The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-20
ARAB|A's CLAIMS
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OF Damascus and made it impossible
for the Turkish army to get assist.
ance. supplies or to retreat This was
part Of the campaign in Injunction
with general Ailenby, who was push
ing up the coast
THOUSANDS SURRENDER.
We then had the Turks at our
mercy and as you know by the rec
ords, fully $4,000 surrendered. We
then entered Damascus, which had
expelled the Turks.
!, myself, was always with my
~rfnfRs.' WE Kept offa -hsSlf ~ II me- :
Turkish army In Syria, so that they
were not able to go to the assistance
of the army icing the British troops.
BY being IN the war we made IL i'm
possible for the Turks to put into ac-
ton the Arabian troops which they
had at the beginning of the war, and
these regiments, which were sent
back to cantonments. deserted or were
demobilized. Here is a most import
ant thing wish TO impress upon your
mind:
The Turks declare da holy war.
The grand sareef of Mecca declared
against a holy war. This action es-
tablished peace in central Asia and
steadied Egypt and North Africa.
This kept Persia out of the war.
/ wonder il the rest of the world
understands that this is really what
happened.
Here is anothe rthing which will,
think. convince you of our sincerity:
The king of the Arabs joined the
allies when the fortunes of the allies
were at their lowest ebb in the east.
The British army at Mesopotamia was
then surrounded at kutelamara, where
Townshend was at the mercy of the
Turks. Also the allies had just with
drawn from the Dardanelles. But,
relying on the allies promises to guar
antee the independence and freedom
of the Arabs, we did not for one mo-
ment wayer.
Suffer at hands OF Turks.
Now we have suffered at the hands
of the Turks. Our relations have
bee nthose of master and slave. We
have seen the atrocities and felt the
hand of oppression
Our sincere desire to establish a
state which will liberate our people
from the influences of the Turks and
stabilize civilization so that the east
may have her share.
AS 10 our plan, our wishes as to
federated states would include the
Arabic speaking people of western
Asia, They are all united geographic
call yand ethnologically. These states.
five in number, would be Syria, includ-
ing Palestine: upper Mesopotamia,
known as Jevirah; lower Mesopotamia,
known as Irak: Arabia proper, mean
ing the desert district and the coast
districts of Hedjas, Yemen and Nejed
as the fifth. The northern bounda-
ries of these states would be along the
southern side of the Taurus noun
tains. from Alexandretta to the Per
sian border
Let me emphasize this: In this dis
trict the people are moro homogene-
GU sthan anywhere else in the world
They are all descended from close
stocks
Concerning Palestine. We welcome
the Zionists TO have all rights. We
welcome them all over our country
Alter all. we come from the same an
Client stocks. and the Hebrews are
nearest to us in blood. Their Ian
suage Is very close to ours. We have
no conflict in character, and we feel
that the Arabian countries are their
real field for development and pro-
gress.
Prosper In Spain.
Let me cal lyour attention TO the
manner in which the Arabians and
Hebrews have prospered in Spain.
They are largely responsible for the
Moorish influence there.
We welcome them to our lands. be-
cause that is what our lands need:
people who will develop our resources.
My attention is called to the for
eign investments in Syria. It Is true
there has been the investment Of
money there; the French are inter
ested in sum of perhaps $4,000
600. eW are glad to have them here.
but we cannot see why the country
sheffd ne given, over to the T'rencn
no rule because of this, I.eglslatively.
their interests will be protected and
the plans for a league of nations will
guarantee their safety from outside
attack.
We will protect all financial inter
ests. That is our future. We will
encourage other interests and invest
ments from Europeans and from
American sto help us develop our
lands. We, want money and t2aaterial,