in the end of 1915 negotiations started between hussein and sir henry mcmahon, a high commissioner in cairo, about starting an arab revolt. this was called the hussein-mcmohan correspondence. hussein claimed to act in the best interest of the arab people. he want britain to acknowledge that he will become the independent leader of the new formed arab state after the arab revolt. the new formed arab state consists of the arabian peninsula, the levant and iraq. in this way he could get more power again. in return he would help the british to defeat the ottoman empire. mcmahon claimed he fought for what was best for britain, he wanted certain regions in iraq and syria to remain under british and french power.