“A Very Serious Responsibility”

On 14 June 1921, Secretary of State for the Colonies Winston Churchill delivered a major statement in the House of Commons explaining the actions the Government had taken in the settlement of the Arab territories under British authority since the end of the First World War. Here follow extracts.

I must take as my starting point this afternoon, the obligations and responsibilities into which this country has entered in the Middle East, and which, in accordance with the policy of the Government, I am endeavouring to discharge. During the War our Eastern Army conquered