The Muslim leaders of Damascus, including the Grand Mufti, said no to a French Mandate over Syria, but noted that if there was absolute need for a foreign mandate, then they would chose the United States. The Syrians interviewed by the American King-Crane Commission were inspired by the 14-Point Declaration of President Woodrow Wilson, especially that the US President called for "the right of self-determination." The Commission itself was sent by Wilson during the Paris Peace Conference that took off in January 1919.