'Note by the Aga Khan and M. A. Ali Baig on the situation in Egypt' [‎58v] (8/10)

ffmindation in the politico-militarj- ^'^p^rtwliUes of <»nversing.
f toimaa with whom we nM , a( | an coun tries may
re 0 0g» 1 b t . iid , n m o*er JU^mmaaan^ ^
«««r
German propagandists.
'FHE EEFI'a.j . .
. . llprp t i). lt the present reassuring calm m
(210 We may venture to state ere ^ P „ snccessf ,,l regim
gvpt appears to be due r » came across striking evtdences o
Lord Kitchener. In ail anecwoi Ft tian mind hv his sympathetic
,e firm hold he view in harmonising Egyptian
isight into its woi king < ^ o .i Empire. Ills policy m regard
ivancement 'reasonable national aspirations seems to have
on the^hyaliy and gorrdwill of all enlightened Egyptians.
X’ r
OF EARL KITCHENER'S POLICY.
THE INDIAN T’ROOTS.
were informed by Generals Wilson, Cox and MelUss, that there
amono 'the trans-frontier Modem soldiers, especially
(22.) We
rBXis’aS K^hattaksfYusufzais, Swatis and Afridis, as to certain
‘spec s o the war with Turkey. In the opinion of the rmbtary authorities,
Tmkth Dents were undoubtedly trying to get at the Mnsnhuan soldiers,
and there was evidence to show that tire trouble began even before the
l ' 0 °hiethews'held by these men were that they should be led against the
as they were given to understand in India that the war was with
of being asked to fight the soldiers of the Caliph-the
Turks—who were the natural guardians of the Holy
Germans,
Germany, instead
• ■ n ii
Places. They seemed to believe that Islam prohibited internecine bloodshed
among Moslems. They also thought that the Entente Lowers had aggressive
designs on the Moslem shrines and aimed at the destine lion of Islam.
At the suggestion of Generals Sir John Maxwell and Wilson we visited
the brigades commanded by Brigadier-Generals Youngliusband, Cox,
A. Watson, H. Watson, Geoghegan, and Melliss. We were accompanied by
Major-General Wilson and Brigadier-General Bingley, Chief Staff Officer.
The troops were drawn up at their respective camps, and all the Generals
and other Officers were present. After the usual formalities of inspection
and introduction by General Wilson, the Native Officers were assembled in
groups. The Aga Khan addressed them in Urdu, meeting the miscon
ceptions arising out of the Turco-German intrigues point by point
according to the Shariat and Islamic doctrines. It was pointed out
that Islam imposed upon them the duty of being true to the salt of
the Sarkar under whose aegis they enjoyed complete religious liberty,
and that accordingly in the armies of Russia and France thousands
of Moslem swords were drawn in the defence of the righteous cause for
which the Entente Powers were fighting. It was impressed upon them
that the British Sarkar had always befriended and protected Moslem nations ;
that the inviolability of the Holy Places was guaranteed during and after the
war by Great Britain with the concurrence of Russia and France ; that
Turkey, in spite of the proffered guarantees, assurances, and promises, which
would have secured the safely and advanced the interests of the Ottoman
Empire, had been dragged into the war by Germany and a junta of Turkish
chauvinists, who were entirely influenced by political reasons ; and, that the
war was in no sense religious as evidenced by the attitude of Indian Muliani-
madan Chiefs, the Amir of Afghanistan, and many other Moslem potentates.
Ihe recent elevation of Prince Hussein Kamel to the dignity of Sultan of
Egypt was mentioned as the most recent instance of the manner in which
Moslem countries were protected by Great Britain, and their Islamic tradi-