abdalla.
Communication is guarded, but friendly and favourable. Desires “closer
union ” with Great Britain, but expects and “ is awaiting written promise
“ that Great Britain will abstain from internal intervention in Arabia and
“ guarantee Emir against Foreign and Ottoman aggression.”
Sherif himself m a secret conversation with messenger, expressed
himself more freely and openly, saying “ Stretch out to us a helping hand
and we will never aid these oppressors.”
Messenger was received and treated with great consideration, it should
be noted that Sherif Abdalla is only repeating without any additions
proposals he made to His Majestv’s Agency on 8th Januarv fo-roun
undecypherable). ^
Reply is being prepared subject to your approval disclaiming all
intention of internal intervention and guaranteeing, against external
aggression only, independence of Sherifate.
Messenger must leave Monday morning or week will be lost. Please
instruct me at once.
3.—Telegram to Mr. Cheetham, Cairo, from Foreign Office, dated
31st October 1914. No. 303.
Your telegram No. 233 of 31st October.
Following from Lord Kitchener.
Lord Kitchener’s salaam to the Sherif Abdalla, Germany has bought
the Turkish Government with gold, notwithstanding that England, France
and Russia guaranteed integrity of the Ottoman Empire if Turkey remained
neutral in this war. The Turkish Government have against the wish of the
Sultan through German pressure committed acts of war by invading the
frontiers of Egypt with armed bands followed by Turkish soldiers which
are now massed at Akaba to invade Egypt. If the Arab nation assist
England in this war that has been forced upon us by Turkey, England will
guarantee that no internal intervention takes place in Arabia and will give
the Arabs every assistance against external foreign aggression.
It may be that an Arab of the true race will assume the Caliphate at
Mecca or Medina and so good may come by the help of God out of all evil
which is now occurring.