ABSTRACT
I N the summer of 1941. the question of a declaration recognising Arab national demands again came to the fore. At that time German documents dealt with this question alongside the matter of a
statement on T ree India’. It seems probable that a declaration was sought by Arabs living in Europe and co-operating with the German and Italian propaganda machines. It is known, for instance, that Fawzi el-Qawuqji tried to obtain such a declaration and to arrange that German propaganda in the Arab countries should be angled accordingly.1 It will be recalled that Fawzi was seriously wounded in Syria and taken to Germany at the end of June. A declaration favouring a ‘Free India’ was sought at the time by Subhas Chandra Bose, one of the leaders of the radical wing of the Indian National Congress.*
These efforts were not without effect on German officials and politicians, but there were also objective factors for the renewed German interest in a declaration. While the fighting was on in Iraq and Syria the question had been overshadowed by more concrete problems: supply of arms, financial assistance, communications with the Arab countries. The difficulties involved in issuing a public declaration supporting Arab demands were probably greater during periods of heightened activity in the Arab countries. Owing mainly to considerations of prestige, Germany did not want openly and
demonstratively to engage in undertakings where the outcome was uncertain. The policy of non-recognition of Arab aspirations was dictated by the need to obtain the assistance and co-operation of Italy and France. But after the defeat in Iraq and Syria the Germans could not do much more than carry on propaganda, since the Middle East had become a closed zone of British domination. In these circumstances the question of a declaration again assumed great significance.
