ABSTRACT
The construction of the Ottoman Empire in British propaganda evolved very much in tandem with these political and strategic imperatives, underscoring the contention that the war years were a seminal moment in the evolution of information management as a vital weapon in the armoury of ‘total war’. The Ottoman Empire had been Britain’s ally for more than a century, and the maintenance of amicable relations was viewed by many, including Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey, as an essential aspect of British foreign policy. As British policy towards the Ottoman Empire hardened and plans for the future of the Middle East took shape, it was incumbent upon the propagandists to emphasise the benefits of British imperialism and the failings of the Turkish equivalent. Wellington House did not believe in overt propaganda. Indeed, they went to great lengths to hide the official origins of their material.
