ملف ١٩١٦/٤٩٣١ "الجزيرة العربية [نجد]: إعانة مالية لابن سعود. دفع إعانة مالية مصرح بها في ١ يناير ١٩١٧. التحقيق في واقعة. مدفوعات تمت من دون موافقة الخزينة" [و‎‎٨‎٥] (٤١٨/١٧٨)

On the 29 th October, 1916, however, the “Ministers, Notables, Inhabitants and
- Ulema or Mecca presented an address to Sherif Husein, in which they declared after
a long preamble :—
‘Me proclaim His Majesty our Seyyid and Lord, Husein bin Ali, King of the
. 'v Arabs, to me 1 us according to the law of God and His Prophet, and we swear to
you the oath of loyalty and obedience, secretly and openly; and in addition we
consider you as a final religious authority, which iact we have agreed upon pending
M the decision of the Moslem World regarding the Caliphate.” 30
Sherif Husein declared on his part:—
this sentiment of loyalty does not belong only to the inhabitants of this
country, but the Arabs of Syria, and Irak likewise are yearning to be united with
us and to restore their freedom and glory. I have received messages from their
notables to this effect.”
On the same day Sherif Abdullah telegraphed as follows to Sir H. McMahon and
to the Governments of all Allied and Neutral countries :—
“ Je suis tres heureux de vous informer que les notables, les ulemas du pays
et toutes les classes de la population, s’etant reunis aujourd’hui, ont a runanimite
reconnu Sa Majeste le Grand Cherif Hussein-ben-Aly l Boi de la nation arabe.'
Sa Majeste devient de ce fait Souverain des Arabes, etant donne que le pays est
penetre de sa capacite diplomatique, de sa, parfaite loyaute envers sa patrie, et de
son desir sincere de repandre les hienfaits de rinstruction et de la justice dans
toutes les regions arabes delivrees du joug de la bande Union et Progres.
“ La nation arabe a tout lieu d’esperer que vous la reconnaitrez membre actif
dans la societe des nations, et eonnue telle. Eile le prouvera dans favenir.
“ Avee fappui du Tout-Puissant, veuillez agreer, etc.
(Signe) “Le Ministre des Affaires Etrangeres du Gouvernement arabe,
le Gherif Abdullah.” 31
Sherif Husein was duly crowned “King of the Arabs” at Mecca, on the 4th
November, 19 In, 33 and there was a simultaneous ceremony at Jeddah, which was not,
however, attended by the French and British representatives. 33
On the 2 nd November, 1916, in his telegram No. 961 to the Foreign Office, Sir H.
McMahon suggested that, in view of our treaties recognising the independence of other
Arab Chiefs, we could only recognise Sherif Husein as “ King (Malik) of the Hejaz ”. 34
On the 3rd November, 1916, the Foreign Office telegraphed to Sir H. McMahon
(No. 880) that the Sherif might be congratulated but not yet accorded recognition, and
that the French Government desired to conform their action to that of His Majesty’s
Government . 36
On the 6 th November, 1916, the Foreign Office telegraphed to Sir P. Wingate
(Khartoum) the following instructions for a reply to Sherit Abdullah on behalf of the
Governments of Great Britain, France and Russia :— 36
“ His Majesty’s Government and the Governments of France and Russia,
though they regard, and will continue to regard, His Highness as the titular head
of the Arab peoples in their revolt against Turkish misrule, and are glad further to
recognise him as the lawful and de facto ruler of the Hejaz, are unable to
recognise the assumption by him of any sovereign title which might provoke
disunion among Arabs at the present moment and thus prejudice the final
political settlement of Arabia on a satisfactory basis. That settlement, to be
durably, must be come to with the general assent of other Arab rulers, of which at
present there is no evidence, and must follow, rather than precede, military
success.”
On the 9th November, 1916, Sir H. McMahon telegraphed to the Foreign Office
(No. 991) demurring to the expression “ titular head ” ; and the French Government
proposed the substitution for the words “ Arab race ” of the , words “ population
of Arabia.” 37
30 249121/16. (Translation from “ El Qibla,” the 80th October, 1916.) The Address is also translated
in Colonel Wilson’s despatch. No. 12, of the 81st October, 1916, to Sir H. McMahon (288117/16). For the
ceremony, compare Colonel ilremond’s account derived from Moslem officers of the French Mission who
were present (220784/16). 31 217652/16. 33 222840/16. 33 242008/16. 34 220889/16,
35 220882/16. See also 222021/16. 38 221869/16. 3 7 227374/16 and 228969/16.
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