ملف ٧٠٥/١٩١٦ الجزء ١ "انتفاضة عربية - تقارير" [ظ‎‎٢‎٥‎٠] (٤٩٤/٤٨)

8
-th th e T ve m ent and j ' 0 n0 ^ ^oty'pkces 11 wi^b^more ^mmun^thaiTeTe^fKm^i^of
tffcbriato naval aXilitarv forces when the re.noval .of Turkish
author!t^hasmade interference with pilgrims no longer likely. There could be no justification
Canv cha“ e of breach of faith. Nor will our attitude of absolute religious neutrality be in any
wav infringed? Whether an Ottoman Turk or an Arab of the true race is Khahfa is a matter (
decision of Moslems (ou«e
Spertta HoT^^aces and action of Turks, who have attacked Holy Places at both Shiahs and
respect 101 non relati t0 events at Kerbela and Mecca.) As regards bombard-
ment of Turkish position outside /eddah, see McMahon’s telegram No. 492 of 21st June.
“ McMahon’s telegram ot the 28th June gives latest news and he is again being instructed to
keep you Mly and ireqnently informed. As regards report of Grand Shenf, you have seen copies
of dl"correspondence with him and know how far we are committed. We have made no public
stateme. h\.t our policy is to aid him quietly with munitions, food and money, and so to employ
our forces in Middle East as to divert Turks as much as possible from him. Two Egypt,an
ha I cries manned solely by Egyptians without British officers, have been sent to Jeddah
Yo!, will he kept informed of all further action contemplated, but at present we are aware of
nCmS “If any communication to Amir should become necessary please consult us; but so tar as we
are concerned, his position is in no way afiected.
The Arab Prisoners in India.
On the 2nd July the Arab artillery personnel left India for Egypt. The party
consisted of 4 captains, 1 lieutenant, 6 second lieutenants, 1 sergeant-major, 23 sergeants,
26 corporals, and 71 privates —making a total of 132.
BRITISH PROPAGANDA.
The “ Daily Express” of the 1st July published an article in connection with
General Townshend in which it called attention to the fact that Halil Pasha, wlm has
been frequently seen with him in Constantinople, was an old school-fellow of his at
Eton. The general tone of the article was sympathetic with the Turks.
On the same day the “ Daily Mail” published a photograph of General Townshend
goino’ through Constantinople with various Turkish officials in a motor car.
This tendency to sympathise with the Turks, illustrated by the above, is pievalent,
and is doubtless welcomed by the Committee of Union and Progress, whose external
propaganda it furthers, for to the outside world they desire to appear as a nation more
sinned against than sinning, their real attitude is illustrated by the article translated
from the “ Tanin.” In view of this Egypt has taken steps to prevent the circulation of
such articles and photographs as are instanced above. India has found it impossible
to do so.
RECEPTION OF THE NEWS OF THE REVOLT.
News of the Hejaz revolt, discreetly published by the French, has been received
well in Algeria, Tunis, and Morocco.
The Russians have also made good use of it.
Chief of Staff, Caucasus, sends the following :—
“ The news of recent Arab rising against the Turkish Government has been widely circulated
by General Baratoff throughout Persian occupied territory, but he thinks that the British
commander in Mesopotamia is in a better position than he to disseminate the news in Baghdad
Province by aircraft or otherwise. Please inform me whether such measures have been taken.
An account of its effect upon British Moslems has been received from Singapore,
where feelings have been varied. The intelligent Moslems have received the new T s with
incredulity ; the Conservative classes have received it with some suspicion ; and the
Malayans, who form the majority, are in sympathy with it. It was not entirely
unexpected, for it seems to have been generally believed that the Arabs would sooner or
later try to throw off the Turkish yoke. It is even thought that the Malayans would
give moral and material support to the British Government, if Great Britain were
openly to assist the revolt; but they do not expect Great Britain to do so for fear of
the accusation that the revolt was engineered by British influence. All Moslems are
-awaiting a Fetwah from the Sherif, and, now that rumours of British co-operation with
the Sherif are in circulation, it is assumed that it has already been published and will
reach the Straits in the immediate future.
The effect of the revolt in Muscat, Aden, Bahrein, and Hofuf are still obscure.
ITUNTBD AT TUB FOREIGN OFVICK BT C. R. HARRISON. 5/7/1916.