File 53/1915 Part IV 'German War: Turkey; Caliphate etc' [‎202r] (400/481)

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We must try on the other hand to keep negotiations with Sheriff in being
and you are authorized to reply as follows to him :—
Points 1 and 2 as you propose.
Point 3.—You should say that point requires careful consideration by
His Majesty’s Government as interests of others are involved and that later
a further communication in regard to it will be sent.
As regards Point 4, w r e should prefer to say that His Majesty’s Government
as Sheriff knows are disposed to give guarantee to assist and protect Arab
Kingdom as far as may be within their power but as Sheriff has recognised
their interests demand a friendly administration in Yilayat of Baghdad and
4^-7 - - , ^ safeguarding of those interests call for
much fuller and more detailed * consi
deration of future of Mesopotamia than is permitted by present situation and
urgency of negotiation. (This however need not preclude eventual considera
tion of a perpetual lease or any other reasonable/maZ (?) proposal that may be
made to us though it will of course depend on extent and success of Arab
co-operation with us.)
Point 5.—First and narrower assurance you propose should be given.
Points t) and 7.—As you suggest it should he also made clear to Sheriff that
we referred to Arabian Peninsula no less than to Mesopotamia when we spoke
of our existing agreements with Sheikhs (?) being upheld.
Bis Majesty’s Government have no wish or intention to interfere with
internal affairs of Arabia provided these agreements are faithfully observed.
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Telegrpm P. ; dated the 16th (received 17th) December 1915.
From—The British High Commissioner of Egypt, Cairo,
To—His Excellency the Viceroy (Foreign and Political Department), Delhi.
I have sent following to Foreign Office, No. 783
“ In regard to divergence of opinion about importance of Sheriff of Mecca
IQmial Hu- 3 in gnn'l.m.nfa.y f.fe. shown in your telegram No. of
^oriil Nn November 11th and my telegram No. 736,;
a report from Basrah on authority of Arabs from Hail shows that, Abdullah,
Sheriff’s son, has recently penetrated into Sideir sub-division of Baria and taken
tribute from other tribes.
Letters found on a Turkish officer indicate importance, winch Turkish
Government attach to attitude of Sheriff. Another Turkish officer from
Assir captured last tveek in Ked Sea reports that Sheriff has independent
Jurisdiction over Ashraf and levies his own taxes in territory roughly bounded^)
hv Medina in north, meridian forty-six in east parallel nineteen m south. H
also expressed opinion that in the event of hostilities between Turks and Sheriff
in Hediaz Sheriff would win. . 0 , .„,
This and other evidence confirms view that area and strength of S i r a
temporal authority have during past two years enormously increased while his
influence has extended proportionately.
Addressed to Foreign Office ; sent to India.”
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Telegram P., No. 3064-B., dated the 19th (received 20th) December 1915.
From—The Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , . . ^ ,
To-The Secretary to the Government of India in the Fore.gn and Political Depart-
Sir Mark SykeThas^nt following telegram Cairo No 1 received Decern-
airmails.^ for Army Commander pf Force v and tor
self. On mh'? arrived here. Until then I was unaware of Pan-Arab
negotiations.