File 53/1915 Part IV 'German War: Turkey; Caliphate etc' [‎74r] (144/481)

ghls Docoment lsjhePro ^ertyofHls Britannic G oTer D m«n»
gad should be returned to the Foreign Qff^e
aaless required for official use.] 4 6 WU “
I
11 .
Files onlv ^ -
Deci.’paer Ox tielef'ruci iron v3ir"H«IjacLiahon (Ctiiro).
April 20th 1916.
(cU 1.40 p.m. r. 5.15 p.m. April 20-th).
Ho.278.
Your telegram No.287.
Following from Clayton for Sykes:--
to
15 JUN1916
I qo not consider presence in London of any Arab
officers with whom we are at present in touch would in
nny way assist you.
Owing to intimate connection between all parties
interested in solution of Turkish and Arab question
in Syria I deprecate strongly partial treatment of
(? matter) with any single group or groups none of
whom moreover are in a position to speak representa
tively.
Certain developments here closely affect your pro
posals and raise possibility of Turkish decentralisa
tion parties putting forward proposals capable of being
brought into accord with aims of all other parties,
Allies included, proposals which it might suit
Allies to consider.
Presence in dgypt of Picot at present juncture
would inevitably raise among various parties latent
hostility to French influence which so 'far we have
kept quiescent and which march ‘of ^vfents may not im
possibly remove. Moreover Chereef"shows signfc of
taking action which we hope to confine to Arabia
and