ملف ١٩١٧/٧٥٦ الجزءان ٢-٣ "النشرات العربية أرقام ٦٦-١١٤" [ظ‎‎٣‎٧‎٩] (٨٣٤/٧٦٧)

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and the customs accruing therefrom. He wished to dis
courage entirely goods coming from Hejaz, as he got no benefit,
but with two good ports of his own on the east coast and properly
managed customs he hoped to make 40 lakhs of rupees annually.
A tribe that paid Zikat to Ibn Saud, ipso facto could claim
absolute protection from all enemies. Hence the desire of many
tribes in Oman, Trucial Coast, Yemen, and Sham mar to pay the
tax. It meant that they were guaranteed from raids.
NOTES.
Syria and Palestine.
Early in April a series of raids was made on villages in the
I rench and British zones by Arabs from east of the Jordan. Many
cattle were looted, and casualties occurred amongst the villagers.
The region between Beisan and Samakh was the area chosen for
action against us, the Ghazawiyeh tribe from across the Jordan
taking the leading part. A squadron of cavalry patrolling south
of Beisan was attacked on April 21 by 500 Arabs and compelled
to fall back on the town. This was followed by a punitive raid
on our part, but the small British party sent out for the purpose
was compelled by superior numbers to retire on Beisan, fighting
a rearguard action.
The telegraph line and permanent way were destroyed by
the Bedouin, and a serious attack on Samakh by about 2,000
Arabs followed on the 24th. Other small attacks followed, but
several salutary lessons were administered by our troops and
aeroplanes.
^ Aeroplanes reported large concentrations of Bedouin in the
Yarmuk Valley and also north of Lake Hide, and rumours that
the Arabs had declared war on the French and us were rife.
On April 23 a protest was addressed to Emir Feisal by the
G.O.C. Troops m Egypt and Palestine. It was pointed out that
more than fifteen raids had been made by Arabs from the east
cd the Jordan, and the Emir was told that if he did not stop
t em the G.O.C. would be compelled to take suitable action.
n response to this communication, Emir Feisal sent to
Jerusalem two representatives to say that he was doing his
best and hoped the incidents would be treated in a friendly spirit.
The representatives were informed, however, that the G.O.C.