Evening star., 1928-03-11
Britain's Islamic Menace.

Though it may not speedily precipi
tate the holy war" of Islam against tn
"infidel" In the Near and Far East
conflict periodically heralded, the Brit
ish Empires haraSsing difficulties II
the Arabian states remind the worlt
| that situation of ranscendent posi-
bilities continues to simmer in tina
mystic region.
1t is probably a mere coincidenc,
that Great Britain's woes in the He'd.
! JAZZ, Irak and Transtordania coincid.
/ with her bitter controversy with Egyp
over control of the Suez Canal. Bu
! the fact remains that John Bull now
finds himself at the same moment EN-.
! broiled throughout the whole Islamis
territory extending from the Nile to ths
Persian Gull. The opportunities for q
clash between European and Asiatie
civilizations are illimitable: the funda.
mentals for it are deep-Seated and
hoary with age.
Those ancient ingredients Of strife. In
Christian as well as Mohammedan peo-
Piles. are fermenting In the Near East
They include racial ambitions. religious
fanat!cism and discomfort with i'm
posed territorial limitations. Like SO
many OF the smoldering causes OF un-
rest in the heart OF the European con-
tinent, the pending turmoil In Arabia
is an offspring of the peace Of Ver-
sailles.
Thanks mainly to the achievement
OF the incompatible Lawrence. the
Arabs renounced their traditional fealty
to the Turkish Caliph during the World
War and aligned themselves with the
British and their allies. The price of
Arab allegiance was a guarantee of
Arab independence. But the master
builders" of Versailles. whose god was
political exigency, proceeded to dissect
the Arabs territory. play ducks and
brakes with their nationalistic aspira-
tions and fiout their religious ideals.
Western Arabia was converted into
the Kingdom Of the Hedjaz. with Husein
Ibn Ali. descendant Of the Prophet,
as sovereign. Mesopotamia was trans
lated into the Kingdom Of Irak. with
Husein's son Feisal as monarch, and
the biblical lands Of Gilead. Moab and
Edom became Transjordania. with Alb
dullah. another son Of Husein. as Einir
Finally. Syria was put under French
suzerainty. and Palestine-like Irak,
mandated tc the British--was set
apart as q Jewish national home.
On Its face this division OF Arabia
Ike all Gaul. into three parts. seemed
promising enough. But tribal jeal-
ousies. sectarian strife and greed fol-
power forthwith set in and have ragged
incessantly. In 1925 Ibn Saud. Sultan
Of neighboring Eejd. the vast territory
mainly composed OF the trackless Ara
bian desert. cleared for action. Re-
hosting the crusading banners of the
ancient Wahabite tribes. he brought
about the abdication OF Huscin from
the Hedjaz throne. established his
domination over the sacred cities OF
Mecca and Medina. and proclaimed
himself ruler OF all Arabia.
Great Britain. astute as ever In timely
compromise with obstreperous exotic
foes. made treaty with the masterful
Ibn Saud. who. not without reluctance,
agreed 10 respect the frontiers Of the
adjoining Arab States. 1t Is Tbn Saud' S
raiding horsemen who are now kinciing
the fires OF frontier war. II the crafty
leader of the Wahabis can mobilize In
sufficient force his rough-riding desert
warriors. inspired by the fierce and i'm
placable enmity of their ancestors
against the ''infidei." Britannia may be
called upon once again TO pay heavy
tribute In blood and treasure for main
tensnce Of empire In the East
Always in the background of Great
Britain'S anxieties turks embittered
India. VIII the crown jewel" which
Disraeii placed in the imperial diadem
be heartsned afresh In her ambitions
for independence by events In Arabia
and Egypt? That Is the dixquietins
thought that must disturb British
atatEsnangfiu at this hoiIr