King Hussein Warns England: “my People Charge Me with Selling Their Countries to Great Britain.”

King Husssein of the Hedjas has issued on behalf of the Arab peoples and their respective countries a “Message to the Noble British Nation.”

The Arabs, writes King Hussein, responded to my call in Irak, In Palestine, and in Syria, while in my own hands were the documents of responsible political leaders and various official and private declarations, all affirming that the Arabs would attain their unity and independence as a recompense for their loyalty. Having put their utmost trust, after God, in the honour of the British nation, the misfortunes of the Arabs were believed to be no more. This is further proved by their refusal to entertain a separate peace with the enemy, who offered them independence, giving official and affirmed guarantees.

The response to this act of loyalty was an official message from the British Foreign Minister, emphasising the unity and independence and proclaiming British determination for the realization of such fundamental articles.

Arab unity has been torn to pieces, and their countries disintegrated and occupied. The Moslem world especially, and most of my people, charge me with selling their countries to Great Britain and to her Allies. I know of no sin which they have committed deserving such a fate, except their absolute trust and loyalty to Great Britain — if this is really a sin.

The Arabs are now at a loss to harmonise their partriotism with their loyalty to their Allies. King Hussein places the surprise of the Arabs and the facts of their present situation before the British people, “lest any blame be attached to them (the Arabs) in the event of their taking other means to ward off, irrespective of all consequences, the great humiliation which darkens their glorious history.” It is quite impossible to tolerate the lot of the Arab nation before the Moslem world and before the East in general, as the condition of affairs is looked upon by all as “treacherous and misguided”.

In conclusion, King Hussein maintains that in making his statement he is actuated by loyalty and truth to his moral obligations. “I am not threatening, but I am reminding. The fame of Great Britain is the foundation of her real greatness in the East, and of more influence than her Fleets and great Armies. I trust that the British nation will begin to fulfil all these responsibilities and do justice to her loyal Allies the Arabs. It is better for her to have a united, strong and independent Arab ally than to have the Arabs shattered and disintegrated and degraded as they are at present, And no one but God knows where their despair will lead them to, having come to this intolerable state of affairs/.”