ملف ٧٠٥/١٩١٦ الجزء ٢ "انتفاضة عربية: التقارير العربية؛ تقارير السير م. سايكس" [ظ‎‎٢‎٣] (٤٥٠/٤٤)

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APPENDIX (B).
The Pjress,
Enemy Propaganda.
England and Turkey.
[“ Korrespondenz,” 4th November, 1916.]
English newspapers frequently recall the fact that Great Britain was once the
friepd and protector of Turkey, and seem to consider that England should still hold this
position from the point of view of tradition. Turkey, meanwhile, has realised on what
a slender basis this English assumption is founded. It is interesting to note that even
Japanese newspapers hold this view concerning England’s “ friendship ” for Turkey.
In a polemical article directed against the “Manchester Guardian” the “ Yamato
bhimun of the middle of August 1916 published the following remarks:—
“The ‘Manchester Guardian’ says that England was formerly friendly to
Turkey. We really cannot accept this from England ! John Bull’s diplomacy in
Tui key was inimical and ignoble, a fact which is perfectly clear to anyone who
merely glances at a page of Turkish history. That was also the reason why
Turkey became Germany’s ally against England.”
^ hardly necessary to go to Japan to receive a damning indictment of the
integrity of England’s policy towards Turkey. The Belgian Ambassador in Berlin,
naron Greindl, wrote to his Government as early as the 16th July, 1906, referring to
the Anglo-Bussian attempts at reconciliation.
According to the ‘ Morning Post,’ England and Russia had planned to agree
to the construction of the railway in Mesopotamia (Bagdad railway) on condition
at Russia should have the right to connect her Caucasus railway with it and
and that England should take control of the new line from Bagdad to the Persian
ti q , W - • most outra g eoiIS thing should such an agreement be made,
ihe sultan is an independent monarch ; he has given the concession for the railway
through Mesopotamia to a German bank. No foreign Power is entitled to interfere
or can raise the slightest pretext for meddling in a private matter exclusively
concerning Turkey. And yet this plan exists. Lord Lansdowne recently stated in
• ^iqoo 1186 ^ f ^ or ^ st hat he had tried m vam to internationalise the Bagdad railway
m l 9 °o, and England has attempted from the very beginning to place obstacles in
tne way ot this undertaking.
She wishes t° seize Koweit, the one natural port which could form the
terminus of the railway, unless an artificial and probably indifferent harbour were
constructed m the marshes of Shatt-el-Arab.
to the retell’^ faVOUred the Arab risill g by delivering arms and ammunition
Thus, ten years ago, did the representative of a foreign State now allied with
ngland, see clearly through England’s plans to weaken Turkey. Nothing has chaimed
and even England s methods remain unaltered ; at that time she supported the Arabian
movement with arms and ammunition just as she now supports the ^ ^ r
srx.r, w «- “ Ssf i
an exception .and was always severely blamed for favouring the Turks 7
We Wish, however, to greet as matter for profound thoucbt the idea of the fV
policy towards Turkey being a resumption of the great thomdits o t at fn 1
past; we must not, however, give this conoenfion fh^ „ ^ 1 tbat -England of the
perhaps lead us to think of Frederick the Great ^ P re ^ence over one which might
To
PRIHTKD AT THB FOREIGN OFFICE BY C R.