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File 2100/1916 Pt 2 'German War - Turkey. Arab revolt' [‎144v] (296/445)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (219 folios). It was created in 1916. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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the idle or incompetent; so long as he was a potential force we could drift without
danger, now that he has gone we depend entirely on ourselves.
If His Majesty’s Government would deal with this situation I think that Sir H.
McMahon should be given instructions informing him that His Majesty’s Government
had the highest appreciation of the work he has done hitherto, and then proceeding
inform him that they have decided that civilian Egypt must be put on a war footir^>
that everything in the civil administration must be subordinated to military operation
that the sports, entertainments, and display of any kind is to be discountenanced, and
that all resources of energy and material are to be concentrated on the prosecution of
the war, and that the High Commissioner is to show himself ruthless in dealing with
any officials who show want of energy. If such instructions could be conveyed as part
of a potential military action I believe that the Egyptian atmosphere would be changed, f
and that the actual military value of the troops in Egypt would be materially increased,
that we should increase our supplies of labour, food, material, and mechanical
resources threefold, and that the natives would begin to respect us.
So much for Egypt. I now come to the Gulf and Mesopotamia and the political
work of Sir Percy Cox. This is the most difficult thing I have to say ; it is what I
have felt for over a year, and the more I have seen and read the more strongly am I
convinced of what I am about to say, and that is that the Government of India is
incapable of handling the Arab question. In saying this I make no reflection on the
Government of India. Circumstances, atmosphere, and tradition conspire to make the
thing as it is. For reasons that need not be recited the Indian Moslems are pro-Turk,
and when I say pro-Turk I do not mean sentimentally pro-Turk, in the sense that
some English people are pro-Turk, in admiring the sturdy and picturesque qualities of
the Anatolian peasant; the Indian Moslems who count in India are pro-Committee,
they want to see Turkey a strong military Power counting in the counsels of Europe.
Moreover, the British officials in India are themselves influenced by this pro-Turkish
atmosphere and unconsciously or subconsciously sympathise with it. Consequently,
anything which is fundamentally anti-Turkish—that is, anti-Committee—is anti
pathetic to the Indian Government. The Arab movement, as such, is disliked in India
just as Kaimil Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. was disliked and Enver is admired. This fundamental influence
is supplemented by another. The Indian Government is accustomed to treat affairs |
relating to natives and native governments from a social and political standpoint
as regards Englishmen and natives, based on a colour line and on dominion, in a way
which is utterly 7 - alien to Arabs and Arabian questions. Moreover, there is an absolute
antipathy between the Indian and the Arab, and anyone who tries to deal with Arabs
^ on Anglo-Indian lines will jar on the Arab at every turn.
Now all these things influence the political staff in Mesopotamia. They temper
the wind as best they can, but so long as they depend upon India for control, promo
tion, and approval, so long -will our whole Arabian policy be discordant or unreal.
The combined effect of these influences is subtle but powerful. It is working on
three lines—Moslem India is openly anti-Arab and pro-Committee of Union and
Progress ; Indian policy is deferential to Moslem view T s ; Indian administration is based p
on Indian methods and traditions, which means the importation of Indian law, Indian
lawyers, and Indian personnel, and the training and payment of such native personnel
as exists on Indian traditions—which must end in discontent and restlessness among
the Arabs. This will be aggravated by the introduction of Indian domestic and social
habits, and the colour line.
Lastly, it is useless to ignore the jealousy which subsists between Simla and Cairo.
This is an old long-standing feud, but real nevertheless ; a cause of constant irritation,
aggravated by climatic conditions which leads to want of co-operation and enthusiasm. f
The Mesopotamian political staff is excellent. I cannot speak too highly of Sir Percy
Cox’s work. He has studied the country and learnt much ; but it will never be free so
long as it depends upon Simla. The only way to unity aud co-ordination that is
discernible is to place the political affairs of Mesopotamia, Aden, and Muscat directly
under the Foreign Office, London, and appoint Sir Percy Cox as High Commissioner to
Mesopotamia with equal rank to Sir H. McMahon, so that the policy is the policy
of London direct, and not filtered through a remote and somewhat unsatisfactory
channel. The Foreign Office and India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. are in close touch, and if the control
comes from under one roof then it will be possible to prosecute a simultaneous ana
equal policy.
2, Whitehall Gardens, S.W., l
July 6, 1916.
PKIHTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY C. B. HARRISON.— 7/7/1916.

About this item

Content

The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, and notes, relating to measures to support the Arab revolt (1916-18)against the Ottoman Turks.

The file contains:

The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 volume (219 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

The subject 2100 (German War: Arab Revolt) consists of 6 volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/597-602. The volumes are divided into 7 parts, with parts 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7 comprising one volume each, and parts 3 and 4 comprising the third volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 217; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. The front and back covers, along with the leading flyleaf and ending flyleaf, have not been foliated. A previous foliation sequence, which is present between ff 175-217 and is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

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English in Latin script
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File 2100/1916 Pt 2 'German War - Turkey. Arab revolt' [‎144v] (296/445), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/598, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100044155124.0x000061> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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