America's Forgotten Middle East Initiative: The King-Crane Commission of 1919

The King-Crane Commission of 1919 was the first US foray into the Middle East, and its controversial recommendations included rejecting a Jewish state in Syria, US intervention, and the end of French colonial aspirations. Its dismissal of Zionist claims was divisive, with some historians labeling it prophetic and accurate, and others arguing that Commission members were biased and ill-informed.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 336 pages
\n Publication date: 30 September 2018
\n Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
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The King-Crane Commission of 1919, dispatched to the Middle East by Woodrow Wilson to assess the feasibility of self-determination within the collapsing Ottoman Empire, marked America's initial foray into the region. The commission's contentious recommendations encompassed the rejection of the notion of a Jewish state in Syria, the advocacy for US intervention in the Middle East, and the termination of French colonial aspirations. While the commission's counsel on the Palestinian mandate was ultimately disregarded by Lloyd George and Georges Clemenceau in favor of their national interests, the recommendations themselves proved highly inflammatory.

In the subsequent years, the commission's dismissal of claims by Zionist representatives, such as David Ben-Gurion, on their "right to Palestine" proved particularly divisive, eliciting contrasting interpretations among historians. Some regarded the commission's findings as prophetic and accurate, while others argued that its members were biased and ill-informed.

In this groundbreaking book-length analysis of the King-Crane report, Andrew Patrick delves into the history of early US involvement in the Middle East, offering a fresh perspective on the complex and often contentious relationship between the United States and the region. Through meticulous research and analysis, Patrick challenges prevailing interpretations and sheds light on the intricate dynamics that have shaped the US-Middle East relationship over the past century.

\n Weight: 426g\n
Dimension: 139 x 215 x 19 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781788314558\n \n