"What we want to have in existence, what we ought to
have been creating in this time is some
administration with Arab institutions which we can
safely leave while pulling the strings ourselves;
something that won't cost very much, which the
Labour government can swallow consistent with
its' principles, but under which our economic
and political interests will be secure. [.....]
If the French remain in Syria we shall have to
avoid giving them the excuse of setting up a
protectorate. If they go, or if we appear to be
reactionary in mesopotamia, there is always the
risk that [King] Faisal will encourage the
Americans to take over both, and it should be
borne in mind that the Standard Oil company
is very anxious to take over Iraq."
~ Sir Arthur Hirtzel,
Head of the British government's 'India Office
Political Department.' 1919
