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January 1921
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 1921
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 1921
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 1921
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 1921
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 1921
During Ramadan, Lawrence visits Aden to report on the state of
the British colony there. He is away from Jidda from
12–30 August.
September 1921
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 1921
Lawrence goes to TransJordan to take over as British
representative there, arriving half-way through the
month.
December 1921
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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