Hakuna mtu yeyote aliyekuwa katika nafasi ya kuathiri Dola ya Kiothmani na kuilazimisha kujitoa vitani au kufanya amani tofauti nayo, isipokuwa maafisa wa jeshi wenye ushawishi. Kwa wengine, hawakuwa katika nafasi ya kufanya lolote. Kuhusu wale wasaliti miongoni mwa Waarabu walioshirikiana na Waingereza na Wafaransa, hawakufikia kiwango cha wanasiasa, wala mabwana zao - Waingereza na Wafaransa - hawakutarajia kwamba wangeathiri Dola. Kazi yao ilikuwa kutumika kama majasusi dhidi ya Dola na kufanya vitendo vya hujuma dhidi yake. Hata msaliti mkuu, Al-Sharif Hussein ibn Ali, alikuwa dhaifu mno kiasi kwamba hakuweza kuwa na ushawishi wowote juu ya Dola.

No person was in a position to influence the Ottoman State and make her withdraw from the war or hold a separate peace with her apart from the influential army officers. As for the others, they were not in a position to do anything. As for those traitors from among the Arabs who collaborated with the British and the French, they did not rise to the level of the politicians, nor did their masters - the British and the French, expect them to influence the State. Their task was to act as spies against the State and to carry out acts of sabotage against her. Even the chief traitor, Al- Sharif Hussein ibn Ali, was too weak to have any influence over the State.

Yote waliyotaka Waingereza yalikuwa ni kumtumia yeye katika vitendo vya hujuma dhidi ya jeshi la Kiislamu, jeshi la Dola ya Ottoman, na katika kuunda maoni ya umma kwao miongoni mwa vikosi vya kijeshi, kwa hofu kwamba Waislamu wangeweza kuwa na chuki dhidi yao na kuwatangazia Jihadi ambayo Shariy'ah iliiamuru, wakizingatia kwamba wao ni makafiri. Kwa hiyo, Waarabu hawakuwa lengo la umakini wa Washirika wakati wa vita katika jitihada zao za kuilazimisha Dola ya Ottoman kujiondoa vitani; badala yake walielekeza umakini wao kwa maafisa wa Kituruki.

All that the British wanted, was to use him in acts of sabotage against the Islamic army, the Ottoman army, and in generating a public opinion for them amongst the armed forces, lest the Muslims held feelings of animosity against them and declared on them the Jihad which Shariah commanded, considering that they were Kuffar. Therefore, the Arabs were not the Allies focus of attention during the war in their attempt at making the Ottoman State withdraw from the war, they rather concentrated their attention on the Turkish officers.

Miongoni mwa Waturuki, maafisa wawili walijulikana kwa mambo mawili: kwanza, chuki yao dhidi ya Wajerumani na upinzani wao dhidi ya kuingia kwa Dola ya Othmani vitani kama mshirika wa Ujerumani. Pili, tamaa yao ya kutwaa madaraka na juhudi zao za kufikia lengo hilo. Maafisa hawa wawili walikuwa Jamal Pasha na Mustafa Kemal. Kwa upande wa Mustafa Kemal, alikuwa afisa mdogo asiyekuwa na thamani yoyote, ingawa alikuwa mwerevu, mwenye tamaa na mwenye bidii dhidi ya Dola. Ama Jamal Pasha alikuwa katika nafasi ya kuwa na ushawishi, hasa kwa sababu Dola yote ya Othmani ilitawaliwa na watu watatu: Talat, Waziri Mkuu, Anwar, Waziri wa Vita, na Jamal Pasha mwenyewe, kamanda wa kikosi cha nne na gavana wa Syria. Kwa sababu hiyo, Washirika walijaribu kumvutia Jamal Pasha.

From amongst the Turks two officers were known for: Firstly, their hatred for the Germans and their opposition to the Ottoman States entry into the war as an ally to Germany. Secondly, their ambition to seize power and their endeavour to reach that goal. These two officers were Jamal Pasha and Mustafa Kemal. As for Mustafa Kemal, he was a junior officer with no value whatsoever, although he was clever, ambitious and active against the State. Whereas Jamal Pasha was in a position to be influential, especially because of the fact that the whole of the Ottoman State was governed by three men : Tal’at, the Prime Minister, Anwar, the war minister and Jamal Pasha himself, the commander of the fourth division and governor of Syria. Hence, the Allies attempted to entice Jamal Pasha.

