ملف ٧٠٥/١٩١٦ الجزء ٢ "انتفاضة عربية: التقارير العربية؛ تقارير السير م. سايكس" [ظ‎‎٦‎٢] (٤٥٠/١٢٢)

Mr. Dering telegraphed from Bangkok on the 24th November [No. 17Ij that the
“Siam Observer” had published a telegram to the Siamese Government from the
Arabian Minister for Foreign Affairs announcing that the Sherif had been nominated
King of the Arabian nation. The reply of the Siamese Minister conveying congratulations
was also published.
r
Official Reply to the Sherif.
The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs telegraphed to the Sirdar on the 23rd
November No. 21 ] that, the Tiussian Government having concurred, he might
authorise Colonel Wilson to reply to the Sherif in the terms of his previous telegrams, *
Nos. 6 and 13. It had been already intimated to the Sirdar on the 16th November
[No. 17 j that he need not telegraph the final text of the reply.
The combined effect of the two telegrams, 6 and 13, was that the reply should be
in the following form :—
V
1. The Sherif’s attention should be called to the inopportuneness of his announce- i( ,
ment of assumption of the royal style.
2. The Allies are unable to recognise the assumption by him of any sovereign
title which might provoke disunion among the Arabs, though they will
continue to regard him as the titular head of the populations of Arabia,
and are glad to recognise him as the lawful and dc facto ruler of Hejaz.
3. The reply might conclude by congratulating the/Arab race on the efforts it is
making, and by expressing the determination of His Majesty’s Government
and its Allies to assist by all means in their power the securing and
maintenance of its independence.
The Sirdar telegraphed on the 25th November [No. 42] that he had received the
joint views of Colonels Wilson and Brdmond, and had in consequence made some
minor textual alterations ; he was sending the final Arabic text to Colonel Wilson on
the 30th November. Colonel Bremond being at present in Egypt, and the Sirdar not
knowing when he returned to Jeddah, he, the Sirdar, asked for instructions as to
whether Colonel Wilson should present the note when he received it, or whether he
should await Colonel Bremond’s return.
Arab Prisoners from Russia.
Major Thornhill telegraphed on the 22nd November to D.M.I. that the Russian
General Staff had given orders on the 27th October for the despatch of the Arab
officers. [See Arabian Report, XVIII, N.S., p. 3.]
Arab Prisoners from India.
The Viceroy telegraphed to the Sirdar on the 23rd November that the Arab
prisoners left Bombay on the 21 st November. It was, he said, reported that many
officers and men showed extreme reluctance to go, and some, fearing that they would
be handed over to tiie Sherif and compelled to fight for him, had to be embarked by
force. They had been assured that they would not be forced to fight against their
fellow-countrymen either for the Sherif or for anyone else. This promise was made in
the name of the Commander-in-Chief, who regards it as a personal pledge which he asks
may be scrupulously fulfilled : he would like an assurance that this point will not be
overlooked.
The Bank at Jeddah.
The Sirdar telegraphed [No. 38] on the 25th November that, after
consultation with Colonel Wilson, Captain George Lloyd had informed him
by telegram that he was confirmed in his already expressed opinion in regard
to this subject, and that he hoped that the proposal to establish the Ottoman
Bank or a French bank under a different name would not be sanctioned.
Colonel Wilson concurred in the above, and both were agreed that 'there
was scope for a British bank if this could be arranged. Colonel Wilson pointed out
that Colonel Bremond’s action appeared to go beyond the objects of the French mission,
as laid down in August last, and that should a French or semi-French bank be
established in Hejaz at the present juncture it would give the French an economic
and political hold in an area in which it was understood that British influence was