AT THE PEACE TABLE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 184, 30 April 1919, Page 8

AT THE PEACE TABLE

NEW ZEALAND DELEGATES (From Mr. R. Riley, Official Journalist with the Now Zealand Peace Delegation.) Paris, February 27, 1919. "God helped the Arabs, and the British sent thom material assistance." Such was, at the hearing of the Arabs' claims before the Council of the Allied and Associated Powers, the simple explanation of tho success of the Arab revolt against violent Turkish oppression for four hundred years. The claims of the Hejaz should be of considerable interest to New Zealand, since many of her dashing troopers iode with tho Arabs from Jericho ,to faT Damascus, driving the Turk from the Jordan to beyond the hills of Lebanon. The case for tho Hejaz was submittal to the Council of the Powers by Emir I'aizal, son of the King of the nejaz, hereditary Governor of Mccca—a position held "by the family for SOO years. The interesting statoment was made in Arabic, "an ancient and honourable tongue and tho language of an ancient and honourable people." It would not be politic, even if it wero possible, to give a full account of the Emir'e statement, but it may be recorded that the Arabs sought the independence of all the Arabic-speaking peoples in Asia, from the. lint Alexandretta-Diar-bekir southward, on the basic grounds that this area was once the homo of important civilisations, its natural frontiers ensured unity, its inhabitants were ol ono stock and spoke one language, and its people wero still able to play their part in tho world. In addition tho Arabicspeaking peoples had fought'on tho sido of the Allies in tho timo*of greatest -stress, and liad fulfilled all their promises. The Arab Army had fought to win its freedom, but lost 20,000 killed, and had been promised independence. Their blood, the economic rule of tho country, and tho massacres among tho civil population deserved recognition. They asked for tho fulfilment of the Allies' promise. The Ara.l)s wero not looking for an empire; they desired freedom from Turkish tyranny. ■ ' .' It was explained that tho Arabs realised hoV much their country lacked development, but they wanted it to bo the link between East and West, to cam- Western civilisation to Asia without closing their doors to civilised people. Religious differences had been triumphed over in the Heiaz Army, and the first eltorts.ot the Arab Government would bo to.maintain' this welding of tho faiths, in the common service of tho principle ft 1 .. nationality. Palestine, because of its universal character, could bo left on one side for the mutual consideration, of all parti's interested. Tf the principle of nationality wero admitted, it was desired that tho various provinces, on the pn» ciplo of self-detArinination, should be allowed to indicate to. tho League of Nations the assistance they required. Perliana ail international inquiry tiie desires of the people might be the easiest and quickest way of determining their wishes. . . The Oralis had out 100,000 men into tho field, and tho Arab Government had been organised in the firing line. As regards mandators control, it must I>b 'for the Arab people to declare their wishes. Their representatives at the Peace Conference wero there to ask for independence, and ■tho right to choose their own mandatory. Arab unity was tho main aim, and there TT,as danger in partition. Thev asked for freedom only, and would tako nothing less. They had suffered centuries oi Blpverr, and had seized tho chance oi emancipation. Nono of the great Po-ms knew what slavery meruit. .The Arabs had tasted it, and were determined never to return to it. ■ The war services of the Hejaz Arabs vrrre reviewed in detail, and it was mentioned that the Arab foiw had advanced 800 miles in fourteen months to the -north and had cut the Heiaz railway south ot Mnan, an. important military ludiievement, as the Turkish Army at Medina had threatened tho rear of tho Arab forces. The Arab Army had also cut the tliroo railways at Dmo two (lavs l>eforo General Allenbv's attack, winch eventually led him to Damascus. The Arab Army and the British forces entered Damascus together, and from tlint point tho -Vvab revolt vsorend liko a flame tn Latakia, which was entered by the Arabs tho tlav before the French entered Beyrout. Tho Arab forces were the first ti enter Aleppo. - But all tho time thf Arab plan was subordinated In General Allenbv's, and never had tlin Arabs cttcmnted to shine by themselves or to do anything-spectacular. They had taken 40 000 nrisoners, and delivered them to tho Mlies. It was not necessary to fd<. anything to Gene.nl Allenbv's praise of tho Arab troops. The action or the British troops was beyond praise, ns was a!eo tho service of the French".'detachment, whose artillery work had been wonderful. Tho Arabs' claims have not vet been disposed of by thb Conference.