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The terms of the Turkish treaty are not only a breach of the Premier’s pledge, not only a sin against the principle of self-determination, but they also show a reckless indifference of the Allied Powers towards the Koranic injunctions.  The terms point out that Mr. Lloyd George’s misinformed ideas of Khilafat have prevailed in the Council.  Like Mr. Lloyd George other statesmen also at San Remo have compared Caliphate with Popedom and ignored the Koronic idea of associating spiritual power with temporal power.  These misguided statesmen were too much possessed by haughtiness and so they refused to receive any enlightenment on the question of Khilafat from the Deputation.  They could have corrected themselves had they heard Mr. Mahomed Ali on this point.  Speaking at the Essex Hall meeting Mr. Mahomed Ali distinguished between Popedom and Caliphate and clearly explained what Caliphate means.  He said: 

“Islam is supernational and not national, the basis of Islamic sympathy is a common outlook on life and common culture....  And it has two centres.  The personal centre is the island of Arabia.  The Khalifa is the Commander of the Faithful and his orders must be obeyed by all Muslims so long and so long only, as they are not at variance with the Commandments of God and the Traditions of the Prophet.  But since there is no lacerating distinction between things temporal and things spiritual, the Khalifa is something more than a Pope and cannot be “Vaticanised.”  But he is also less than a Pope for he is not infallible.  If he persists in un-Islamic conduct we can depose him.  And we have deposed him more than once.  But so long as he orders only that which Islam demands we must support him.  He and no other ruler is the Defender of our faith.”

These few words could have removed the mis-undertakings rooted in the minds of those that at San Remo, if they were in earnest for a just solution.  But Mr. Mahomed Ali’s deputation was not given any hearing by the Peace Conference.  They were told that the Peace Conference had already heard the official delegation of India on this question.  But the wrong notions the Allies still entertain about Caliphate are a sufficient indication of the effects of the work of this official delegation.  The result of these wrong notions is the present settlement and this unjust settlement will unsettle the world.  They know not what they do.

TURKISH PEACE TERMS

The question of question to-day is the Khilafat question, otherwise known as that of the Turkish peace terms.  His Excellency the Viceroy deserves our thanks for receiving the joint deputation even at this late hour, especially when he was busy preparing to receive the head of the different provinces.  His Excellency must be thanked for the unfailing courtesy with which he received the deputation and the courteous language