In the Great War, the Shereefate of Mecca cannot possibly take part. The forces at its disposal are nothing more than a bodyguard, a few mercenaries, and the contribution made by some Bedouin tribes, difficult to hold together, undisciplined, untrained. The population of the holy cities furnishes no elements for the formation of a military force, and in that population, Shereef Ali, whom the Turks now wish to use, will assuredly find some adherents. Arabia is still, as it was of yore, hopelessly divided by conflicting interests and by century-long feuds. It is not ready for great undertakings. But, for the moment, a revolt in West Arabia against Turkey, under the lead of the Great Shereef and aided by England, can cause serious trouble to the Turkish Government, and all the more, because it is at Mecca, familiar to, and cherished by, the entire Mohammedan world. Such a campaign, well prepared and ably conducted, would be a master-stroke in opposition to the attempt, made by Young Turkey under German protection, to excite the mediæval fanaticism of Islam against other religious sects and to use it as an incentive to strife. However that may be, those who abominate playing with the fire of religious hate, a measure to which the Young Turks, in the main non-religious, have allowed themselves, to be persuaded, have no reason to regret the Arabian uprising. All that can tend to making an end of the unworthy noisy talk of “Caliphate” and “Holy War” may be regarded as commanding respect. NOTE The following translation of the Proclamation appeared in _The Near East_: Since writing his monograph, Professor Hurgronje has had reason to doubt his surmise as to the identity of the new Grand Shereef sent by the Turkish government to Medina. Probably it is not the Ali who succeeded to his uncle Aun and settled in Egypt after his demission. The proclamation is added as interesting in connection with Professor Hurgronje’s own articles. He would have preferred to give the Turkish proclamation as well as this, had this been possible. APPENDIX PROCLAMATION OF THE SHEREEF OF MECCA “In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.” This is our general proclamation to all our Moslem brothers. “O God, judge between us and our people in truth; Thou art the Judge.” The world knoweth that the first of all Moslem princes and rulers to acknowledge the Turkish Government were the Emirs of Mecca the Blessed. This they did to bind together and make strong the brotherhood of Islam, for they saw the Sultans of the House of Osman (may the dust of their tombs be blessed, and may they dwell in Paradise!), how they were upright, and how they carried out all the commandments and ordinances of the Faith and of the Prophet (prayers be upon him!) perfectly. Therefore they were obedient to them at all times.