T. E. Lawrence



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January

Lawrence is invited to join Churchill's Colonial Office as an Adviser on Arab Affairs. Late in the month he is appointed to the new Middle East Department for one year, despite opposition from officials elsewhere in Whitehall who have opposed his policies.

February

On 18 February Lawrence takes up his duties at the Colonial Office. His immediate task is planning the agenda for the forthcoming Cairo Conference, which he hopes will bring about the solution he has proposed in the Middle East. On 28 February his plan is accepted.

March

On 2 March Lawrence leaves for Egypt. The fortnight-long conference begins on 12 March, and on the second day the British accept Feisal's candidature as future King of Iraq. Later in the month, Churchill meets Abdullah in Jerusalem and appoints him head of an Arab administration in TransJordan.

April

On 2 April Lawrence moves to Amman. He spends a week there, flying back to Jerusalem on 9 April. Two days later, Lawrence flies to Port Said to meet Feisal, and persuades him not to act aggressively towards the French. Following the meeting, he moves to Jerusalem, and then to Amman where he spends three days with newly appointed British officials. On 21 April he flies to Egypt to meet Feisal again, on 22 April. He then returns to England.

July

Lawrence leaves England on 8 July to negotiate a British settlement with King Hussein, and to attempt to reconcile Hussein and Abdullah. He arrives in Jidda on 29 July.

August

During Ramadan, Lawrence visits Aden to report on the state of the British colony there. He is away from Jidda from 1230 August.

September

Lawrence finds negotiating with the King Hussein very difficult. On 22 September Hussein reneges on his Agreement to sign the Treaty of Versailles. Lawrence abandons the negotiations in exasperation and leaves Princes Ali and Zeid to attempt to persuade their father to be reasonable.

October

Lawrence goes to TransJordan to take over as British representative there, arriving half-way through the month.

December

Lawrence successfully negotiates a Hejaz Treaty with Abdullah, who signs on 8 December. Four days later he leaves for Egypt. On Christmas Eve is back in London.

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