THE HEJAZ: Religious War

In a vast uncharted Arabian desert are sixteen different states.* Some of these countries move whenever their inhabitants decide to strike tents. Some, again, are half settled—that is to say, the inhabitants roam about and return to a fixed settlement. Others are more or less fixtures. In a country of this nature, where whole states are moved on the backs of camels, lies the cradle of Islam, and that cradle was rocked last week by the terrible hand of Emir Faisal Ibn Abdul-Aziz Ibn Saud.

Last Week's Events. Emir Ibn Saud, Sheik of Dariyah, Sovereign Lord of Nejd and Hasa, descendant of Mohammed Ibn Saud (founder of the Wahabite Empire), had declared war on Husein Ibn Ali, King of Hejaz. Verily, the fierce troops of Ibn Saud were at the gates of Mecca, Mohammaden Holy City.

Husein Ibn Ali, made King of Hejaz by the British for fighting the Turks in the War, made Calif of Islam by no other than himself, opposed the heretical warriors of the Emir of Nejd; but he was not so successful as his sons, Faisal, King of Iraq, and Abdullah, Emir of Kerak (Trans-Jordan). These two monarchs had been able to employ war birds of Britain and strike terror and confusion into Ibn Saud's ferocious men by dropping fire from the skies. Husein, himself had asked the loan of a flock of war birds. But Britain refused. She could not become implicated in a religious war. She had definite obligations to the rulers of Iraq and Kerak under man—dates given her by the League of Nations. Husein was independent—so independent in fact that he had hesitated overlong to sign a treaty with his ally, Britain. He must defend himself as best he could.

Unable to maintain himself in Mecca, King Husein last week abdicated the Throne of Hejaz and the Califate—Islam was again without a Calif for the second time within a year. King Husein, tears in his eyes, declared that his abdication was a temporary measure designed to protect Mecca from possible destruction. A despatch from Cairo stated that the royal signature to the document of abdication was affixed only after "he had spent many hours in prayer and wireless communication with his sons," Faisal and Abdullah.

Immediately following the abdication of Husein, a Provisional Government was formed. The first act of this Government was to send a delegation to Emir Ibn Saud for the purpose of arranging terms of peace before the occupation of Mecca by the Wahabis.

New King. The Government, or Hejaz National Committee, then elected Ali (oldest son of Husein, Emir of Medina) King of Hejaz, in accordance with the terms of the abdication. It was expressly stated, however, that the offer of the throne was made on condition that Ali conform to the wishes of the people of Hejaz. His father's throne was accepted by Ali on this condition; but the throne of the Califate was left vacant until the election of a Calif by the Pan-Islamic Committee. at Cairo, unless Ibn Saud should capture Mecca and elect himself Calif.

Meantime, it was announced from Alexandria, Cairo and London that ex-King-Calif Husein had sent the youngest of his four sons to London "on a private mission." It was alleged that the mission was to sound the British Government on the new situation in the Hejaz.