Review Stivers,
William, Supremacy
And Oil, Iraq, Turkey, and the Anglo-American World Order, 1918-1930, Ithaca and London: Cornell University
Press, 1982
William Stivers’ book is about the negotiations between
England, the United States and Turkey after World War I that led to the
creation of Iraq. England came out a victor in the war, but was broke and its
army was overextended. It had to decide what to do with the former Ottoman
provinces that would become Iraq. It was hoping to bring the United States into
the Middle East to help share the burden, but Washington was only interested in
expanding its business in the region, while the British footed the bill.
Finally, Turkey laid claim to Mosul province, which threatened England’s plans.
It’s these different agendas which Supreme
And Oil does such a good job explaining.
