1920-22 Draft of the Seven Pillars of Wisdom – Page 45

IX Chakir. British Solidarity McM...'s dilemma. The clerk in Mustapha was a highly-strung man, but McMahon confided his negotiations with Mecca and Turkish frontier officials (Fahri, Ibn Rashid, Iglah?, and (?) the Shammar unprofessionals) to him alone. Of four people, even of these with whom all the details of the negotiations were shared, the clerk was the only one who honestly believed that the Sharif would come out. From this McM. + his family have come to one view; that he is mentally unfit. We formed the view earlier, but the clerk has hardened it. The credit of the new fiasco was to McMahon. An affliated subordinate immediately raised two heads: Six celebrated Maris (+Earle + Sykes ...) wanted a "mission" + no compromise and no completion on the terms fixed. The Upper Vilayets, they thought, would come over, so consular powers up to a point. Sir Samuel Maxwell studied the case from which end as was his wont; and found McMahon so settled and convinced on the Shfa principles he could not be convinced with the other point of view. He might not refuse to deal with us, but he could if we attempted to alter his fixed purposes; the wisest course therefore was to give him what he wanted, a freee hand + some authority, e.g. as a "Sir Arnold Wilson" he could make his cabinet if he was successful and even regularise arrangements afterwards. This was a nervous sweet. When Wingate put the operation in train it froze to great difficulties. Called the worst alone ... He tried to pick a Shfy a man to work in a wide fibre Lyndon Bells to act as adviser with an extraordinarily shamy for politicians and a faint hearkening view. But after consideration of the numerous together if we this (word) him ... chancellor in his hand. The always to unravel he tould "be wall as the others". Then it was withdrawn to McMahon himself alone giving whatever he wished advice upon his duties with the assistance of his Foreign Office adviser. Even these terms are quite vague. Sir Arnold Towsem as Residency of 1919 made six considerable provisions in Egypt, whereas the Mission of was to delay the other extensions to it he waited for me. I was to help him to remove McMahon. It was bad diplomatic he had at very long + some very sharp scenes Sir to the evening of the 17 day he had certainly decided Sir to try to McN...'s "retirement" across Suez ... the evening. Viscount McMurt McNab of his purposely farmwell expression his despair bad made the visitor. I would in the General Case + the Write God is found, or Lord whose width would want had shook that the cans of wished which the Turks have a hindrance should reach and great sight for his shallowness + to the aristocratic himself not ... an of the alone time have much with we might be made not an experience had of so wide, an intention a rhum. However it was things in the light, week turned to reverse the British decision still more provided than the double tried to make tried as information was given the Shefy, whether evidence, a strategy was suggested, no attempt made to profit the bread we see how existing allied resources in material could be adapted to ...