Page 198 - Mastermind: The Truth of the British Deep State Revealed

However, in the past, when Britain took Cyprus and Egypt, it didn't need

France's permission and the French even didn't think of asking for a share in

those territories. So much so that even though the French opened the Suez
Canal in 1869, the British took the canal under its control when it took Egypt
in 1882 and the French response was nothing more than subdued resentment.

Things changed when the British were heavily defeated at Gallipoli and
Kut Al Amara. Britain was now facing a bolder France, one that was protest-

ing, reacting and pressuring. Britain didn't want to defy France at Sykes-Pi-
cot, as it wouldn't be good to have French as an enemy, especially after the

loss of considerable prestige and power.

For this reason, it humored France, since Britain needed France on its

side, albeit temporarily. This is how the Sykes-Picot Agreement was drawn
up on the basis of an equal sharing principle. A more British-oriented shar-
ing of the former Ottoman lands could be postponed until later. Although

Mastermind: The Truth of the British Deep State Revealed