Wakati wa kampeni ya Dardanelles (Kampeni ya Gallipoli) na baada ya kushindwa kwake, Washirika walijaribu kuwasiliana na Jamal Pasha ili aasi dhidi ya Dola ya Ottoman. Hii ilitokana na ukweli kwamba Waingereza walishambulia Istanbul na kuuteka Gallipoli tarehe 25 Aprili 1915; hata hivyo, jeshi la Ottoman lilikabiliana nao na kusimamisha maendeleo yao. Hivyo hawakuweza kusonga mbele hata hatua moja, na walipata hasara kubwa kiasi kwamba kamanda wa vikosi vya Washirika, Jenerali Hamilton, alilazimika kutuma tarehe 16 Agosti telegramu kwa Lord Kitchener, Katibu wa Vita wa Uingereza, akiomba msaada wa vikosi na risasi. Zaidi ya hayo, tarehe 14 Oktoba, serikali ya Uingereza ilimwondoa kamanda wa kampeni ya Dardanelles, Jenerali Hamilton, na kumweka badala yake Jenerali Charles Monro, aliyeagizwa kuchunguza kampeni ya Dardanelles. Tarehe 28 Oktoba, Monro alifika Dardanelles na, pamoja na wafanyakazi wa makao makuu, alichunguza hali ya vikosi vya Washirika kando ya pwani ya Dardanelles na karibu na mitaro ya Waingereza. Kisha aliandikia baraza la vita akipendekeza kuondoka. Hata hivyo, Katibu wa Vita Lord Kitchener alitatizwa na telegramu ya Monro, na akaamua kusafiri mwenyewe hadi Dardanelles.

During the Dardanelles campaign (Gallipoli Campaign) and in the wake of its failure, the Allies attempted to contact Jamal Pasha in order for him to revolt against the Ottoman State. This was due to the fact that the British had attacked Istanbul and seized Gallipoli on 25th April 1915; however the Ottoman army had confronted them and halted their progress. Thus they could not advance a single step and they suffered heavy losses to the point that the commander of the allied forces, General Hamilton, was forced to send on 16th August a telegram to Lord Kitchener, the British war secretary, seeking reinforcements and ammunition. Furthermore, on 14th October, the British government dismissed the commander of the Dardanelles campaign, General Hamilton and replaced him with General Charles Monro who was ordered to investigate the Dardanelles campaign. On 28th October, Monro arrived in the Dardanelles and together with the general staff, he studied the situation of the allied forces along the Dardanelles coastline and around the British trenches. He then wrote to the war cabinet recommending evacuation. However the war secretary Lord Kitchener, was disquietened by Monro’s telegram and decided to travel to the Dardanelles himself.

Alifika huko tarehe 9 Novemba na kukagua nafasi za kijeshi kando ya ukanda wa pwani na kuzunguka mitaro ya Waingereza na Wafaransa. Alifikia hitimisho kwamba vikosi vya washirika vingeweza kudumisha nafasi zao isipokuwa Waturuki wangefanikiwa kupata mizinga na risasi kutoka Ujerumani, kwa kuwa hilo lingeifanya nafasi ya vikosi vya washirika kuwa ya hatari sana. Kisha tarehe 1 Desemba, vikosi vya washirika viliondoka ghafla kwenye nafasi zao. Ilikuwa wakati huu wa hatari na machafuko, ambapo walichanganyikiwa kutokana na kampeni ya Dardanelles, ndipo Washirika walijaribu kuwasiliana na Jamal Pasha na kujadiliana naye ili aasi dhidi ya Dola ya Ottoman. Inaonekana kwamba mazungumzo haya yalifanyika kwa mafanikio na Jamal Pasha alikubali kwa kanuni na kuweka masharti yake. Kwani tarehe 26 Novemba 1915, wizara ya mambo ya nje ya Urusi ilituma kwa balozi zake mbili, huko Paris na Roma, telegramu Na. 6391; kunukuu kutoka kwenye telegramu hiyo: Habari zinazotufikia kutoka kwenye duru za Waarmenia huko Istanbul zinatujulisha kwamba Jamal Pasha yuko tayari kuchukua hatua ya uhasama dhidi ya serikali ya Istanbul endapo masharti yafuatayo yatatimizwa:

He arrived there on 9th November and inspected the military positions along the coastline and around the British and French trenches. He came to the conclusion that the allied forces could maintain their positions unless the Turks managed to acquire canons and ammunition from Germany, for this would render the allied forces’ position very critical. Then on 1st December, the allied forces suddenly evacuated their positions. It was during this critical period and time of confusion in which they were muddled due to the Dardanelles campaign, that the Allies attempted to contact Jamal Pasha and negotiate with him to rebel against the Ottoman State. It seems that these negotiations did effectively take place and Jamal Pasha agreed in principle and laid down his conditions. For on 26th November 1915, the Russian foreign ministry sent to its two embassies in Paris and Rome telegram No 6391; to quote from the telegram : “The news reaching us from the Armenian circles in Istanbul inform us that Jamal Pasha is willing to undertake a hostile move against the government of Istanbul if the following conditions were met :

1- Kwamba mataifa washirika yatambue mamlaka ya Dola ya Ottoman, inayoongozwa na Sultani, juu ya nchi za Syria, Palestina, Iraq, Arabstan, Kilikia, Armenia na Kurdistan.

