‘Germany, Turkey, England and Arabia. [extracts from ‘The Fight for Arabia between Turkey and England’ by Dr Franz Stuhlmann]’ [‎4v] (8/12)

influenco in Arabia wliicli England had so long striven to obtain in under
hand ways, and would make it possible to set up an Arabian Khalifate
against the Turkish. By detaching the Arabs from Turkey, Turkey would
be most seriously weakened, and would no longer be the leading Islamic
Power, while England would then bring the remaining Islamic states under
her power, thus strengthening her position in India. Lastly, it was
obviously desired by the attack on Mesopotamia to divert the Turkish
offensive from Egypt."
Chapter 14. "Conclusion " (pages '2u2 to 201).
" At the outbreak of the present war from which the world will probably
emerge newly distributed, conditions in Arabia were, as we have shown,
routfhlv as follows : —
" Turkey had possessed the province of Hejaz, with the Holy Places, since
the 14:th century, and the Yemen since 1871, having concluded peace in the
latter country with the Imam Yahya. In Asir her power is very precarious,
since there the Idrisi, who is supported by England, France, and ltal\ r , is
opposed to her. In the east Turkey was driven out of the province of
El-Hasa in the middle of 1913 by the Wahabi Chief, Bin Sand, with English
help, but has retained her nominal sovereignty by nominating him Governor.
From Koweit she has had to withdraw before the English. Since 1839 the
English have possessed Aden, Perim, and the Khuria-Muria islands ; they
have concluded protectorate treaties with the south Arabian chiefs from
Babel-Mandeb to Mirbat, without exercising sovereignty there. In Oman
the English are actually, if not in form, the rulers. By means of money
and gifts of arms they control Central Arabia, through Bin Saud, the Sheikh
of Koweit, and the Idrisi of Asir. On the Trucial coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. their treaties have
driven them great influence, if not protectorate ; there the Wahabis under
Bin Saud have also come down to the sea. Bahrein is not an English
possession, but is entirely under English influence.
" The Imam Yahya adheres to the Turks, and many of the chiefs of the
British protectorate in southern Arabia will follow suit after a military
success. In the north Bin Rashid of Hail is loyal to the Turks, as are
apparently many of the tribes of the borders of Irak. Connection with the
tribes friendly to the Turks can be secured partly by the Hejaz railway
and partly on the caravan routes through Arabia, but communications will
be very difficult for reinforcements.
" The English on the other hand have the water always open, and will use
their linancial means to obtain assistance. The rolling English sovereign,
1 the light cavalry of St. George,' as it has been humourously called, plays
an important part.
" Arabia, it is true, can only be a subsidiary theatre of war, the
decisions will be arrived at elsewhere. But nevertheless Arabia is of the
greatest importance for the war, and essential for the objects of the war,
for it lies between the two great sea routes to the East. To liberate these
Arabia can and must assist."
Extract (page 255).
" We saw from the history of the lighting in the Yemen how difficult it
is, in the religious, political and geographical conditions, even for an Islamic
Power to get a firm footing there, lor a Christian Power it would be
almost impossible. But a strong Turkey will probably be able to do so, if
she skilfully takes into account the local conditions and treats this land only
as a well-administered federal state, without wishing to make the inhabitants
national Turks. We saw also that a strong Turkey is the only Power that
can oppose England's efforts after a monopoly in the Red Sea, and is in a
position to prevent one of the most important sea routes from being
dominated by a single Power. The continuance of Turkey in the Yemen,
the land connection of the Yemen with the north by the prolongation of the
Hejaz railway, and the erection of a great wireless station in the Yemen ;
lastly, if possible, also the construction of a harbour in Turkish territory at