Final answer:
The sentence is discussing the actions of French officials relating to the administration of Syria after World War I, likely during the imposition of the French Mandate which occurred after the Sykes-Picot Agreement and the dismissal of King Faisal's government.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to historical events concerning the French Mandate of Syria after World War I. The blank in the sentence should likely be filled with the word partition or mandate, as these terms closely relate to the actions taken by French officials in the historical context of the question. Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, France and Britain drew up plans for the future administration of Middle Eastern territories, including Syria, which resulted in the Sykes-Picot Agreement that divided these territories into French and British zones of influence.
During this time, the region was in a state of flux with various nationalistic and regional powers vying for control. The mention of Faisal's government suggests the period after World War I, when Faisal, who led the Arab Revolt, briefly established an Arab Kingdom in Syria before French forces imposed their mandate. The Franco-Syrian War (1920) led to the establishment of the French Mandate over Syria, dismissing Faisal's short-lived kingdom.