ملف ٧٠٥/١٩١٦ الجزء ٢ "انتفاضة عربية: التقارير العربية؛ تقارير السير م. سايكس" [ظ‎‎٢‎١‎٠] (٤٥٠/٤١٨)

2
i!
» : I
captured and Idrisi’s flag hoisted by the British, with whom and the Sherif he was
co-operating, and that therefore Nazir must withdraw ; and (3) the S.N.O. had commu
nicated by telephone with the Sherif, and had told him that H.M. ship at Comfida
would support Idrisi if attacked, but the Sherif refused to countermand his order.
Sir H. McMahon instructed Colonel Wilson to impress on the Sherif the folly of ^
making an enemy in his rear, and, should he prove obdurate, to tell him that a collision s
with Idrisi would be regarded with great displeasure.
On the 3rd August the Besident at Aden telegraphed to Sir H. McMahon
[No 232 A.P.] that if Idrisi’s claim to Comfida was the real cause of difference, he
should recommend its withdrawal, as it was not well founded.
.On the same day Sir H. McMahon telegraphed [No. 655] that the Sherif and
Colonel Wilson had been in communication.
The Sherifs story was that thirteen prominent Shaykhs of Comfida and its
neighbourhood, having received his proclamation, wrote to him acknowledging him as
their over-lord, and hinting that Idrisi was disloyal. He thereupon sent Nazir to
Comflda with thirty men, his orders being to consult Idrisi’s representative and the
local Arabs who had threatened to attack towns; he was to report and to prevent
friction if possible. The Sherif said that it would be a breach of faith for him to hand
over to Idrisi tribes with whom he himself had made definite agreements.
Colonel Wilson unsuccessfully tried to persuade him to recall Nazir. The Sherif
declared that he could not submit to arbitration, for the possession of Comfida was at
present vital to his interests, though he was willing to surrender it at the end of the
war. Colonel Wilson urged the importance of showing a united front to Turkey, but
the Sherif was firm. He accused us of a breach of faith in bringing Idrisi’s forces
north without his consent, and then issued a virtual ultimatum that we must choose
between him and Idrisi. Colonel Wilson thinks that this need not be taken too
seriously, and that the Sherif will not break off relations; but a rupture would
compromise the situation.
Sir H. McMahon agreed that a rupture should be prevented at all costs, and sent
instructions to the S.N.O. in the Red Sea not to intervene. In his opinion Idrisi’s
troops should be withdrawal ; the tribes round Comfida have always been opposed
to him..
On the 4th August the Resident at Aden telegraphed [No. 234 A.P.] to the
commander of H.M.S. “Fox” that, in view of the importance of making the Sherif
concentrate his efforts against the Turks, it was essential that Idrisi’s troops should be
withdrawn at once; and he asked Commander Boyle to urge “on so good a friend ” the
necessity of his acquiescing in the withdrawal of his garrison, leaving his claim to be
settled after the war.
Commander Boyle replied on the same day [No. 235 A.P.] that Suva from Comfida
reported that Nazir had retired, and that the inhabitants expressed loyalty to Idrisi.
The Resident asked to be informed as to the High Commissioner’s washes.
On the 5th August Sir H. McMahon instructed the Resident that the withdrawal
of Idrisi’s garrison was still desirable, and suggested a consultation at Jeddah between
Colonel Wilson and Commander Boyle. He himself was informing the Sherif that
Comfida should be left unoccupied by either side until a settlement was reached.' :i: '
On the 6th August Colonel Wilson telegraphed to Sir H. McMahon that
Commander Boyle of H.M.S. “Fox” was with him and that they were working
together; time being of importance they considered that they should be left to do as
best they could, on the principle that Idrisi’s garrison should leave. They both
considered that the only possible solution was for the Sherif to have Comfida nowq
leaving the final decision to be made after the war. The High Commissioner informed
the Foreign Office [No. 675] that, in view of the urgency of the situation, he had given
Colonel Wilson and Commander Boyle a free hand, and had informed Aden.
'V
■ The Raj.
In a telegram to Sir H. McMahon on the 3rd August [No. 651] Viscount Grey
said that the Indian Government had expressed the opinion that the most natural and
effective propaganda agency in India would be pilgrims returning without grievances;
he therefore suggested that the Sherif should be so advised, and that, if necessary, he
should be subsidised to enable him to lighten the cost of the pilgrimage.
* The facts mentioned in this and the preceding two paragraphs are taken from three despatches of
Sir H. McMahon, all dated August 5 [Nos. 666, 667, and 668].