Warning to Arabs

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 February 1916, Page 3

Warning to Arabs

'IMS ADVANTAGES Ol< Nl'-UT'RAL .11% The Indian newspapers which have just arrived contain tlie text oi the circular letter which :ivas recently issued, to the tribal Sheikhs en the tigris line byi the order of the General Officer commanding tlie iixpeditionaiy Jtacce in Mesopotamia in,order ttf reassure tliciii in regard to tlie objects and intentions ol the British Government. Tlve tollowing are the principal pawsages: -As you are aware, tlie British forces, after defeating TTio Turkish forces entrenched at Sinn, have occupied Kutelamara, and are now lollowing the defeated Turkish Army up the Tigris. It ihas come to our knowledge that, as j they did ibet'ore, in order to induce the Arabs to help them against the British, the enemy are doing all they can to deceive and mislead them with ■false information and lying tnles regarding the doings and intentions oi the British, and. are again seeking to arouse you to a jehad. You, the Sheikhs of the Arabs, are wise men and will not be misled, but Rome of your ignorant tribesmen may be. Jt lis, therefore, considered expedient to remind you of the following ■facts, which are patent to (ill and cannot ibe denied. Great Britain never came into this war willingly. Tlie -war was forced on her simply by the intrigues of Germany, who for hei' own reasons incited Turkey to commit repeated! acts of hostility to England, so that she might "be involved in wax with her, Immediately on the arrival of the British forces in the Shat-el-Arah we proclaimed that the British Gorern- , ment had no quarrel 'with the tribes of Iraq and no design against their religion. . . . and that the British forces would liotf attack or molest nie Arabs, so long as the.y maintained a lieutral attitude. Tho Army conimandicr lias consistently ehown clemency and consideration to nay ot the clergy or their adherents, or to any local tribal AraUi who have fallen into our hands a>s prisoners, and has refrained from deporting them to India, with the Turkish prisoners. . .

Tilt) British authorities possess tliu most friendly feelings towards the -religious authorities of Iraq and the inhabitants of tho holy places and. the tribesmen of tho Arabs. - •. • on niaye rest assured that the (British Government has no intention of interfering in the religious or briba! affairs of the country and that your holy places will be respected and preserved from the slightest molestation of uur troops. In view of tlie above tacts and assurances it will ,surely be plain that if you enter unnecessarily into this conflict between the Powers you will put your- I selves to unnecessary loss and difficulties and you should, therefore, steadfastly refuse to be misled, into abandoning an attitude of aloofnp*H and neutrality from- which 110 harm can oome to you.