1- That the allied states recognise the sovereignty of the Ottoman State, headed by the Sultan, over the states of Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Arabstan, Kilikia, Armenia and Kurdistan.

2- Kwamba Usultani unachukuliwa na Ahmed Jamal Pasha, na kwamba wanawe na wajukuu wake watachukua Usultani baada yake.

2- That the Sultanate is assumed by Ahmed Jamal Pasha and that his sons and grand-sons would assume the Sultanate after him.

3- Kwamba Ahmed Jamal Pasha angeamua kutangaza kwamba Sultani wa sasa pamoja na serikali yake ni mateka mikononi mwa Wajerumani, na kutangaza vita dhidi yao.

3- That Ahmed Jamal Pasha would undertake to proclaim that the present Sultan and his government are prisoners in the hands of the Germans, and to declare war on them.

4- Kwamba endapo Jamal Pasha atatangaza uasi wake na kuanza kuandamana kupigana na serikali, Washirika wangejitolea kuisambazia jeshi lake silaha, chakula na vifaa vya kijeshi vinavyohitajika.

4- That in the event of Jamal Pasha declaring his rebellion and his march to fight the government, the Allies would undertake to supply his army with the necessary weapons, food and military equipment.

5- Kwamba mataifa washirika yatampa Jamal Pasha msaada wa kifedha unaohitajika hadi mwisho wa vita.

5- That the allied states would offer Jamal Pasha the necessary financial aid till the end of the war.

6- Kwamba Jamal Pasha anakubali kukabidhi Mlango-bahari na Istanbul kwa Washirika.

6- That Jamal Pasha accepts to surrender the straits and Istanbul to the Allies.

7- Kwamba Jamal Pasha anajitolea kuhakikisha njia salama ya kuwasaidia Waarmenia. Hii ndiyo orodha ya masharti iliyotajwa katika telegramu, na inaonekana kwamba Urusi ilikuwa imefanya mazungumzo na Waingereza na Wafaransa, na ingawa Urusi ilikubali masharti ya Jamal Pasha, Waingereza na Wafaransa hawakuyakubali.

7- That Jamal Pasha undertakes to secure a free route to help the Armenians.” This was the list of conditions mentioned in the telegram and it seems that Russia had negotiated with the British and the French, and while Russia had accepted Jamal Pasha’s terms the British and French did not.

Tarehe 12 Desemba 1915, Katibu Mkuu wa Pili katika wizara ya mambo ya nje ya Urusi alituma telegramu namba 6130 kwa balozi wa Urusi mjini Bucharest; kunukuu kutoka kwenye telegramu hiyo: Inawezekana kumpa Jamal Pasha ahadi kuhusu pendekezo lake, na ikibidi, tuko katika nafasi ya kupata kutoka kwa Washirika ahadi za kumpa anachotaka. Hata hivyo, inaonekana Washirika walikataa hili. Tarehe 27 Desemba 1915, balozi wa Urusi mjini Paris alituma telegramu kwa serikali yake ambamo aliandika: Tumepokea telegramu yako namba 6391, nakala yake ilipelekwa kwa Monsieur Brian, ambaye alionyesha shauku kubwa katika yaliyomo, na alitangaza kwamba angeyawasilisha mbele ya baraza la mawaziri kesho, kabla haijachelewa. Pia aliniambia katika tukio hili kwamba ingawa masharti haya yanakubalika kwetu, hata hivyo hayaendani na matamanio ya Waingereza, na wangeyakataa. Kisha Wafaransa wakajiondoa katika kukubali masharti hayo. Tarehe 29 Desemba 1915 balozi alituma telegramu ya nyongeza kwa telegramu yake ya kwanza. Kunukuu kutoka kwenye telegramu hiyo: Nilichojifunza ni kwamba mawaziri wa Ufaransa walipinga kwa nguvu makubaliano haya kiasi kwamba hawakusita kueleza pingamizi lao. Aliongeza: Kilicho hakika ni kwamba Wafaransa wanathamini baadhi ya mapendekezo yenu, na wanafahamu umuhimu wa kuchochea uasi ndani ya Usultani wa Ottoman.

