“In view of the outbreak of war between Great Britain and Turkey, which occurred because of the ill-advised, unprovoked, and deliberate action of the Ottoman government, His Majesty’s government has made a public announcement regarding the holy places of Arabia, the holy shrines of Mesopotamia, and the port of Jeddah,* which is as follows. His Majesty’s most loyal Muslim subjects should understand that His Majesty’s government is not fighting this war because of religion. The British navy and its military forces will not attack the holy places of Arabia or Jeddah unless the Turks interfere with pilgrimages from India to the holy places and shrines in question. In that case, British military forces will intervene to keep the pilgrimage routes open. At the request of His Majesty’s government, the governments of France and Russia have given similar assurances.”

*a city located on the western coast of Arabia along the Red Sea

Pamphlet published by the British Indian War Department, 1915. The pamphlet was translated and distributed in cities and towns in India.

Which of the following best explains why the British government felt the need to distribute the pamphlet?

A. British authorities were concerned that going to war against a Muslim country could fuel anti-imperialist protests among India’s large Muslim population
B. British passenger ships and shipping companies made significant profits by transporting Muslim pilgrims on the hajj from India to Mecca and Medina.
C. Many people in Britain regarded the First World War as a religious conflict between Christian and Islamic states
D. Religious tensions between India’s Muslim and Christian populations significantly increased before the outbreak of the First World War.