'Baghdad' [‎122v] (2/2)

7. But you people of Baghdad, whose commercial
prosperity‘ and whose safety from oppression and
invasion must ever be a matter of the closest concern
to the British Government, are not to understand
that it is the wish of the British Government to
impose upon you alien institutions. It is the hope
ol' the British Government that the aspirations of
your phdosophers and writers shall he icalised and
that once again the people of Baghdad shall flourish,
enjoying their wealth and substance under insti
tutions which are in consonance with their sacred
laws and their racial ideals. In llejaz the Arabs
have expelled the Turks and Germans who
oppressed them and proclaimed the Sherif Hussein
as their King, and his Lordship rules in inde
pendence and freedom, and is the ally of the
nations who are fighting against the power of
Turkey and Germany; so, indeed, are the noble
Arabs, the Lords of Koweyt, Nejd, and Asir.
8. Many noble Arabs have perished in the
cause of Arab freedom, at the hands of those
alien rulers, the Turks, who oppressed them. It
is the determination of the Government of Great
Britain and the great Powers allied to Great
Britain, that these noble Arabs shall not have
suffered in vain. It is the hope and desire of
the British people and the nations in alliance
with them, that the Arab race may rise once more
to greatness and renown among the peoples of the
earth, and that it shall bind itself together to this
end in unity and coneord.
9. 0 people of Baghdad remember that for
2C) generations you have suffered under strange
tyrants who have ever endeavoured to set one
Arab house against another in order that they
might profit by your dissensions. This policy
is abhorrent to Great Britain and her Allies, for
there can be neither peace nor prosperity where
there is enmity and misgovernment. Therefore I
am commanded to invite vote, through your nobles
and elders and representatives, to participate in the
management of your civil affairs in collaboration
with the political representatives of Great Britain
who accompany the British Army, so that you may
be united with your kinsmen in North, East, South,
and West in realising the aspirations of your race.”