File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎22r] (52/834)

m 187L l Ins last step was only part of what was planned, for
tlie subjugation of Nejd‘ had been hoped for ; but even so, it
gave the lurks command of the ports, including Koweit by
which Iraq supplies enter central Arabia. Thus established
more firmly on both sides of the Arabian peninsula, Turkey
made tentative efforts to compete with Egypt in the supplying
° . l' ie caravan track from Damascus was garrisoned
moie efficiently, and surra to the tribes along it was increased
and regularly paid. With the opening of the Suez Canal, the
way lav open for steamers, mostly manned by Anatolian Greeks,
but sailing under the Turkish flag, to transport the products of
Anatolia Peninsula that forms most of modern-day Turkey. and Syria to Red Sea ports ; and, by an understanding-
arrived at with the Emir Mohammed ibn Rashid in the eighties
caravan traffic from Iraq and the Gulf, vki Hail or Qasim, to
Hejaz was encouraged. In 1903 the Hejaz railway was
begun ; by 1908 it was complete to Medina 5 and in two years
moi<y but for difficulties of terrain, reinforced by strenuous
opposition from the Harb, whom the Grand Sherif was covertly
supporting, it would have reached Mecca, and continued on its
way towards Qunfudah and the Yemen.
Such Ottoman measures, however, have had but little effect.
Mecca is still nearly 300 miles from railhead by difficult and
dangerous roads, and consignments to Medina * from the
productive Syrian area compete, in cost, with those from Egypt
and the Sudan no better than consignments from Iraq compete
in speed of transit. Transport even by sea from the Levant A geographical area corresponding to the region around the eastern Mediterranean Sea. is
at a great disadvantage with that from Suez and Port Sudan by
reason of greater coal consumption and the burden of Canal
dues. The only possible rival of Egypt in the Jiddah food
market is India, handicapped by distance, if till the last two
years somewhat favoured by rail and port facilities. Moreover,
at best, she can be an economic rival only, not a political one.
We have changed the political status of Hej'az, but neither
we, nor any others, have changed its economic status. Someone
outside must still pay for its government and provide its food,
if the former need is arranged for we may be easy about the
latter. Egypt, the Sudan and India, will meet it in the future
as in the past. But who shall finance Hej'az ? Even if the new
Kingdom should be stretched to include some considerable part
of Syria, it could not expect to get its expenses of administration
out of that country. Syria is rich only by a moderate standard,
and for long enough to come it will need for itself every piastre it
can raise. In the still less probable event of Iraq j'oining up with
Hejaz, it will be in scarcely better position to help. It has its
own ruined house to set in order.
This being so, there remain some four possible alternative
sources of the necessary financial grants-in-aid. (1) Efkaf
properties ? This means has actually been put forward as a
practical proposition. But most of the richer vakufs are situated