New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-24


have yet preserved their national cult
ure. The Jews, scattered all over the
world, progressed with the rest OF hu-
manity in civilization, developing their
peculiar national genius. The Arme-
mans, thanks TO their Christianity,
have managed TO keep burning the fires
OF civilization even under the yoke OF
the Turk and the Kurd. But the ma
tional genius Of the Arab was atrophied
by the Ottoman rulers.
Once Led Civilization
A thousand years ago Arabia was the
most civilized country in the world.
While Europe was passing through the
nightmare Of the Middle Ages, on the
banks Of the Tigris civilization was
Aourishing. Science, art, philosophy,
driven out from Europe, found shelter
in the shades Of the Arabian oasis.
Then the Turks came, and the race
which led mankind was stopped in its
progress. For seven centuries the
Arabs waited for the day Of liberation.
That day has struck now. The mortal
battle for democracy in Europe is for
Arabia truly a battle for light and civil
ization.
In order to realize the situation IN
Arabia it is necessary to keep in mind
that Arabia rs a unit does not exist
There is an Arabian peninsula, but
there IS no single land called Arabia
If, however, the territory Inhabited
mostly by Arabians be taken as the
basis for the definition Of Arabia, then
we find that the wide stretch Of
territory lying between the Red Sea on
one side and the Persian Gulf and the
Ticris River ca the other, between the
Arabian Sea IN the southeast and the
Mediterranean in the northeast is pop
ulated by a majority Of Arabians.
Full of Little Tribes
This cxpanse of land, only about
half Of which can be cultivated, is full
Of various dependent, scmi-dependent
ard independent territories. Up to the
BEGINNING of the war there was little
cohesion in the ranks Of the different
Arabian tribes and states. Syria, dom
mated by the Turks, became TO a consid-
cradle extent Christian, thanks 10 in
tensive missionary work. Part OF
Syria in which France has always been
interested. the Levant, was autono-
nous. Mesopotamia, whore the Con-
stantinople- Bagdad railroad was being
constructed, was on the eve Of new
life. largely German. The Alden Pro-
tectorate. at the southern tip of the
peninsula. and FL Katar, on the Per-
sian Gulf, were both British posses
sions.
On the Red Sea three separate
Arabian territories, Heiaz, Asir and
Yemen. existed. The first Of these.
Ileiaz, is the most important piece OF
land on earth for Moslems. The holy
cities Of Mecca and Medina are located
in Heiaz. which was an absolute pos
session of Turkey. The lands south Of
Hejaz, Asir and Yemen were nominally
under the Sultan's rule, but actually
Governed by imams Of their own.
Three Arab Kingdoms
There were three independent Arab
ian kingdoms, even at the outbreak OF
the great war. The chief Of these IS To-
Gated in the northern part Of the
Arabian peninsula, between HeJaz and
the Persian Gulf, and is called Nejd.
The other two are FL Hasa and Oman,
both on the eastern side Of the PENN
sula. Neid was never conqueTed by the
Turks. while FL Hasa had long
struggle with the Ottoman government.
Oman was too remote to suffer the fate
of most Arabian lands.
The 100000 Arabians inhabiting
these, various territories and kingdoms
had one common bond-religion. Even
the independent Arabian entities were
therefore to a certain degree under the
sway of Turkey, for the province OF
Heiaz belonged TO the Sultan, giving
him title 20 Mecca. This enabled the
Ottoman ruler TO become the spiritual
leader in Islam, the Caliph. In order
TO be a caliph one has to qualify as
descendant Of the Prophet, and the pos
session of Mecca was mostly response
BILE for the claim to the Caliphate main
tanned by the Sultans for centuries.
Do Not Follow Sultan
Not all the Moslems acknowledge this
claim Of the Sultan. The jehad, or
holy war. proclaimed By Turkey after
its Joining the Central Powers failed
because of this fact. The question Of
Arabian reunion and national regenera-
ton. il will be seen, is bound up with
the all-important religious factor, that
Of the Caliphate. The state and re-
ligiop. in other words, are very close
in Arabia. much closer perhaps than
anywhere else.
And yet the birth Of tho New Arabia
last wear through the successful revo-
luton Of Hejaz against Turkey was as
much n national as religious move
mcnt. Therein lies the great signiil-