‘Policy in the Middle East. I. Memorandum by Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Mark Sykes.’ [‎103r] (7/14)

submit that our greatest danger lies in British statesmen and otficials
con In sing the ideals of " intellectuals " with those of European revolutionanVs
and liberals, and therefore according them a certain respect. The Moslem
" intellectual nses the clothes of Europe, and he has lost belief in his creed,
but the hatred ol Christendom and lust lor the dominion of Islam as a
supreme political power remains, and he knows how to use the weapon of
lanaticism among a population whose percentage of literates is as low as it
is among the Indian Moslems.
If one may suggest a policy in words, I feel that our educational policy
in regard to Islam should be, among the upper class, to foster the study of
the Moslem classic authors, historians, logicians, and theologians, and to
combine with modern education the study of the history of the greater
Moslem dynasties, and the development of Mohammedan Sheri law ; while
among the poorer, to endeavour to impart with elementary education a real
•understanding of the outlines ol" Islamic history.
This policy would do much to introduce a real patriotic religious feeling
among the poor, and do something to infuse the upper classes with a com
prehension of the true greatness of their forefathers. By such a policy we
should be at the root of the difficulty, by disentangling the confusion, of
thought at present arising in the minds of the upper classes through the
collision of the mass of ill-assimilated European education on the mass of
Asiatic tendency, tradition, and prejudice. Similarly among the masses we
should be preparing the way for the raising of a reasonable Moslem people
from the ignorance and confused superstition of to-day. It might even be
hoped that between the two would be produced a frugal and learned clergy
capable of giving the people such good as the Mohammedan religion can
offer.
SECT!OX 111.
GENERAL SITUATION.
Fohtical. — The general political situation arising out of the war between
the entente powers and the Ottoman Empire is really evolved out of the
efforts of Germany and Turkey to mobilise Islam against Great Britain and
Russia. It is necessary briefly to recapitulate the methods our enemies
pursue.
(1.) Fomentation of Indian Moslem discontent and fanaticism.
(2.) In Persia the working up of tribesmen and nationalists to rebellion
along the coast, private murder in the provincial capitals, pressure
on the government at the capital.
(3.) In Egypt the working of sympathy with the ex-Khedive and
nationalist revolutionarism.
(4.) In Arabia:
a. Yemen, alliance with the Imam of Sana.
h. Xejd, subventioning of Ibn Reshid.
c. In the Kerbella area, playing on Shia fanaticism.
d. In Muscat, the fomentation of the rebellion against the Sultan
by means of native agents Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. from East Africa.
This policy is worked by highly efficient agents on a well co-ordinated
plan, as may be judged from results. .
As against this, we have certain strong positive factors and inllueiice^ in
our favour, which may be enumerated as follows :
(1 ) Discontent with Committee rule in Turkey itself.
(9^ The dislike of the clergy for the young Turks.
(3.) Arab dislike of Turks.
('4.) Disunion between Sunnis and Shias.