On 12th December 1915, the Second Chancellor in the Russian foreign ministry sent telegram 6130 to the Russian ambassador to Bucharest; to quote from the telegram : “It is possible to give Jamal Pasha an undertaking about what he proposes and if necessary, we are in a position to secure from the Allies promises to give him what he wants.” However, it seems that the Allies rejected this. On 27th December 1915, the Russian ambassador to Paris sent a telegram to his government in which he wrote : “We are in receipt of your telegram No 6391, a copy of which was passed on to Monsieur Brian who expressed a great deal of interest in its contents and he declared that he would present them before the cabinet tomorrow, before it is too late. He also said to me on this occasion that although these conditions are acceptable to us, they however do not agree with the British ambitions and they would reject them.” Then the French retracted from accepting the conditions. On 29th December 1915 the ambassador sent a telegram appendant to his first telegram. To quote from the telegram : “What I learnt is that the French ministers resisted strongly this agreement to the point that they did not shrink from expressing their objection.” He added : “What is certain is that the French do appreciate some of your proposals and they are aware of the importance to instigate a revolt within the Ottoman Sultanate.

Wanaamini pia kwamba uasi huu ungewanufaisha sana katika vita vya dunia. Hata hivyo, wanaona katika mapendekezo yaliyotolewa kwa ajili ya mazungumzo na Jamal Pasha hakuna chochote isipokuwa utimizaji wa matamanio yenu ya kuiteka Istanbul na mikondo ya bahari, bila kutoa masharti yoyote kwa ajili ya utawala wa Kifaransa Mashariki. Baadaye Waingereza walitangaza kukataa kwao kushiriki katika mazungumzo haya.

They even believe that this revolt would be very useful to them in the world war. However, they do see in the proposals put forward to negotiate with Jamal Pasha nothing but a fulfilment of your ambitions to seize Istanbul and the straits, without making any provisions for the French sovereignty over the East.” The British later declared their rejection to take part in these negotiations.

Tarehe 27 Januari 1916, balozi wa Urusi jijini London alituma telegramu kwa waziri wa mambo ya nje wa Urusi huko Petersburg, ambamo aliandika: Nicholson aliniarifu kwamba baada ya kupitia suala hilo tena na kulichunguza kwa makini katika pande zake zote, serikali ya Uingereza inaona ni muhimu kujizuia kushiriki katika mazungumzo haya na kuyaachia kabisa. Hii inaonyesha kwamba wazo la Washirika la kuiondoa Uturuki vitani na kuwashawishi baadhi ya maofisa kunyakua madaraka lilikuwa na mizizi yake.

On 27th January 1916, the Russian ambassador to London sent a telegram to the Russian foreign minister in Petersburg in which he wrote: “Nicholson informed me that having reviewed the issue once again and having closely examined all of its aspects, the British government deem it necessary to desist from taking part in these negotiations and to relinquish them for good.” This indicates that the Allies’ idea to make Turkey withdraw from the war and to entice some of the officers to seize power had its roots.

Hata hivyo, walitaka kuigawanya Dola ya Ottoman na kuufuta Ukhalifa. Kwa kuwa mojawapo ya masharti ya Jamal Pasha lilikuwa kuhifadhi umoja wa ardhi za Kiislamu, angalau kama shirikisho, na kwa kuwa mojawapo ya masharti yake mengine lilikuwa kuhifadhi Ukhalifa, walikataa pendekezo lake na wakakataa kufanya mazungumzo naye. Ni jambo la kawaida kwamba lazima walichukua hatua nyingine.

They however wanted to dismember the Ottoman State and abolish the Khilafah. Since one of Jamal Pasha’s conditions was to preserve the unity of the Islamic lands, at least as a federation, and as one of his other conditions was to preserve the Khilafah, they rejected his proposal and refused to negotiate with him. It is only natural that they must have undertaken other initiatives.

