Gertrude Margaret Lowthian Bell Quotes
You may rely upon one thing — I'll never engage in creating kings again; it's too great a strain.
After the King’s appointment in 1921 she “advised” him on establishing this regime and operating the government. At a time that women could not even vote in England, Bell was a kingmaker and major power in an area of the world that was much more sexist than England at the time.
Gertrude Margaret Lowthian Bell, 1868–1926, British Oriental Secretary Of the Foreign Office (the only female political officer), Administrator of Arabia, Statement after she had chosen Faisal as the best man to be King of Iraq and persuaded Winston Churchill and the other English authorities to back him as king.
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
Indeed she did. In actuality, she was the ruler of the largest nation on Earth. However, she was not a very clever ruler and actually was responsible for keeping China very backward and weak because she was convinced that China was the most advanced of nations and very strong. Therefore nothing should be changed. Over 5 decades with no change is sure to make a nation backward, even if it started as advanced. See {620090}.
Note that the Queen always used the 3rd person rather than the 1st when referring to herself. This was true of most of the leading public figures in England at the time. Although she detested Gladstone, she gained control of her feelings and did her duty and “sent for” him to form the Government. She was personally delighted when, as she predicted, his government then had political difficulties.
Gertrude Margaret Lowthian Bell, CBE was an English writer, traveller, political officer, administrator, and archaeologist who explored, mapped, and became highly influential to British imperial policy-making due to her knowledge and contacts, built up through extensive travels in Syria-Palestine, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, and Arabia. Along with T. E. Lawrence, Bell helped support the Hashemite dynasties in what is today Jordan as well as in Iraq.
