File 53/1915 Pt 5 'German War: Turkey; Arab Kingdom; the Petrograd negotiations' [‎138v] (281/436)

4.—Communication from Mr. Cheetham to Sherif Abdalla.
After compliments and thanks. We iiave understood your reasons and
acknowledge the justice of your request. So we have sent to Lord Kitchener
(titles) who has replied as follows
Salaams to Sherif Abdalla (titles). That which we foresaw has come to
pass Germany has bought the Turkish Government, with gold notwith
standing that Great Britain, France and Russia guaranteed the integrity of
llie Ottoman Empire if Turkey remained neutral in this war. The Turkish
Government have against the wish of the Sultan and through German
pressure committed acts of war by invading without provocation the frontiers
of E'-ypt with armed bands followed by Turkish soldiers which are now
massed at Akaba to invade Egypt, so that the cause of the Arabs, which is
the cause of freedom, has become the cause also of Great Britain, ff the
Amir (titles) and Arabs in general assist Great Britain in this conflict that
has been forced upon us by Turkey, Great Britain will promise not to
intervene in any manner whatsoever whether in things religious or otherwise.
Moreover, recognising and respecting the sacred and unique oilice ol the
Amir Hosavn (titles) Great Britain will guarantee the independence, rights
and privileges of the Sherifate against all external foreign aggression,
in particular that of the Ottomans. Till now we have defended and
befriended Islam in the person of the Turks : henceforward it shall be in
that of the noble Arab. It may be that an Arab of true race will assume the
Caliphate at Mecca or Medina, and so good may come by the help of God out
of all the evil which is now occurring. It would be well il our Highness
could convey to your followers and devotees, who are found throughout the
world, in every country, the good tidings oi the freedom ol the Arabs, and
the rising of the sun over Arabia.
5.—Communication, unsigned and undated, handwriting of
Sherif Abdalla.
Respectable and powerful Friend,
After paying due respects, yours of the 12th Zil lloga lias been
received with due honour and reverence, and we have taken it as a basis loi
action and a reference for the present and the future. In accordance with it,
and in view of its fidelity and accord, our country has come to hold most
conscientiously to your suggestions, and has undertaken to carry out
faithfully what we said in our previous letter and what we confirm in the
present one ; and has avoided since our foregoing letter all that affects
unfavourably your material and moral interests. Yea more, we are
endeavouring to discourage any man who seeks to harm these inteiests
any one of those who are outside the pale of the Hedjaz colony.
If you could perceive our critical position in undertaking the matier you
would know that we are doing that which is more important than the
performance of that which is naturally imposed upon us, regardless of
whether or not these negotiations take place and whether or not an agree
ment is arrived at. It is so because religion which justifies it and which
is the scle foundation of action, prevents us from working at once. But
when the time shall come, and it is not far distant, we can not but
accomplish it, even though the Ottoman Empire be not occupied and even
though it should muster against us all its army.
In closing, I would remind you that we act upon the words of him who
said, “ Perform ye the promise ye make to God when ye pledge yourselves.
We then pay to His Highness and yourself our best regards, requesting you
to keep this correspondence secret until the right time should come.