Kuhusu juhudi zao kupitia Sharif wa Makkah, Hussein bin Ali, hizi zilijulikana, lakini hazingeweza kufikia lengo la kuifanya Dola ya Kiothmani ijiondoe vitani, na bila shaka walifanya majaribio mengine mengi kupitia maafisa wengi wa Kituruki. Hakuna dalili kwamba mazungumzo mengine yalifanyika na mtu yeyote miongoni mwa Waturuki, lakini Waingereza walikuwa na mawakala wao ndani ya Dola, kama vile Arif Pasha, Damad Farid na wengine. Kabla ya Vita vya Kwanza vya Dunia, mshauri wa kijeshi wa Uingereza alikuwa mwenye shughuli nyingi sana na alikuwa akifanya hatua na mawasiliano mengi, yote akiwa na uhuru kamili. Mshauri huyu wa kijeshi alirudi Istanbul baada ya kusainiwa kwa usitishaji mapigano, na alicheza nafasi kubwa, pamoja na kamanda wa majeshi ya washirika, katika kuondoa Khilafah. Kwa hiyo, inawezekana sana kwamba alifanya mawasiliano kadhaa na kuanzisha viungo, ingawa hakuna hata moja kati ya hayo lililofichuka.

As for their attempts with the Sharif of Makkah, Hussein ibn Ali, these were known, but they would not have served the purpose of making the Ottoman State withdraw from the war, and undoubtedly, they must have made several other attempts with a host of Turkish officers. There is nothing to indicate that other negotiations did take place with anyone from among the Turks, but the British did have their agents within the State, such as Arif Pasha, Damad Farid and others. Before the First World War, the British military attaché had been very active and used to make many moves and contacts, all with a free hand. This military attaché had returned to Istanbul after the cease-fire was signed and he played a major role, together with the commander of the allied forces, in abolishing the Khilafah. Hence, it is very likely that he had made several contacts and established links, although none of these came to light.

Mustafa Kemal alikuwa afisa mdogo asiyejulikana sana wakati vita vilipozuka, ingawa alijulikana kwa mawazo yake ya Kimagharibi na uasi wake dhidi ya mawazo ya Kiislamu, pamoja na mwelekeo wake kwa Waingereza na chuki yake kwa Wajerumani. Ni baada ya kushiriki katika vita vya Ana Forta ndipo jina lake lilipojulikana na kusifiwa. Tangu wakati huo, alipata umaarufu mkubwa, jina lake likasifiwa na akawa maarufu.

Mustafa Kemal was a little known junior officer when the war broke out, though he was known for his Western thoughts and his rebellion against the Islamic thoughts, and for his inclination towards the British and his hatred for the Germans. It was only after his participation in the battle of Ana Forta that his name became known and celebrated. Since that time, he acquired a wide publicity, his name became celebrated and he became famous.

Mwanzoni mwa majira ya kuchipua ya mwaka 1915, mwanzoni mwa mwaka wa pili wa Vita Kuu ya Dunia, Ujerumani ilisitisha jitihada zake za kuteka maeneo ya Ufaransa kwa sababu hakuna upande kati ya Ujerumani na Ufaransa ulioweza kumshinda mwenzake na kupata ushindi wa maamuzi. Wakati huo huo, Warusi walikuwa wamepata kipigo kikali, ambacho hawangeweza kujikwamua nacho na kuendeleza mapambano yao isipokuwa Mataifa ya Magharibi yangechukua hatua haraka na kuisambazia Urusi risasi zilizohitajika sana kwa utaratibu wa kawaida. Washirika wa Magharibi walipakia meli kwa madhumuni hayo, lakini zilizingirwa katika Bahari ya Mediterania na hazikuweza kufika Urusi. Kwa hiyo ikawa ni lazima kuanzisha shambulio dhidi ya Istanbul na kufungua mlango wa bahari ili kuziruhusu meli ziingie na kuisambazia Urusi kwa utaratibu wa kawaida. Amri ya jeshi la Dola ya Othmani wakati huo ilikuwa mikononi mwa Jenerali wa Kijerumani Otto Liman von Sanders. Alikuwa amemkabidhi Qaim Qam Mustafa Kemal Beik amri ya kikosi kimoja, na ilikuwa wakati huo ndipo shambulio la Washirika lilipofanyika.

In the spring of 1915, at the beginning of the second year of the World War, Germany halted her attempts at seizing the French territories because neither Germany nor France could defeat one another and achieve a decisive victory. The Russians had meanwhile suffered a severe battering, from which they could not rise again and resume their struggle unless the Western states acted swiftly and supplied Russia on a regular basis with much needed ammunition. The Western Allies loaded ships for this purpose but they were besieged in the Mediterranean and could not reach Russia. Hence it became imperative to launch an attack on Istanbul and open the straits in order to allow the ships to enter and supply Russia on a regular basis. The command of the Ottoman army was at the time in the hands of the German General Otto Liman von Sanders. He had assigned the command of one division to the “Qa’im Qam” Mustafa Kemal Beik and it was at that time that the Allies’ offensive took place.