File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎293v] (595/834)

10 —
The Koweit Blockade.
Such incidents as these, however, are less important than
his recent action in sending a telegram to the Sheikh of Koweit
asking for a trade boycott of the Ateibah. The Koweit blockade
is under direct British control, and Baghdad has thought it neces
sary to lodge a definite protest against such interference.
The Euphrates Line.
More recently, there has been an actual clash between his
representatives and the British Authorities on the Euphrates line.
From the information at present available the exact secpience
of events is not clear, but it appears to have been as follows :—
On December 21, a British political officer en route for Deir
el-Zar found, on arrival at Abu Kamal, that a detachment had
occupied the former place in the King’s name ; and that the
officer in command had sent on a representative to Abu Kamal
with orders to proceed to and occupy Anah. The political officer
interviewed this representative and after explaining the situation
hoisted the British flag at Abu Kamal, declaring it to be within
the British sphere ; he then returned to Baghdad by air, leaving
British officials in charge. The King’s representative acquiesced
pending the receipt of further orders from Deir el-Zor.
On December 23, a large staff of Arab officials, including a
Kaimmakam, reached Abu Kamal from Deir el-Zor, accompanied
by some forty gendarmes. By the 27th the number of these
officials had increased to no less than seventy, some of them
being definitely appointed to Anah.
The officer in charge at Deir el-Zor, who claimed to be acting
under orders from Sherif Nasir and the political authorities at
Aleppo, was formerly representative for Aleppo in the Turkish
Government, while his commandant of gendarmes till recently held
a command in the Turkish Army. The Kaimmakam for Abu Kamal
too was originally member for Deir el-Zor at Constantinople.
The commandant of gendarmes was apparently endeavour
ing to raise a considerable force, both locally and from the Aleppo
area. Rates of pay far in excess of those current in Mesopotamia
and higher than local revenues could ever produce were being
offered to recruits and officials alike. The gendarmes were a
rough, insolent and inferior lot of men, their officers for the
most part wearing Turkish uniforms. They had only Egyptian
paper currency which they were forcing on the inhabitants.
At both Abu Kamal and Deir the people were in a state of
great consternation, believing the whole situation to have been
engineered by the Young Turks or in their interests. They
did not conceal their hostility towards the intruders. The local
sheikhs forbade their tribesmen to enlist in the gendarmes, and
intended, if the British officials were withdrawn, to eject them
if necessary by force of arms.
In advancing even to Deir el-Zor the Arab forces were acting
contrary to the instructions and without the knowledge of the
Commander-in-Chief, E.E.F. Orders have been issued accordingly
that they are all to return immediately to Aleppo.