ملف ١٩١٥/٥٣ الجزء IV "الحرب الألمانية: تركيا؛ الخلافة إلخ" [و‎‎٤‎٧] (٤٨١/٩٠)

EH? Document Is^he Property of ms Britannic Majesty's «
and should he returned to th« iirti ^
iLib-ir
^py to India
4 MAY 1916
POLITICAL.
Do cypher Bir H. McMahon (Cairo)
April 30th. 1916.
D. 9.25 p.m. April 30th.l916.
R. 11.35 a.m. May 1st.1916%
no. 312.
■ 2MAY191S£
urt>ef>&
Bhereef's coniiiunications are now to hand and were
sent by bag last week. His letter is merely formal but
verbal massage and letters from sohSFaisal and All to
himself are important. Faisal writes in str.un^J of upholder
of Islam against Christiania encroachment and seems to
imply he would have backed Turks had they se tried strong
enough to keep Moslem frontiers intact, but is now (?o.riven)
to act independently In view of Russian advance, he
wishes tlier of ore for force to act in by ri a with Anaseh Arabs
but not idth byrians.whom hi tbinJ£S incapable of action f
and if he gets it hopes to rally the country and defend
"the main Arab countries and key to holy places". One
s ,
obscure phrase indicates acquiescence in good relations
with, ourselves. Ali's letter endorses these views and
bhereef expresses desire to support F-ishL m person.
Tint Bhereef should have enclosed these letters arrues
his cood faith hat also possibly his belief that we secretly
favour anti Russian and anti French policy in byria. In
view of danger of anythin- that may savour of acquiescence
of _
in hostile attitude/Arabs against our Allies I propose
urging Bhereef to confine action to Arabia proper and
recall