The problem was that British strategists, who were fighting the Ottoman Turks in 1917, had secretly promised the lands to their World War I Arab allies.
Ottoman Turks weren't at war with anyone in 1917.
mnli hypothesis: Ottoman Turks weren't at war with anyone in 1917. premise: The problem was that British strategists, who were fighting the Ottoman Turks in 1917, had secretly promised the lands to their World War I Arab allies.