It was only in thirties that the Arab nationalists at Levant chalked out a plan for future action. This was rendered possible due to end of French mandate over Syria. Thereafter King Faisal began to work more closely with the Syrian leaders.
In 1931 he organized an Islamic Congress to discuss the Arab question in general and the Arab Covenant was formulated which stressed that the Arab lands were indivisible whole and each Arab country was directed to work for complete independence of all the Arab states.
They firmly rejected colonialism in all its forms and expressed their determination to ‘combat it with full force’. The Arab Covenant also set up an executive committee to plan future action. .
Thus the Arab nationalists had pinned high hopes on King Faisal. On the other hand, King Faisal was also keen to assume leadership of pan- Arab movement because he saw in it an opportunity of establishing Hashimite hegemony over Levant.
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However, these designs of Faisal were greatly resented by the French who suspected that the British were trying to enhance their influence over Syria through Iraq. On the other hand, even the British were also opposed to union between Iraq and Syria because they feared that it might open Iraq to French influence and undermine the position of King Faisal in Iraq. Further, it could lead to wider Arab Union which was bound to conflict with the mandatory system in the area.