PEACE CONGRESS

Otago Witness, Issue 3400, 14 May 1919, Page 60

PEACE CONGRESS

NEW ZEALAND DELEGATION. ALLIES' TERRITORIAL CLAIMS: THE CASE FOR THE HEDJAZ. (From R. Riley, Official Journalist.) PARIS, February 27, 1919. " God helped the Arabs and the British sent them material assistance." Such was at the hearing of the Arabs' claims before the Council of the Allied and Associated Powers the simple explanation of the success of the Arab revolt against violent Turkish oppression for 400 years. The claims of the Hedjaz should be of considerable interest to New Zealand, 6ince many of her dashing troopers rode with the Arabs from Jericho to far Damascus, driving the Turk from Jordan to beyond the hills of Lebanon. -*£> The" case for the Hedjaz was submitted to the Council of the Powers by Emir Foisal, son of the King of the Hedjaz, hereditary Governor of Mecca —a position held by the family for 800 years. The interesting statement was made in Arabic, "an ancient and honourable tongue and the language of an ancient and honourable people." It would not be politic, even if it were possible, to give a full account of the Emir's statement, but it may be recorded that the Arabs sought the independence of all the Arabic-speaking peoples in Asia, from the line AlexandrettaDiarbekir southward, on the basic grounds that this area was once the home of important civilisations, its natural frontiers ensured unity, its inhabitants were of one stock and spoke one language, and ita people were still able to play their part in the world. In addition ,the Arabicspeaking peoples had fought on the side of the Allies in the time of greatest stress, and had fulfilled all their promises. Tho Arab army had fought to win its freedom, and lost 20,000 killed, and had been promised independence. Their blood, tho economic ruin of the country, and the massacres among ,the civil population deserved recognition. They asked f6r the fulfilment of the Allies' promise. The Arabs were not looking for an empire, they desired freedom from Turkish tyranny. _ It was explained that the Arabs realised how much their country lacked development, but they wanted it to be the link between East and West to carry _ Western civilisation to Asia without closing their doors to civilised people. Religious difference had been triumphed over in the Hedjaz army, and the first efforts of the Arab Government would be to maintain this welding of the faiths, in the common service of the principle of nationality. Palestine, because of its universal character, could be left on one side for the mutual consideration of all parties interested. If the -principle of nationality were admitted, it was desired that the various provinces, on the principle of self-determination, should be allowed to indicate to the _ League of Nations the assistance they required. Perhaps an international inquiry as to the desires of the people might be the easiest and quickest way of determining their wishes. The Arabs had put 100. COO men into the field, and the Arab Government had been organised in the firing line. As regards mandatory control, it must be for the Arab people to declare their wishes. Their representatives at the Peace 'Conference were there to ask for independence, and the right to choose their own mandatory. Arab unity was the main aim, and there was danger in partition. They asked for freedom only, and would take nothing less. They had suffered centuries of slavery, and had seized the chance of emancipation. None of the great Powers knew what slavery meant. The Arabs had tasted it, and were determined never to return to it. The war services of the Hedjaz Arabs were reviewed in detail, and it was mentioned that the Arab forces had advanced 800 miles in 14 months to the north, and had cut the Hedjaz railway south of Maan, an important military achievement, as the Turkish army at Medina threatened the rear of the Arab forces. The Arab army had also cut the three railways at Deraa two days before General Allenby's attack, which eventually led him to Damascus. The" Arab army and the British forces entered Damascus together, and from that point the Arab revolt spread like a flame to Latakia. which was entered by the Arabs the day before the French entered Beyrout. The Arab forces were the first to enter Aleppo. But all the time the Arab plan was subordinated to General Allenby's, and never had the Arabs attempted to shine by themselves or to do anything spectacular. They had taken 40,000 prisoners, and delivered thorn to the Allies. It was not necessary to add anything to General Allenby's praise of the Arab troops. The action of the British troops was beyond praise, as was also the service of tho French detachment, whose artillery work had been wonderful.

The Arabs' claims, have not yet been dis« posed of by the Conference.